Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ULAANBAATAR856
2006-12-05 08:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Cable title:  

Alaska National Guard State Partnership Bolsters Military

Tags:  PREL MARR ETRD KPAO MG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEAUSA/NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU WASHINGTON DC//ARNG NGB INTERNATIONAL AFF
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RUEARSK/59THSIGBN FT RICHARDSON AK
RUEARSK/JFHQAK FORT RICHARDSON AK
UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000856 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR ETRD KPAO MG
SUBJECT: Alaska National Guard State Partnership Bolsters Military
and Civilian Ties

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION

UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000856

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR ETRD KPAO MG
SUBJECT: Alaska National Guard State Partnership Bolsters Military
and Civilian Ties

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION


1. (U) Summary and comment: During a mid-November visit by Alaska
National Guard head Major General Craig Campbell, Mongolian military
counterparts expressed appreciation for the State Partnership
Program (SPP) relationship with the Alaska National Guard, but urged
even more assistance. MG Campbell also presented to the Mayor of
Erdenet a letter from the Mayor of Fairbanks proposing a sister city
relationship, and also the visit was a good example of how the State
Partnership Program between Alaska and Mongolia complements both the
PACOM Theater Security Cooperation Plan in reforming the defense
sector, and the Embassy Strategic Performance Plan by developing
Mongolia's democratic principles. End summary and comment.


2. (U) The Adjutant General (TAG) of Alaska, Major General Craig
Campbell, visited Mongolia, 13-18 November 2006. The Director of
Administrative Services, the Guard SPP coordinator, and a Public
Affairs specialist from the State Governor's office accompanied MG
Campbell from Alaska. From the embassy, the Acting Defense Attach
and Embassy SPP Coordinator accompanied MG CAMPBELL. The visit was
a scheduled senior leader visit supporting the Alaska-Mongolia SPP
and included meetings with the Minister of Defense State Secretary,
Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) Chief of the Air and Air Defense
Forces, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Director, Orkhon
Aimag Governor, Erdenet City businesses and organizations, and three
military units.

Uniform Meetings Bring Assistance Requests
--------------


3. (SBU) MG Campbell met with MoD State Secretary Major General M.
Borbaatar. General Borbaatar had three requests. First, he wanted
the joint medical events to continue in rural Mongolia. The Alaska
Guard and US Army Pacific have both sent medical teams to Mongolia
to team up with MAF and Border Forces medical professionals to
provide care to remote areas of Mongolia. He noted these events
provide services to areas that don't have access to quality care,
they promote joint operability and training between the
participants, and they improve military-civilian relations.

Secondly, General Borbaatar asked for Subject Matter Exchanges for
military police. Creating a cadre of Military Police is one of the
goals of Mongolian Defense Reform. Thirdly, Borbaatar asked for
training in specialties that will increase Mongolia's UN deployment
capacity. He specifically requested technical training in the
engineering, military police, logistics, and infantry specialties.
MG Campbell felt the AK Guard and SPP provided a good resource to
support these requests and looked forward to seeing General
Borbaatar in Alaska during the BCC in January.


4. (SBU) MG Campbell also met with MAF Air and Air Defense Forces,
Major General Byambajav. (Note: Byambajav, as a Deputy Chief of
Staff of the General Staff Headquarters, was the MAF host, as LTG
TOGOo was out of country) General Byambajav's two requests were the
highlight of the meeting. First, he noted that Mongolia has a real
need for transport aircraft to transport Mongolia's UN peacekeepers,
and respond to national humanitarian and disaster relief needs. He
said either C-17 or C-130 aircraft would satisfy those needs.
Secondly, he requested communication equipment to improve Mongolia's
air surveillance capability. He noted the current radar and
supporting communication equipment were outdated, undependable, and
no longer maintainable. (Comment: Both of these requests are
completely out of the AK Guard and SPP domain. End comment.)


5. (SBU) The Director of NEMA, High Commissioner Dash, spent most
of his meeting with MG Campbell reminiscing about their previous
encounters. The only request was for a signed, detailed Memorandum
of Agreement between Alaska and NEMA - a legal, binding document.
(Comment: Two years ago, the Governor of Alaska signed a 'statement
of cooperation' so it is unlikely a detailed document will be
developed.)

SPP Also Expands Alaska-Mongolia Civilian Ties
-------------- -


6. (U) MG Campbell delegation also traveled to Erdenet to deliver a
letter from the Mayor of Fairbanks to the Mayor of Erdenet (who also
is the governor of Orkhon Aimag) to start a Fairbanks-Erdenet sister
city relation. The trip included visits to a copper mine, copper

processing plant, carpet factory, city hospital, and technical
university. Ideas on possible business, education, culture,
environmental, and governmental exchanges between the two cities
were discussed. MG Campbell also presented, on behalf of the
University of Alaska president, two 4-year full-tuition scholarships
for Erdenet residents.


Visits to Mongolian Military Units
--------------


7. (U) The Alaskan delegation also visited three military units. A
stop at Unit #086 in Erdenet offered a chance to see a static
display of weapons and visit with nearly 50 veterans of Sierra
Leone, Iraq, and Afghanistan deployments. (Note: Beginning with
Mongolia's second rotation to Iraq in 2004, an Alaskan National
Guard officer and enlisted soldier have been stationed with
Mongolia's OIF rotations to help with liaison.) An unscheduled stop
at Unit #330 in Darkhan to see Mongolia's new peacekeeping battalion
provided a quick tour of the facilities and brief on the work that
is being done to finish staffing and equipping the battalion - a
very busy unit. On the other hand, a visit to Unit #137 in Nalaikh
gave the group a look at a unit without a mission, complete with a
fleet of un-maintained, non-flying MIG-21 fighters and a
deteriorated runway and infrastructure.


8. (U) This cable has been cleared by Major General Campbell.

Minton