The history of the Faculty dates back to April 12, 1995. Throughout its history, the faculty was headed by: colonel Dergachev V.A.; candidate of technical sciences, associate professor Babenko B.I.; colonel Lutskyi O.L.; candidate of pedagogical sciences, associate professor Kotseruba D.M.; honored educator of Ukraine, candidate of pedagogical sciences, professor Balashov V.O.; candidate of technical sciences, associate professor Matusyak Ye.V., candidate of pedagogical sciences Bilyavets S.Ya. Currently, the faculty is headed by the candidate of psychological sciences, colonel Adamchuk O.V.
The faculty trains specialists at the basic higher education level (Bachelor’s degree) in the specialty of “State Border Security” for the SBGSU units. The Faculty consists of six departments: Border Guard Tactics, Border Control, Combined Arms Disciplines, K9, Physical Training and Personal Security, Firearms and Special Tactics, which provide cadets’ education throughout four years of training.
Professional training of future officers is carried out by highly-qualified scientific and pedagogical staff, which includes 42 candidates of science, 1 full professor, 1 senior researcher and 20 associate professors.
About 4 000 officers, who have been trained at the faculty, continue the renowned history, legacy and traditions of the faculty serving not only at the SBGSU, but also at the Security Service of Ukraine and the State Security Department. The names of 59 of the faculty graduates are present on the Honor’s board, 740 border guard officers have received degree certificates with distinction.
The following officers made a significant contribution to the development of the faculty and education of border guards: Mazur B.F., Konovalov O.A., Serdyuk S.I., Polischuk V.I., Bashnyanin O.V., Savin O.B., Buchkovsky V.P., Kotlyarov R.V., Stepanov S.P., Martynyuk I.A., Katyuk I.V., Didenko O.V., Snitsa V.A., Mosiychuk I.M., Pochekalin I.M., Katerinchuk S.V., Miroshnichenko A.A., Savitsky O.V., Kulba V.V., Gashchuk V.A., Burlaka O.V., Bilyk B.O., Shenko O.F. and others.
During twenty-two years of operation, the administration of the faculty has been focusing on achieving the highest academic and educational standards, the use of the latest developments and knowledge in the field of borderguarding. All the courses are designed taking into account the requirements of the modern model of the state border protection and operational-service activities’ improvement.
The faculty has started cadets’ training on the specialization of “Mobile unit commanding officer “. Cadets are taught to apply techniques of hand-to-hand combat, firearms and special tactics. Much attention is paid to sports: the faculty staff takes part in various sports competitions winning the highest prizes.
THE DEPARTMENT OF BORDER GUARD TACTICS
The Department of Border Guard tactics is one of the leading departments of the Academy which is tasked with training of highly qualified staff at the corresponding educational and qualification levels of higher education for the border guard units in accordance with educational guidelines, academic regulations and strategies, resolutions of the SBGSU Administration and current legislation in the field of personnel training.
The Department was created in May 1996. The first head of the department was the candidate of military sciences, associate professor colonel Servatiuk V.M. Later in the department was run by colonels Lazarenko Yu.P., Baratiuk V.I., Storozhuk V.F., Magas G.A. Today the head of the Department is the candidate of pedagogical sciences, associate professor colonel Trembovetskyi O.G.
Significant efforts in the educational activity of the department are focused on the development of special skills needed for deployment of forces and means and managing their actions in a variety of non-standard and crisis situations, taking into account real and potential threats to the national security.
Great attention is also paid to scientific personnel training. Currently, 13 candidates of science, including 5 associate professors, are working at the Department.
In order to increase the level of professional skills, the teachers of the department undergo practical training in the border guard units, actively participating in the cadets’ reserve training.
The scientific and pedagogical staff of the department upgrade their skills and update the vocational knowledge at the EU and US law-enforcement educational centers in order to increase their professional qualification and share best practices.
BORDER CONTROL DEPARTMENT
The Department of Border Control was established in 1996. Throughout the history of its development it was headed by colonels Eroshin B.F., Denisov V.I., Matusyak E.V., Balytskyi I.I., Adamchuk O.V. Today, the head of the department is the candidate of public administration, colonel Lysak P.P. The department teaches 7 academic disciplines, which are harmonized with the CCC and other EU curricula and syllabi.
The scientific potential of the Department consists of 4 candidates of military sciences, 4 candidates of pedagogical sciences, 1 candidate of public administration, 3 of who are also associate professors. The department staff is engaged in scientific activities conducting various Ph.D. and doctoral researches.
The department has 4 specialized training classrooms, equipped with modern teaching facilities: technical means of border control, “Podillya” simulation border crossing point and “Proskuriv” simulation check point at the Field training center of the Academy.
The department staff is working hard to improve border guard personnel training in the sphere of border control actively cooperating with other faculties of the Academy, Special Training and K9 Support Department of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, the Khmelnytskyi railway station, airport terminal and the Forensic Center at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, organizing joint exercises and practical classes.
