"Through 21 years of partnership in Khaan Quest, we had the opportunity to experience Mongolian culture"

The international field training exercise "Khaan Quest 2025" for peace support operations was successfully held from June 14 to 28, 2025. 

The primary objective of the "Khaan Quest" exercise is to train and prepare peacekeepers from United Nations peacekeeping countries, enhance their interoperability, and strengthen international peace, security, and military cooperation among participating nations. 

This year, the exercise brought together approximately 1,500 military personnel from 24 countries.

As part of Mongolia’s peace-oriented foreign policy, the "Khaan Quest" multinational exercise holds significant importance. It not only promotes global awareness of Mongolia’s commitment to peace through unity, friendship, and diplomacy, but also plays a vital role in improving the training, preparedness, and operational capacity of the Mongolian Armed Forces. Moreover, it contributes to the advancement of knowledge, skills, and practical experience of peacekeepers from various countries. 

Initiated in 2003 by Mongolia and the United States, the exercise has grown steadily over the years. In 2024, 10 countries—including the United States, China, South Korea, Turkey, India, Japan (with two platoons), Qatar, and Mongolia—participated in the platoon-level training. This year, the exercise brought together approximately 1,500 military personnel from 24 countries. 

This year’s exercise successfully included command-post training aimed at synchronizing the multinational brigade and battalion-level staff operations during simulated local crisis scenarios under the United Nations peacekeeping mandate. It also featured field exercises, where platoons implemented decisions made by the staff on the ground. 

We spoke with LTC Jeremy R. Eckel, a member of the "Khaan Quest 2025" planning team from the United States, to learn more about this year’s training exercise. 

When did you first get involved with the Khaan Quest exercise? What was your impression during your very first experience with the program? 
My first experience was during the initial planning conference where Mongolian General B. Baatar and Colonel D. Myagmarjav, my co-host, traveled to Hawaii. We jointly conducted a planning conference at the U.S. Army Pacific Headquarters. That marked the beginning for me, around December, during the Christmas season in 2024. Following that, I traveled to Mongolia for the first time in February for the mid-planning conference.  

What was special about this year's Khaan Quest? 
If I had to summarize what made this year's exercise special, I would say it was the opportunity for international participants to engage beyond formal training—particularly through cultural exchanges and informal gatherings. The Mongolians have been wonderful hosts, generously sharing their traditional culture. For example, during civil affairs training, participants met a local herder who invited them into his home, served milk tea, and showed genuine hospitality. Such interactions leave lasting impressions. While soldiers may be similar in training, each country's culture is unique, and that cultural exchange is what makes this exercise truly special. 

Approximately how many service members of U.S. forces have participated in the Khaan Quest exercise this year? 
We had around 187 participants from the United States. They rotated in and out at different times. I don’t have the exact number of active participants on hand, as some countries contributed trainers, others sent planners, and some provided platoons. It's a complex exercise, with different service members and soldiers from different countries involved in various aspects.  

What are your thoughts on the skills and participation of Mongolian soldiers in this training? 
I believe the Mongolian soldiers are exceptional—very disciplined, professional, and strong. They demonstrate excellent command over training operations. They are present behind every training lane, knowledgeable, and well-prepared. They are a great army.  

How do you see the future of U.S-Mongolia joint training programs evolving? What new directions or possibilities do you foresee? 
While I can't speak definitively about the future, I can say that this is the 21st time we've conducted this exercise with the Mongolian Army. We started in 2003 but paused briefly due to the COVID pandemic. I believe this tradition will likely continue annually, as it's an excellent partnership—a meaningful opportunity for soldiers from various countries to share cultures, experiences, and work together toward the common goal of peacekeeping. 

How has the participation of female service members in international peacekeeping evolved in recent years? 
As this is my first time being involved with Khaan Quest, I can't speak to broader trends. However, I can say the female soldiers I've seen have been outstanding. Mongolia fielded an all-female platoon, and the feedback from trainers was overwhelmingly positive. It shows clearly that a soldier is a soldier—if they are motivated and hardworking, they will succeed.  

How are new challenges such as technology, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity integrated into Khaan Quest?  
At this stage, those areas haven’t been a primary focus of our peacekeeping training objectives. Most of our scenarios are traditional to peacekeeping operations—such as securing food or medical distribution points, or setting up checkpoints for safety. These scenarios typically do not heavily involve cybersecurity or AI, but these elements may become more relevant in the future.  

You’ve mentioned that you felt a call to serve after the events of September 11. Could you share how that shaped your decision?
I’m a proud American, and that was a very serious event. At that time, I felt my country needed me, and I wanted to volunteer and do my part during a time of uncertainty. Initially, I didn’t plan to make it a career. I just wanted to serve and then return to civilian life. But the Army offers many opportunities, and I found myself accepting one challenge after another. Eventually, I became eligible for retirement. My latest challenge is serving as a battalion commander, and I continue to grow through that experience. It's been an interesting and rewarding journey.  

How do you enjoy being in Mongolia? 
When I first visited in February, I mostly saw the thriving city of Ulaanbaatar. It was quite cold, but the people were warm, welcoming, and had a great sense of humor. Later, during the final planning conference in April and now during the exercise, I had the chance to see the countryside. I was deeply impressed by the balance between preserving traditional nomadic culture and embracing modernization.  

Mongolia has a proud and ancient culture, and it has been a privilege to experience both its heritage and its hospitality firsthand.  The efforts Mongolia makes to share its culture—through music, throat singing, instruments, dance, and wrestling—are truly appreciated. I particularly enjoyed watching wrestling and seeing young children mastering horseback riding. Yesterday, during the cultural festival, we had an intense rainstorm that caused damage and flooding. But once it cleared up, the festival continued. The wrestlers returned, and that moment left a lasting impression on us. These cultural experiences are incredibly valuable and will be remembered with great appreciation.  

Thank you for your time with us.