26/02/2025

In the presence of high-ranking political officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina, leaders of police agencies, other BiH Federation and cantonal officials, as well as family members and friends, 25 cadets of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina were promoted to the rank of junior inspector today at the Agency for Education and Professional Training (AEPTM). This is the 18th generation of cadets who have completed basic police training at Level II according to the curriculum aligned with FRONTEX’s Common Core Curriculum for Border and Coast Guard Basic Training in the European Union.

“With this ceremony, we are supporting the cadets of the 18th generation, who, after taking the oath tomorrow, will assume great responsibility in managing borders and keeping them secure. By applying to the competition, they have shown they want this, and by successfully completing basic police training, they have proven they can do it,” said Marko Vujević, Director of the Agency for Education and Professional Training. He reflected on the six-month training that was aligned with FRONTEX’s basic training standards. “The Agency for Education and Professional Training has trained four generations according to FRONTEX standards. As you know, the cooperation agreement between FRONTEX and the Border Police of BiH has been initialed, and its signing is expected soon. After that, representatives of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency will work together with our border police officers. Our cadets have adopted these standards and will have no issues when working with their European colleagues, who will provide support and assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly regarding the migrant crisis, preventing illegal border crossings, and ensuring strong border protection of BiH,” Vujević said. He noted that the newly promoted junior inspectors would soon begin professional and specialist training programs at APTM in conformity with FRONTEX’s standards for border police officers.

On behalf of the leaders of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Assistant Director Slobodan Krstić welcomed the cadets into the ranks of the Border Police of BiH, while pointing to the significant issue of the lack of border police officers. “In relation to the required number of staff, we are short by almost 50%, so every new border police officer is very important and will help in fulfilling the border police tasks and duties.’’ Krstić announced the swearing-in ceremony tomorrow along with the issuance of official uniforms, badges, and identification cards, and the official start of their service at the Border Police of BiH on March 1st.

Reflecting on his own police beginnings from 30 years ago, Krstić told the promoted police officers that, upon becoming police officers, they would not only gain rights and privileges. “You will carry a heavy burden because wearing the uniform is not simple. You are someone whose every mistake is magnified under a microscope. You are constantly in the public and media spotlight, which means you must be better or the best in every sense, starting with morals, personal integrity, knowledge, and your relationship with citizens and other parties. In all of this, you need to rise above and always be in service to the citizens.” Krstić expressed confidence that during the one-year probationary period the junior inspectors would professionally carry out their duties and justify the fact that they were chosen for their knowledge and abilities out of hundreds of other applicants for these positions.

On behalf of the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Advisor to the Deputy Minister, Vedran Knezović, congratulated the cadets. “I am pleased to be here today at the end of your training to congratulate you on behalf of Deputy Minister Ivica Bošnjak and myself, and to wish you a lot of success as police officers of the Border Police of BiH,” Knezović said.

The curriculum for the basic training of cadets of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Level II was aligned with FRONTEX’s Common Core Curriculum for Border and Coast Guard training in the EU (Common Core Curriculum 2022). The training takes six months (126 working days with 944 teaching/work hours), divided into four phases: theory classes with practice sessions, specialized classes, scenario-based learning, and practical training in organizational units of the Border Police of BiH. The curriculum is delivered through 17 subjects: police powers and ethics, firearms handling and shooting skills, criminal tactics, techniques, and methodology, traffic safety, special physical education, physical culture and first aid, police psychology, constitutional, criminal, administrative, and procedural law, human rights, information technology and communication, English language, and police management.

The overall success of this generation is excellent. According to the decision of the Agency's Teaching Council, the best cadet of this class is Marin Perić. Perić stated that it was a great honor to receive the Cadet of the Generation plaque, as the recognition comes from the lecturers, mentors, and instructors who, during the past six months of training, prepared the cadets for work in the Border Police. “On this occasion, I want to thank everyone who participated in the organization and implementation of the basic police training of the 18th generation of junior inspectors. Also, words of immense gratitude go to my fellow cadets, first and foremost for their friendship, and then for their dedication during the training. I believe we will continue and strengthen our cooperation through our efforts to professionally perform the entrusted tasks in protecting the state border,” Perić concluded.