ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia -- After 12 days of instruction and hands-on training, the Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Seminar (NOLES) 2016 came to an end with the closing ceremony during the leadership seminar, Sept. 23, 2016.
Service members from the Mongolian Armed Forces, Mongolian National Police Department and U.S. Marines with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, as well as representatives from 18 nations across the Indo-Asia-Pacific, participated in NOLES.
This year marked the 15th iteration of the exercise. NOLES is a regularly scheduled U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific field training exercise and leadership seminar hosted annually by various nations. NOLES 2016 consisted of a field training exercise, or FTX, from Sept. 12-21 and a three-day leadership seminar from Sept. 21-23. The exercise promotes awareness and effective use of non-lethal weapons to maintain order during civil unrest.
During the FTX, service members learned different tactics consisting of Taser and oleoresin capsicum exposure, mechanical advantage control holds techniques, non-lethal munitions and live fire and riot-control techniques.
“The FTX is a bilateral piece of NOLES, where we exchange tactics, techniques and procedures with the host nation [Mongolia],” said Larry Brown, non-lethal weapons liaison officer, Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate from Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
During the seminar portion, senior leaders from various nations participated in several briefs consisting of human rights laws, cultural awareness, non-lethal technology and two practice scenarios. During the scenarios, leaders formed groups where they applied non-lethal tactics and weapons to approach different situations.
“During the seminar, we educate and inform [leadership] with the help of the FTX to demonstrate capabilities and conduct briefings that educate on legal aspects and media incorporation, and conclude [NOLES] with scenarios on how they can incorporate non-lethal weapons,” Brown said. “You could see the active participation in the scenarios. I think that everybody gets a lot out of it when they learn from their partners from other countries.”
Next year’s NOLES will take place in the country of Sri Lanka. Brown explained it will probably include a medical capability portion as well as a Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate demonstration of new technology and capabilities within the non-lethal spectrum.