AF IMA leads global peacekeeper training Published June 6, 2016 By Master Sgt. Timm Huffman Headquarters RIO BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Col. Carl Magnusson is a member of the profession of arms. But during a recent multinational exercise, he helped shape the next generation of the profession of peace. Alongside his Mongolian Armed Forces counterpart, Col. L. Ganselem, Magnusson served as co-director for Khaan Quest 2016, held in the Mongolian capital city of Ulaanbaatar and at the nearby Five Hills Training Area, May 22 – June 4. Magnusson is an Air Force Reserve Individual Mobilization Augmentee assigned as the director of PACOM’s Joint Exercise Control Group. As a reservist, it is his job to support PACOM exercises, such as Khaan Quest, in key leadership roles. The U.S. Pacific Command-sponsored exercise was the capstone in a series of trainings and involved about 45 peacekeeper instructors-in-training and 1,500 new peacekeepers from more than 40 countries. Before training commenced, the participants gathered for an opening ceremony presided over by Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and PACOM Commander Admiral Harry Harris. “During this exercise, multinational forces will work to enhance interoperability and develop common tactics,” said Harris. “All of this will ultimately enhance our collective effectiveness to support global peacekeeping operations.” Khaan Quest has been held each year since 2003 as part of the Global Peace Operations Initiative. GPOI is a U.S. Government-funded security assistance program intended to enhance international capacity to effectively conduct U.N. and regional peace support operations by building partner country capabilities to train and sustain peacekeeping proficiencies; increasing the number of capable military troops and formed police units available for deployment; and facilitating the preparation, logistical support, and deployment of military units and peace support operations. With so many countries represented, all training was conducted in English and students were expected to have a rudimentary understanding of the language. Despite communication barriers, Magnusson said the peacekeepers forged ahead diligently in order to improve their core competencies for future U.N. peacekeeping missions. The training put the attendees through 11 training lanes designed to expose members to what they would face in a real-world peace support operation, including patrolling, cordon and search, IED- and mine-awareness, and building relationships with local communities through healthcare and public service projects. Pablo Pintos, a GPOI subject matter expert, said the exercise was a great experience for the new peacekeepers and exposed them to a variety of scenarios. “It’s really good to work in a multinational environment… and it is very rewarding because we know that this training will contribute to the safety of the soldiers when they’re deployed in real peacekeeping operations,” he said. Following a cordon and search exercise, Nepalese Army Captain “KC” echoed Pintos’ sentiment, saying he believes the training he and his platoon received on the protection of civilians, rules of engagement and code of conduct will be “very fruitful on our deployment in U.N. missions.” “We were taught about the peacekeeping scenarios,” he added. “We were given… [realistic] scenarios… and we knew how to react under those scenarios… and in upcoming days when we are going to deploy in U.N. missions, we can face those types of difficulties.” Mongolia has extensive experience in U.N. and other international peacekeeping operations, having deployed its forces for operations in South Sudan, Darfur (Sudan), Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Balkans, as well as to international coalition operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Exercises like Khaan Quest set the stage for all countries to learn from one another’s experiences. For Magnusson, the exercise helped enhance his understanding of world affairs. As an Airman who came up through the Cold War, sleeping inside a ger (a traditional Mongolian structure, also called a yurt) in a country sandwiched between Russia and China, working with the Mongolians has helped him set aside his old perceptions about the region. He has seen how a former Soviet client state made a conscious decision to pursue democracy. The exercise, he said, showed him how thoroughly committed Mongolia is to peacekeeping operations on a global level and that their quest for interoperability with the U.S. can only lead to increased peace and stability in the region. “It doesn’t matter what color our camo is, we are all here to support the Mongolian capacity to train young peacekeepers,” he said. The opportunity to work at this sort of global-affairs level highlights why Magnusson made the move from KC-135 pilot in the Traditional Reserve to a non-flying role in the Individual Reserve several years ago. The IR, which is made up of IMAs (like Magnusson) and Participating Individual Ready Reservists, directly supports the active duty, Department of Defense, and other government agencies. It can offer reserve Airmen opportunities to gain experience at higher headquarters, joint and strategic levels. When Magnusson transitioned, he said he was ready to think bigger, get out of his comfort zone, and take his Air Force career up a notch, so he began looking for an IMA billet that would help him accomplish those goals. He found a position with PACOM and has since supported a number of global exercises in key leadership roles. Magnusson’s duties in these lead roles have exposed him to situations and scenarios he wouldn’t have otherwise encountered. His participation in Khaan Quest 2016 even gave him the opportunity to deliver the mission brief to the Mongolian president. The brief, which was scheduled for senior staff, didn’t include any indication that the Mongolian head of state would attend. Magnusson said he had a bit of an adrenaline moment when he got the news that he’d be briefing President Elbegdorj. He added that the sovereign was pleasant and interested in the materials. Also in attendance was Harris and the U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia, Jennifer Zidahl Galt. In addition to expanding his understanding of global relations, the exercise was also an opportunity for the IMA to gain a broader cultural perspective. Sharing a ger with his Mongolian counterparts gave him insight into his host’s culture and nightly cultural exchange events set up by the Mongolians allowed him to experience traditions of other nations in attendance. The mission was also an opportunity for him to work closely with other U.S. services, including the Alaska National Guard, U.S. Army Pacific, U.S. Marines Forces Pacific and medical experts from the Navy’s U.S. Pacific Fleet. Magnusson stressed that these types of joint and multinational assignments are invaluable growth opportunities for Airmen, allowing them to be a part of a mission larger than their own and to see how they fit into the big picture. “It was an honor and a privilege to take part, and this exercise was an example of how our Total Force efforts transcend services,” he said. “From where I sat, we had personnel from the land components and medical experts from the maritime components, working with our international partners. It was quite a mix!” To learn more about the IMA program, including where to find position vacancies, visit the Headquarters Individual Reservist Readiness and Integration Organization (HQ RIO) website at www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/home/HQRIO.aspx. HQ RIO is responsible for seamlessly integrating the Air Force Reserve's IMAs into the 50+ active component organizations and government agencies they support.