Following its highly successful inaugural visit in April 2008, OBI returned to Mongolia in November to conduct training for that country’s defense representatives, specifically the unit psychologists appointed to support unit commanders. Vic Salazar, Executive Director, and Dr. Richard Stiliha, Director of Education and Training, found that these unit psychologists function in an evolving program launched within the last five years, and that they typically perform duties most closely approximating what might be found in chaplaincies of other countries. At the request of the Mongolian Armed Forces, the theme of the training was "Issues Related to Deploying Forces." Sub-topics included Stress, Depression, Pre-deployment Preparation, Alcohol Abuse, Peacekeeping Deployments, and Family Reintegration.
Included in OBI's objectives for the visit were to increase Mongolian units' capabilities to support deploying and redeploying forces and their families, while also investigating opportunities for increasing awareness of OBI's capabilities to assist Mongolian armed forces in improving the quality of life for their military families.
All training was conducted at the headquarters of the Mongolian Army ceremonial honor guard. While OBI had been told to expect fifteen to twenty attendees, a total of twenty-five actually attended the training, including both the Deputy Director of Training, Mongolian Internal Security Forces and the Head of Psychology, Department of Defense University, Mongolia.
A noteworthy observation was that while the attendees had previously received technical and theoretical training, they had received relatively little practical training. Since the American approach was more practical than theoretical, the Mongolians proved keen to learn and found noteworthy OBI's commitment to meeting the needs of entire military families and not of the military members alone. Most Mongolians who attended OBI's training sessions expressed a deep appreciation for the manner in which OBI recognizes that taking care of military families is indeed an essential component of the desired state of readiness of the Mongolian Armed Forces.
Mongolian authorities who noted the OBI contribution alerted media outlets to capture the story and transmit its content well outside the classes and briefing rooms. The Mongolian Forces TV Network filmed a session Dick Stiliha conducted. That was later followed by a Defense Weekly newspaper reporter visit and interview. Additionally, after the completion of training, a reporter from the Mongolian National Public Radio network conducted an interview with the Mongolian officer in charge of coordinating that training.
OBI appreciates the support of Mr. Floyd Sebald, Country Director, Mongolia, Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) in the course of the visit. His Centurions Ministry, the Mongolian arm of the Campus Crusade for Christ Military Ministry, helped facilitate all our activities in the country. In follow-on discussion with the Centurions leadership, they raised the topic of providing medical supplies and training to the Mongolian military. OBI will pursue feasible options of support. Further, in visiting a regimental headquarters to view the computer labs, Vic Salazar found a compelling need for more support to the Mongolian military in this area.
While OBI had anticipated a return to Mongolia in May 2009 timeframe before this iteration of training, the Mongolian military has made a specific request: 23-27 March, 2009. OBI is committed to meeting this request by Mongolian officials, to conduct training for the Mongolian Defense University Department of Psychology and the Internal Security Defense Forces.
