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Exercise Khaan Quest 24 kicks off in Mongolia

By Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Brandenburg and Sgt. Maj. Nathan HoskinsJuly 30, 2024

Multilateral Peacekeeping Khaan Quest 24 kicks off with opening ceremony
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Mongolian Armed Forces soldiers stand in ceremonial garb during multi-national exercise Khaan Quest 2024 opening ceremony at Five Hills Training Facility, Mongolia, July 27, 2024. Khaan Quest is an annual, multinational and multicomponent training exercise led by the MAF designed to promote regional peace and security. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joshua S. Brandenburg) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Brandenburg) VIEW ORIGINAL
Multilateral Peacekeeping Khaan Quest 24 kicks off with opening ceremony
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Musicians sing and play traditional Mongolian music during multi-national exercise Khaan Quest 2024 opening ceremony at Five Hills Training Facility, Mongolia, July 27, 2024. Khaan Quest is an annual, multinational and multicomponent training exercise led by the MAF designed to promote regional peace and security. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joshua S. Brandenburg) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Brandenburg) VIEW ORIGINAL
Multilateral Peacekeeping Khaan Quest 24 kicks off with opening ceremony
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Mongolian Armed Forces soldiers march in ceremonial garb during multi-national exercise Khaan Quest 2024 opening ceremony at Five Hills Training Facility, Mongolia, July 27, 2024. Khaan Quest is an annual, multinational and multicomponent training exercise led by the MAF designed to promote regional peace and security. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joshua S. Brandenburg) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Brandenburg) VIEW ORIGINAL

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia – The 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command watched as Khaan Quest 2024 kicked off with a ceremony at the Five Hills Training Facility near Ulaanbaatar July 27, 2024.

Khaan Quest, for which 8th MP Brigade is the Army forces lead, is an annual, multinational and multicomponent training exercise designed to promote regional peace and security.

As the ARFOR organization, the 8th MP Brigade is tasked to oversee the successful planning and execution of the 21st iteration of the critical exercise, bringing together stakeholders from across the U.S. Army and across the globe.

Khaan Quest features both command post and field training exercises focused on reinforcing UN standards across the forces and unilateral understanding. This year, realistic scenario-based training concentrated on peacekeeping operations with realistic training scenarios involving humanitarian organizations and host nation partners.

“Our commitment to peace and security stands unwavering. Khaan Quest 24 reaffirms our dedication to upholding international law, protecting human rights, and maintain global stability."

Opening remarks were given by Mongolian Armed Forces Maj. Gen. S. Ganbyamba, chief of General Staff; Honorable S. Byambatsogtu, member of the State Great Hural of Mongolia; Richard Buangan, U.S. ambassador to Mongolia; and Maj. Gen. Scott Winter, U.S. Army Pacific's deputy commanding general for strategy and plans.

“I firmly believe that the success of Mongolian peacekeepers can be attributed to the Khaan Quest peace support operations exercise,” said Ganbyamba. “These exercises seamlessly and completely catch the proficiency, knowledge, experience, discipline and endurance of our peacekeepers.”

Multilateral Peacekeeping Khaan Quest 24 kicks off with opening ceremony
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Mongolian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff, Maj. Gen. S. Ganbyamba, delivers opening remarks during multi-national exercise Khaan Quest 2024 opening ceremony at Five Hills Training Facility, Mongolia, July 27, 2024. Khaan Quest is an annual, multinational and multicomponent training exercise led by the MAF designed to promote regional peace and security. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Brandenburg) VIEW ORIGINAL
Multilateral Peacekeeping Khaan Quest 24 kicks off with opening ceremony
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Mongolian Armed Forces band soldiers march in ceremonial garb during multi-national exercise Khaan Quest 2024 opening ceremony at Five Hills Training Facility, Mongolia, July 27, 2024. Khaan Quest is an annual, multinational and multicomponent training exercise led by the MAF designed to promote regional peace and security. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Brandenburg) VIEW ORIGINAL
Multilateral Peacekeeping Khaan Quest 24 kicks off with opening ceremony
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Mongolian Armed Forces Sgt. B. Batulzil performs the traditional Mongolian dance of Jalam Khar in ceremonial garb during multi-national exercise Khaan Quest 2024 opening ceremony at Five Hills Training Facility, Mongolia, July 27, 2024. Khaan Quest is an annual, multinational and multicomponent training exercise led by the MAF designed to promote regional peace and security. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Brandenburg) VIEW ORIGINAL

Over 900 participants took part in the exercise from the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. More than just training, participants were encouraged to partake in multicultural events and forge friendships.

“Our commitment to peace and security stands unwavering. Khaan Quest 24 reaffirms our dedication to upholding international law, protecting human rights and maintain global stability," said Winter. "The bonds we forge here through shared challenges and triumphs will strengthen our collective ability to face future crises.”

In addition to the speakers, the opening ceremony featured traditional Mongolian music and a dance performance, along with soldiers in ceremonial garb.

“Peacekeeping serves an essential purpose around the world. Peacekeeping demands the same level of discipline, skill, knowledge, and leadership that we demand of our troops during wartime,” said Buangan. “That is why we support and participate in Khaan Quest, to collectively prepare ourselves for an unknown future where peace is the ultimate goal.”

For more information about Khaan Quest, please visit the official Facebook page and DVIDS feature page.