The Deputy Governor for Nalaikh, Mr. Odonkhuu hosted the opening ceremony for the Coordinated Health Engagement and the Engineering Civic Assistance Program on Friday, 2 August, in the Cultural Center Square of Nalaikh. The Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Kirk McBride, represented the United States Embassy and the Deputy Commissioner for Military and Veterans Affairs for Alaska, Mr. McHugh Pierre, represented the Alaska National Guard. This year, the event includes the renovation of the Erdmiin Orgiil school in Nalaikh, and medical services at two locations in the Nalaikh community and the MAF hospital.
The simultaneous projects have a dual focus: to improve the cooperative capabilities among engineering and medical units from Mongolia, the United States, Canada, Japan, and Korea; and to take part in humanitarian assistance in coordination with Mongolian Armed Forces units and the Nalaikh community. Mr. McBride recognized these two goals, and added that the cooperation and relationships built during the exercise will help service members from the various countries to “apply the same methods when participating in on-going support of United Nations peace-keeping operations overseas or in potential future humanitarian assistance operations.” Mr. Pierre also emphasized the ongoing relationship between the Alaska National Guard and the Mongolian Armed Forces, noting their ten year partnership.
As the partnership between the United States and Mongolian armed forces grows, we both continue to seek opportunities to train together in ways that benefit the nation as a whole.
