Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF)
The Mongolian Armed Forces are the system of state military institutions designed to defend the country by military means against external armed incursion, and aggression. The Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) are a relatively small but disciplined, pro-western force. With modest attention, this military can be a regional asset as a peacekeeping-contributing nation and a role model for Northeast and Central Asian countries. Its unique geopolitical position also makes the MAF worth developing as a DOD/PACOM asset. Mongolians tacitly acknowledge the MAF is no match for the forces of either of its neighbors, China or Russia, but continue to keep defense of nation, as a top mission.
Mongolia’s armed forces comprise a system of State administrated military organizations, tasked to defend the country. Defense activities are implemented within the framework of the Constitution, principles of national security, principles of external policy, the basis of State military policy, and others, together with laws and regulations adopted in conformity with these. The main objective of the armed forces is to protect the country’s independence and sovereignty and its entire territory from external armed attack and/or aggression.
During times of peace, it is responsible for preparing to defend the country against armed attack and/or violations, to provide assistance to safeguard its frontiers, to oversee the preservation of the country’s air space, to assist with rescue services for people and their properties during disaster threats, to support enforcement of quarantine restrictions, to assist with training to form, maintain and reform mobilization resources, and to participate in international peacekeeping operations.
The Mongolian Armed Forces were long dominated by Soviet military presence and considered essentially an appendage of the Soviet forces in the Far East theater. Since 1992, the Mongolian military has undertaken a number of activities to simultaneously integrate the MAF into the new democratic system and to establish a politically neutral professional military through rightsizing and restructuring.
Mongolia's three primary missions and the focus of their transformation are: international peacekeeping operations, defense of the nation through support to the border protective service, and support for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
Reduction of the Mongolian Armed Forces started in 1988 with the exclusion of a Combined Army structure, and dissolution of the combined army headquarters and its subordinate units. In 1989, armed forces personnel were cut again by 13,000 men. Concurrently, the equipment of two motor rifle divisions was put in long-term conservation and only a small number of personnel were kept for equipment maintenance, servicing and protection. The Air Force was also reduced when 18 combat aircrafts were excluded from the service. Two thousand military trucks, 60 tanks and 30 armored personnel carriers were re-equipped for civilian use and transferred to civilian organizations.
In the early 1990s, there was 32.6 per cent cut in the personnel of main combat units which became under strength or cadre. All these were contributions by Mongolia, to common efforts for strengthening peace and security in the world and the Asia Pacific.
Through the Law on the Defense of Mongolia, the old structure of the armed forces, which consisted of the Mongolian People's Troops and Border and Internal Troops, was changed in 1993. Now the Mongolian Armed Forces comprise 5 components: General Purpose Troops, Air Defense Forces, Construction Corps, Civil Defense Forces and Mobilization Reserves* The Border Troops and Internal Troops were defined as "Other troops" which will become part of the armed forces in a state of war with a foreign country or a state of war.
Organizationally, the Mongolian Armed Forces consists of a military command body; service branch units; construction, logistic and technical units; military training; research; cultural and medical establishments; and economic entities. The decision to form or dissolve these units is made by the Government in consultation with the President of Mongolia and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Also, the Government exercises the power to define the place of a unit's dislocation, and issues permission for the use of land.
The active military consists of the Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF). In time of war, the Mongolian Border Protection Service - commanded by a Major General - comes under the control of the military. In 2002 the border forces and the Civil Defense Agency (now National Emergency Management Agency - NEMA) were part of the active military. By 2006 the border forces were subordinate to the Ministry of Justice and Homeland Affairs, while NEMA is under the Ministry for Emergency Management.
After much debate, Mongolia began to shift to a lighter, more compact force structure. Support units were unified to capitalize on scarce resources. Between 1985 and 2006, the number of active duty forces was reduced by 75 percent. The MAF had approximately 10,000 soldiers (7,500-11,000- depending on source) with 120,000 inactive reservists.
Military reform and restructuring continues to be a significant element of the security assistance training program. The MAF places great value on the training available to support reform and restructuring efforts, especially the e-IMET programs. By 2006, senior MAF leadership, including the chief of the general staff himself, had been promoted due to their attendance at IMETt courses. These reformers are looking to quickly build qualified staffs and subordinate leaders-- a future cadre based on participation in e-imet programs. Programs from the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) and the Center for Civil-Military Relations (CCMR) have also been enthusiastically received.
Professional military command of the armed forces is executed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, chiefs and staffs of service branches, commanders and staffs of military units, and military and civil defense staff of provinces, the capital city and districts within their respective competence. The General Staff of the Armed Forces is the central institution of military command. The Chief of the General Staff carries out his duties under the governance of the Commander-in-Chief and the Member of Government in charge of defense matters.
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