160603-N-WI365-009 ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 03,

160603-N-WI365-009 ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 03, 2016) – Mongolian locals and a soldier of the Mongolian Armed Forces prepare to race horses during a Naadam festival at Five Hills Training Area as part of Khaan Quest 2016. The festival featured three sporting events - wrestling, archery and horseback-riding. The Naadam festival is the last official event for participants to experience Mongolian culture prior to the closing ceremony on June 4. Khaan Quest 2016 is an annual, multinational peacekeeping operations exercise hosted by the Mongolian Armed Forces, co-sponsored by U.S. Pacific Command, and supported by U.S. Army Pacific and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. Khaan Quest, in its 14th iteration, is the capstone exercise for this year’s Global Peace Operations Initiative program. The exercise focuses on training activities to enhance international interoperability, develop peacekeeping capabilities, build to mil-to-mil relationships, and enhance military readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Markus Castaneda/RELEASED)