U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific

Surgeons from the Mongolian Armed Forces and the Republic of Korea operate on a patient at the MAF's Central Clinical Hospital in Ulaanbaatar during exercise Khaan Quest's Subject Matter Expert Exchange, Aug. 9. The SMEE and Cooperative Health Engagement in nearby Nalaikh district brought a multinational team of medical officers together in both classroom and clinical settings to gain experience, enhance interoperability and be exposed to different tactics, techniques and procedures in the military medical field. Khaan Quest is a peacekeeping operations-focused, combined training event between U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, U.S. Army Pacific, and the MAF. MARFORPAC and USARPAC have conducted similar training with MAF since 2003, and this exercise marks the 11th iteration of the exercise.

Soldiers with the Mongolian Armed Forces role play as both rioters and peacekeepers while training on the vehicle checkpoint lane, Aug. 8. Khaan Quest is a peacekeeping operations-focused, combined training event between U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, U.S. Army Pacific, and the MAF. MARFORPAC and USARPAC have conducted similar training with MAF since 2003, and this exercise marks the 11th iteration of Khaan Quest. Military personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, India, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, United Kingdom and Vietnam are also participating in the exercise.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. David Hoskins demonstrates the trigger mechanism on a victim-operated improvised explosive device to Gen. Shigeru Iwasaki, Chief of the Joint Staff for the Japan Self Defense Forces and Japan's top uniformed military official, during Iwasaki's visit to Five Hills Training Area, Aug. 8. Khaan Quest is a peacekeeping operations-focused, combined training event between U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, U.S. Army Pacific, and the MAF. MARFORPAC and USARPAC have conducted similar training with MAF since 2003, and this exercise marks the 11th iteration of Khaan Quest. Military personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, India, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, United Kingdom and Vietnam are also participating in the exercise. Hoskins, from Millersburg, Ohio, and serving as the counter-IED lane trainer during exercise Khaan Quest, is member of 2-35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Regiment, and currently attached to the Asia Pacific C-IED Fusion Center, USARPAC, out of Schoefield Barracks, Hawaii.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Moore with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division shouts orders to other memers of his team during a cordon and search lane ledt by members of the Mongolian Armed Forces, Australian Army South Korean Army and U.S. Soldiers and Marines at Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia on Aug. 08, 2013. Khaan Quest is an annual multinational exercise sponsored by the U.S. and Mongolia, and it is designed to strengthen the capabilities of U.S., Mongolian and other nations' forces in international peace support operations.

Cpl. Justin Haish, an instructor for the Khaan Quest 2013 survival course and member of the Jungle Warfare Training Center in Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan, dismounts during a rope corral demonstration for Mongolian Armed Forces soldiers and U.S. Marines, Aug. 7. Khaan Quest is a peacekeeping operations-focused, combined training event between U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, U.S. Army Pacific, and the MAF. MARFORPAC and USARPAC have conducted similar training with MAF since 2003, and this exercise marks the 11th iteration of Khaan Quest. Military personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, India, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, United Kingdom and Vietnam are also participating in the exercise. Haish, currently part of the unit deployment program with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, is from Kailua, Hawaii.

Dr. Peter R. Lavoy, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, meets with vehicle checkpoint lane instructors from Nepal, German, Republic of Korea and Japan, during a visit to Five Hills Training Area, Aug.6. Approximately 1,000 service members from 13 different nations are participating in the exercise. The command post exercise (CPX) and field training exercise (FTX) take place at Five Hills Training Area in Mongolia, both focusing on peacekeeping and stability operations. Dr. Lavoy toured the area to meet with exercise participants and leadership from Mongolia, U.S. and other participating nations. U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific is the executive agent for Khaan Quest 2013.

Members of the Mongolian Armed Forces Honorary Guard, stand in formation during the opening ceremony of Exercise Khaan Quest in Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, August 2, 2013. Khaan Quest is an annual multinational exercise sponsored by the U.S. and Mongolia, and it is designed to strengthen the capabilities of U.S., Mongolian and other nations’ forces in international peace support operations.

Lt. Gen. Ts. Byambajav (right), Chief of General Staff, Mongolian Armed Forces, greets Adm. Samuel Locklear, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, at Five Hills Training Area prior to the Khaan Quest 2013 opening ceremony, Aug 3. Approximately 1,000 service members from 13 different nations are participating in Khaan Quest 2013, which consists of a command post exercise (CPX) and field training exercise (FTX) at Five Hills Training Area, both focusing on peacekeeping and stability operations. Mongolian and U.S. armed forces, along with other regional partners, will also participate in Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP) projects, as well as Cooperative Health Engagement (CHE) events in Ulaanbaatar, enhancing joint Mongolian-U.S. medical and engineering capabilities and providing outreach to underserved communities.

A Member of the Mongolian Armed Forces 234 Calvary Unit, jumps his horse during the opening ceremony of Exercise Khaan Quest in Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, August 2, 2013. Khaan Quest is an annual multinational exercise sponsored by the U.S. and Mongolia, and it is designed to strengthen the capabilities of U.S., Mongolian and other nations’ forces in international peace support operations.

Staff Sgt. Antonio Tyler and 1st Lt. Matthew Elliott, project manager and officer-in-charge of Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, joke with a local child during renovation work on Erdmiin Oyun High School as part of Exercise Khaan Quest in the Nalaikh District of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 23. Khaan Quest is a regularly scheduled multinational exercise co sponsored this year by U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces, designed to promote regional peace and security.

Mongolian Armed Forces engineers with 017 Construction Regiment receive instructions from their supervisor prior to starting work, July 22. A multinational team of engineers, which includes U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion and U.S. Army soldiers with 96th Troop Command, are working together to renovate Erdmiin Oyun High School in the Nalaikh district of Ulaanbaatar as part of Exercise Khaan Quest 2013. Khaan Quest is a regularly scheduled, multinational exercise co-sponsored this year by U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, and hosted annually by the MAF. The intent of the ongoing engineering civic action program (ENCAP) project in Nalaikh is to provide valuable training for Mongolian and U.S. armed forces by boosting their interoperability, as well as demonstrate a mutual commitment to local community.

Pfc. Ismael Moctezumadelalanza, a combat engineer with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, lines up a cut with a chopsaw during renovation work on Erdmiin Oyun High School as part of Exercise Khaan Quest in the Nalaikh District of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 22. Khaan Quest is a regularly scheduled multinational exercise co sponsored this year by U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces, designed to promote regional peace and security.