FIVE HILLS TRAINING AREA, Mongolia – The Mongolian Armed Forces and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific began participating in the Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Seminar (NOLES) 2016, scheduled to be held in Mongolia, September 12-23.
NOLES is a regularly scheduled field training exercise and leadership seminar sponsored by U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and hosted annually by various nations throughout Asia-Pacific. In its 15th iteration, this multinational event is designed to promote awareness and effective use of non-lethal weapons as a tool to maintain order in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, low-intensity conflicts or civil unrest scenarios.
Non-lethal weapons are explicitly designed to incapacitate equipment and personnel while minimizing fatalities and permanent injury to personnel, and undesired collateral damage to property. This capability is preferred during rescue missions, for force protection in civil disturbances, while controlling rioting prisoners of war, for checkpoint or convoy operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, or in situations in which civilians are used to mask a military attack.
In addition to participation from Mongolia and the United States, Mongolian Armed Forces has invited military leaders from 25 nations to participate in the multinational seminar as an opportunity for all participating nations to enhance interoperability and strengthen military-to-military partnerships through cooperation.