Officers of the Tajik border troops complete OSCE patrol leadership course

DUSHANBE, 13 November 2015 – Twenty-two officers from the Main Directorate of Tajik Border Troops today completed a four-week training course on patrolling and leadership organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan at the Gissar Training Centre.

The graduates, ranked from warrant officer to captain, came from border detachments at the Afghan-Tajik border. During the course, the participants learned how to plan and conduct observation missions with the use of topographical maps, satellite imagery and other tools. They also developed patrol planning and observation techniques, and improved their skills in reporting and analysis, mountaineering and first aid in the field. Each student received uniform and common tactical equipment during the training.

“The OSCE continues to support efforts to enhance border security on the Tajik-Afghan border, where capacity building of Tajik border officers along with their partners from Afghanistan plays a crucial role,” said Fabio Piana, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, during the graduation ceremony.

The course is the third to be held under the third phase of the patrol programming and leadership project with the aim of enhancing the capacities of Tajik border staff in the detection and interdiction of illegal cross-border movements.

The representatives of the Main Directorate of Border Troops of the State Committee on the National Security of Tajikistan attended the ceremony.