By Construction Electrician 3rd Class Tanisha Wisdom,
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4
ZUUNMOD, Mongolia – Seabees assigned to U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 participated in an engineering civil-assistance program (ENCAP) project as part of Khaan Quest 2016, May 8- June 4. This is the first time since the exercise began in 2003 that Seabees have participated in this exercise.
U.S. armed forces along with forces from Mongolia, Singapore and India, constructed the fourth dormitory in Zuunmod, Mongolia, for students travelling from nearby cities to attend school. NMCB 4, U.S. Army and U.S Marine Corps engineers also made necessary repairs to the schoolhouse classrooms.
“Khaan Quest 2016 meant more than just building a dormitory; it was building relations with the Mongolian Armed Forces, experiencing Mongolians food and culture, and working together with the other armed forces,” said Utilitiesman Constructionman Aaron Toval. “I am pleased with the final product of the building. We had one mission in mind - to help provide a an exceptional facility for the children of Mongolia and we accomplished that mission.”
The dormitory project started in March as a joint effort with the multinational team assisting with laying a foundation and installing windows, electrical wiring and plumbing. A ribbon cutting ceremony, Jun. 3, officially opened the dormitory, honoring the efforts of the engineers.
A ceremony was held, Jun. 4, marking the conclusion of Khaan Quest 2016 where Deputy Commanding General of Operations for U.S. Army Pacific, Maj. Gen. Gregory Bilton reiterated the importance of the nations participation in the exercise.
“We must be prepared with a collective solution. We must train together and develop a unified response. We must train together to strengthen our trust. And we must train together to increase our understanding of each other and our shared interests,” said Deputy Commanding General of Operations for U.S. Army Pacific, Maj. Gen. Gregory Bilton.
Held annually in Mongolia, Khaan Quest 2016 serves as the capstone exercise for the United Nations Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) program, which provides pre-deployment training to GPOI partner countries preparing to support UN Peacekeeping Missions. The focus has been on training activities to enhance international interoperability, developing peacekeeping capabilities, building mil-to-mil relationships, and enhancing military readiness.
NMCB 4 is a forward deployed pacific NMCB ready to support Major Combat Operations and Humanitarian Assistance/ Disaster Relief operations and to provide general engineering and civil support to Navy, Marine Corps and joint operational forces. Homeported out of Port Hueneme, Calif., NMCB 4 has detachment sites deployed throughout the United States and Pacific area of operations, including Cambodia, Diego Garcia, Guam, Japan, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Timor Leste.
For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, visit www.public.navy.mil/necc/1ncd/Pages/NMCB4 or follow NMCB 4 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NMCB4