OSCE Office in Tajikistan trains border troops on patrol leadership course

An OSCE-organized four-week training course on patrolling and leadership skills for 20 officers from Tajik Border Troops concluded on 22 April 2016 at the Gissar training centre, Tajikistan.

Most of the graduates ranked between warrant officer and major, came from border detachments at the Afghan-Tajik border. During this course, participants learned how to plan and conduct border patrolling with the use of topographical maps, satellite imagery and other tools, developed patrol planning and management techniques, and improved their skills in reporting and analysis, mountaineering and first aid in the field.

Two Tajik border troops’ officers assisted in the delivery of the training activities. Gender mainstreaming and demining awareness lessons were delivered by representatives of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.

“The enhancement of the capacity of Tajik Border Troops staff is in line with the successful implementation of Tajik National Border Management Strategy and we remain dedicated to supporting such efforts," said Fejzo Numanaj, Head of the OSCE Office’s Politico-Military Department in Tajikistan.

Badriddin Mirzoev, the Deputy Commander of the Border Troops of the State Committee on National Security of Tajikistan, said: “Building the capacity of Tajikistan’s border guards plays a crucial role in strengthening security at the border of the country and in the Central Asia.”

The course was the sixth in a row held under the third phase of the patrol programming and leadership project, aimed at enhancing the capacities of Tajik border staff in detection and interdiction of illegal cross-border movements.