A soldier with 84th Battalion, 30th Brigade, 643rd Company from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, empties a bag of cement that will be mixed into brick mortar during the Engineering Civic Action Program portion of Exercise Khaan Quest 2011 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Aug. 1. The purpose of the program is to improve medical care in the area by adding on to the Ayut Family Hospital, a 17,000 sq. ft. urgent care clinic, which will serve the 9th sub-district of khaan-Uul District. Khaan Quest is a training exercise designed to strengthen the capabilities of U.S., Mongolian and other participating nations’ forces in international peace support operations and civic outreach programs worldwide.

Photo by Cpl. Tyler Main

Mongolia, US build on friendship during Khaan Quest 11

11 Aug 2011 | Cpl. Tyler Main U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia -- The Engineering Civic Action Program portion of Exercise Khaan Quest 2011 was completed after the ribbon was cut, signifying the opening of the Ayut Family Hospital in the ninth khooro, Khan-Uul District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Aug. 11.

Mongolian and U.S. service members teamed-up to build onto an existing health clinic. The addition to the hospital includes eight treatment rooms, a waiting room, a bathroom and a heating system to use during the harsh Mongolian winters.

Mongolian Armed Force’s construction workers teamed up with Marines and sailors from 9th Engineer Support Battalion, III Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force and soldiers from 84th Battalion, 30th Brigade, 643rd Company to complete the job.

“I feel great about working with the U.S. forces again, especially since we were building a hospital,” said Sgt. Batbayar Amarbayar, mason and interior specialist, Mongolian armed forces. “I’ve been working with the U.S. forces on different projects every year since 2007.”

He said this hospital will be key to the community for years to come.

“Building projects like this hospital are especially good for this community because it’s mostly below the poverty line and it will allow them to get quality medical care,” Amarbayar added.

Johnathan S. Addleton, the U.S. ambassador to Mongolia, was present and gave the final words before the facility was opened.

“This multinational effort was not only a good example of a humanitarian mission, but also of multinational cooperation,” he said. “This type of mission also prepares service members to respond to humanitarian missions overseas.”

The building team hopes the medical facility will become the staple that improves the medical care for the surrounding community. After the dedication of the building was complete, a few of the local elders shook the hands of everyone they saw in a military uniform.

“As we can all agree, personal health is priceless,” Maj. Gen. Bayarmagnai, member of general staff, Mongolian Armed Forces. “We are very grateful for the military and local physicians who aided the people of this area.”