Alaska National Guard State Partnership Bolsters Military

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