OSCE Office in Tajikistan trains border guards on patrol leadership course

DUSHANBE, 9 October 2015 – An OSCE-organized four-week training course on patrolling and leadership skills for 25 officers from Tajik Border Guard concluded today in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

The participants, ranked between warrant officer and captain, mainly came from the Tajik green border detachments with Afghanistan and two of them were supported for conducting training activities and will be involved as trainers in the future advance courses on patrolling and leadership.

The training course, which took place at the Gissar Training Centre, covered planning and conducting observation missions with the use of topographical maps, satellite imagery and other tools, as well as developing patrol planning and management techniques. The participants also improved their skills in reporting and analysis, mountaineering and first aid in the field and learnt about usage of binoculars, night vision goggles, maps and land navigation. Common tactical equipment and uniform were given to each student during the course.

"Building the capacities of Tajikistan’s border guards plays a crucial role in strengthening security at the border with neighboring countries, and we remain dedicated to supporting such efforts," said Senior Executive Officer at the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, Sean McGreevy.

The course was the second in a row held under the third phase of patrol programming and leadership project, aimed at enhancing the capacities of Tajik, Kyrgyz and Afghan border staff in detection and interdiction of illegal cross-border movements. The representatives of Tajikistan's Main Directorate of Border Troops also attended the ceremony.