Closing ceremonies commenced today at the Five Hills Training Area in Tavantolgoi, Mongolia, marking the official end to Exercise Khaan Quest 2015. For the past two weeks, Mongolian Armed Forces hosted over 20 nations in this 13th iteration of the exercise. Khaan Quest is an annual multinational exercise co-sponsored by U.S. Pacific Command and is the latest in a continuing series of exercises designed to promote regional peace and security in Northeast Asia.
Multinational and multiservice forces enhanced regional interoperability and mission effectiveness while training side by side in both the rural training area and urban Ulaanbaatar capital. The computer-based scenario decision making of the command post exercise (CPX) complimented the tactical actions executed during the field training exercise (FTX). Both training evolutions developed operational skillsets necessary during international peace support operations.
Engineering civic action program (ENCAP) projects and health services support engagements (HSSE) enhanced Mongolian-U.S. medical capabilities while providing outreach to underserved communities. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held June 30 to commemorate the successful completion of all engineering and medical projects. Over the course of seven days, approximately 480 patients were screened and treated for acute or minor surgical conditions while more than 20 individual home visits were made for non-ambulatory patients. Services provided included dental, pediatrics, ophthalmology, neurology and cardiology among other specialties. Additionally, veterinary specialists treated nearly 330 animals.
Engineering projects completed at the 55th Special Needs School, Bayanzurkh District, included installing over 100 new doors, remodeling two bathrooms, building a physical therapy room, remodeling an indoor gymnasium, and building an outdoor basketball court complete with fencing and lighting. In total, engineers installed 9,500 feet of perimeter fencing, poured 55 cubic meters of concrete, and used 125 cubic meters of gravel.
In total, over 1,200 service members contributed from 22 nations to KQ15 completion. Approximately 300 U.S. participants included soldiers from across U.S. Army, Pacific, primarily from the Alaska Army National Guard and U.S. Army Alaska, along with Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, which is currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Of the remaining 900 participants, approximately 600 were from the host nation of Mongolia.