OSCE trains Tajik Border Troops officers to conduct safe and effective river patrolling to secure the Tajik-Afghan border

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD), in collaboration with Tajikistan's Border Troops, recently conducted two sessions of its Survival Swimming and Small Boat Operations Course (SaSBOC). The first session, SaSBOC #5, took place from 12 to 24 August and the second session, SaSBOC #6, ran from 26 August to 7 September 2024. Each session saw the graduation of 25 participants. The course was led by two national experts, one specializing in swimming and boat patrolling operations, and the other in waterjet engine repair.

The training was held in Khujand, Sughd Region, using a public swimming pool and the Syr Darya River. Students practiced swimming techniques in the pool before moving on to handling the challenging currents of the Syr Darya. For the boat training, participants used two rigid inflatable boats equipped with waterjet motors, previously provided to the Tajik Border Troops by POiD.The comprehensive curriculum covered various aspects of river patrolling, including operating patrol boats, navigating using paper and electronic maps, and employing tactical movement techniques specific to river patrolling. Additionally, the course included instruction on safely rescuing and providing medical first aid to drowning persons. The training concluded with lessons on maintaining and repairing the waterjet engines that power the Tajik Border Troops' patrol boats.

Official ceremonies marked the beginning and end of each course session. The opening and graduation ceremonies were attended by Jukka Tuononen, Head of the Political-Military Department of the POiD, and Jon Casey, Project Manager of the Patrol Field Capacity Building of the Tajik Border Troops (PFCB2) project. During these events, speakers highlighted the significance of POiD's efforts in enhancing the capacity of the Tajik Border Troops to effectively secure the Tajik-Afghan border.

The impact of this training programme has been significant, with 134 officers of the Tajik Border Troops having completed SaSBOC training through six sessions. These courses are part of the broader project PFCB, funded by France, the United States, and Germany in its second phase, demonstrating international support for enhancing border security in the region.