On August 18, 49 new border guards, who started training last August, graduated from the State Border Guard College, having completed the “Border Guard” professional further education program. After graduating from the program, border guards are prepared to perform official duties in the State Border Guard as inspectors.
During the graduation, the Chief of the State Border Guard, General Guntis Pujāts, and the Director of the State Border Guard College, Colonel Mariks Petrušins, ceremoniously presented the graduates with professional qualification certificates and shoulder pads of the special service rank “corporal”.
The Chief of the State Border Guard, General Guntis Pujāts, congratulated the graduates on obtaining professional education and receiving their first rank: “It is you who will strengthen the ranks of the border guards, that is, with your support, we will have to overcome the challenges of the moment! You are on your way at the beginning, I urge you not to stop at what you have achieved – keep learning!”
The graduates were addressed by Aija Kalnāja, Deputy Executive Director of the European Union’s border and coast guard agency “Frontex” for the deployment of the Permanent Corps: “Today you become border guards, that is, members of the large European border and coast guard family – you will protect the external border of the European Union. Don’t forget that behind your shoulders is the security of Europe!”
The Director of the State Border Guard College, Colonel Mariks Petrushins noted the high level of success in the program and presented awards to the best graduates. The cadets of the First and Second training companies of the Professional Education Service of the State Border Guard College – Yekaterina Ananjeva, Aiga Kroiče, Karina Ozola and Ralf Dubovičs were awarded for their dedication in learning the curriculum and their high achievements. Aiga Kroiče was awarded for high results in the qualification exam. Lauris Binduk and Sanita Kudiņa have been awarded the honorary title of “Best Senior of the Study Group of the Year” for their initiative and dedication, personal investment in the development of the activities of the State Border Guard College in the 2022/2023 school year, by presenting the “State Border Guard College Letter of Appreciation”. Yelizaveta Maksimenko was awarded the honorary title “Best Cadet of the Year: Second Training Company” and Aigars Andzhan – the honorary title “Best Cadet of the Year: First Training Company” and presented with “Graduation Letters of the State Border Guard College”. On the other hand, in connection with the nomination for the honorary title “The best border guard of the year of the State Border Guard College”, Yelizaveta Medvedev was awarded the “State Border Guard College Certificate of Honor”.
Dimitrijs Trofimovs, State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, Armands Augustāns, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Union of Internal Affairs Employees, and Senior Lieutenant Rinalds Broks, Chaplain of the 3rd Latgale Brigade of the National Guard, also greeted the graduates at the graduation.
The event was enriched with musical performances by the National Guard Choir “Stars” led by Ārija Škepasta and the commander of the Third Training Company of the State Border Guard College, Major Māris Yefremovs.
