Amid the ongoing tension in Iran, the United States Central Command released a video showing scenes of joint training between the US military and the Mongolian Air Force.
On Saturday, June 6, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) released a video showcasing the US military and Mongolian Air Force participating in the “Exercise Regional Cooperation 26.” In the video, Mongolian Air Force Colonel Enkhtuvshin Namjildorj is seen participating in M4 rifle training.
Namjildorj stated in the video released by CENTCOM, “I am pleased to learn and collaborate here with international military officers.”
The Central Command stated that the exercise demonstrates that “the US military and our partners are stronger when training and operating together.”
The “Exercise Regional Cooperation 26” (RC26) is the largest-scale military joint training exercise organized by the US Central Command, and this year marks its 30th edition with participation from nearly a dozen Central and South Asian partner countries. The exercise officially commenced on June 1 in Harrisonburg, Montana, including opening ceremonies and obstacle training.
The core objectives and focus areas of the exercise lie in interoperability and readiness. The exercise aims to enhance the operational skills of participating forces, strengthen collective security, and regional stability.
“The thirty years of joint training represent an important milestone, reflecting the long-term trust and cooperation between the United States and regional partners,” stated General Brad Cooper, the commander of the Central Command. “Our common goal is to train and prepare forces to respond to various contingencies.”
Over the next two weeks, more than 350 military personnel from 10 countries and 10 units of the US National Guard will participate in a joint exercise aimed at enhancing tactical response capabilities to conventional and unconventional security threats.
The 11-day exercise will include command post training, field training, and cybersecurity exercises, providing participants with opportunities to coordinate and train in a learning environment. Cooper said, “As we train and work together, we build relationships and make each other better.”
This year’s training focus on deepening strategic alliances with partner forces to address the ever-evolving geopolitical landscape of the Asian continent.
On Saturday, the Central Command also released photos of operations aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli in the Arabian Sea. The photos depict US Navy and Marine Corps members conducting operations by fast-roping from an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter onto the ship amidst the ongoing tensions in the region.
The USS Tripoli arrived in the Central Command’s area of responsibility in late March, which encompasses the Arabian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.