Most of the teachers of the department were trained or retrained at the educational institutions and centers in Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Malta, China, etc. Significant contribution was made to the future border guard officers’ training by: Eroshin B.F., Denisov V.I., Isaev S.M., Matusyak E.V., Balitsky I.I., Adamchuk O.V., Voitsekhivsky O.L., Sychevsky Yu.O., Zabolotna O.R., Soiko O.V., Dmitrenko O.M., Dzyavoruk A.D., Hetmanyuk S.P., Kuz Yu.M., Bachtigozin M.R. and other officers.
The teachers of the department constantly take part in symposia of EU forensic experts in the Republic of Poland. Besides, they act as moderators in the multiplication system of SBGSU personnel training. Courses for the inspectors of the border guard units, distance education courses, classes for the participants of the “New face of the border” pilot project, competitions for the best document expert are held at the border control department on a regular basis.
K9 DEPARTMENT
The Department was established in May 1997. The first head of the department was the candidate of pedagogical sciences colonel Rudenko V.P., who put a lot of efforts into its creation and development. Today the team is headed by a candidate of psychological sciences, associate professor Afanasiev A.O.
The K9 Department is the only unit in the system of higher educational institutions of law-enforcement agencies of Ukraine, which carries out educational, methodological and research activity in the specialty “K9 Officer “, implementing conceptual approaches, combining the theory and practice of dog-breading science for support of operational and service activities of the SBGSU units.
Due to the introduction of advanced pedagogical technologies, improvement of the classroom and field training facilities, the department is providing quality training of future K9 officers for the needs of border guard units taking into account modern threats and risks in the field of border security.
The Department has organized and conducted 6 inter-university scientific-practical conferences, 9 scientific seminars, 5 competitions among K9 cadets. A great number of educational materials and teaching aids such as albums, methodical recommendations, reference resources and practical manuals have been published and reviewed by the teaching staff of the department.
In order to improve their qualifications, the scientific and pedagogical staff of the department was trained in the specialized centers located both in the United States and in the countries of the European Union. The instructors participated in a number of international and Ukrainian K9 conferences, seminars and competitions.
A significant contribution to the training of future K9 officers was made by: Rudenko V.P., Afanasiev A.O., Kozachonok D.M., Trotsky A.A., Dykyi O. A., Vynograd O.V., Bogdanyuk O.D. Today the department is developing and improving the content and forms of cadets’ training. Sofian D.V., Serkhovets S.V., Matviychuk V.P., Klevtsov V.V. are the leading instructors of the department . A significant number of officers trained at the K9 Department are holding senior positions in the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine and foreign countries (e.g. Georgia, Moldova).
The teaching staff of the department maintains cooperation and close ties with international organizations, K9 SBGSU units and other law enforcement agencies on the issues of canine support of service and operational activities. In order to popularize the K9 service and promote patriotic education of the youth, the department conducts specialized dog performances, participating in various K9 exhibitions, competitions, seminars and conferences.
DEPARTMENT OF COMBINED ARMS DISCIPLINES
The history of the department dates back to December 14, 1992. The first head of the department was the candidate of military sciences, associate professor, colonel Kushnirenko O.I. Later, the department was led by a candidate of military sciences, associate professor colonel Kotov O.O., candidate of pedagogical sciences, associate professor colonel Vydysh M.N. and the candidate of psychological sciences, associate professor colonel Stsiborovskyi O.A. Today, the department is headed by the candidate of pedagogical sciences, associate professor colonel Bilorus A.M. Significant contribution into the development of the department was made by Statuev I.I., Tsybulko V.O., Bihus V. L., Denisov V. M., Mazur P. I. and many other officers.
Currently, the Department of Combined Arms Disciplines is one of the leading departments at the Academy. Structurally it is included in the system of cadets’ training and carries out general combined arms tactical training both for the cadets of the Academy and civilian students, ensures formation of their military and professional competencies regarding organizing combat operations and combat support of state border guard units, their effective deployment and combat survivability in different conditions of the situation.
At the same time, the department conducts practical lessons, as a part of advanced training course for the servicemen of the SBGSU in the following areas:
additional training of the SBGSU servicemen assigned for service in the Joint Forces operations zone;
additional training of the SBGSU servicemen receiving the first officer’s rank;
training course for the heads of border guard service departments;
training course for the specialists of foreign diplomatic establishments protection for the SBGSU.
Three disciplines (subjects) are taught by the department staff: General Tactics; Combined Arms Combat Training and Tactical Training.
The methodological basis of the department’s activity is the system and activity-focused approach, which provides:
active educational and cognitive activity of cadets (students);
formation of cadets’ (students’) readiness for self-development and continuing education;
educational process design which takes into account individual, age-specific, and psychological characteristics of cadets (students).
The training of cadets (students) at the department is based on the following principles:
conformity with the normative and legal basis of the education system of Ukraine and of the SBGSU;
transformation of the training system in the context of the modern views on Nuclear, Biological and Chemical protection support of military units’ activities in various conditions;
application of innovative teaching methods and its practical orientation;
creation of the training system that ensures the guaranteed acquisition of knowledge, skills and abilities sufficient for efficient performance of tasks for providing Nuclear, Biological and Chemical protection of state border guard units’ activities.
During training of a competent, strong-willed and well-informed officer capable of timely and efficient performing of state border protection tasks in extreme situations for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, one of the main tasks of the department is:
formation of cadets’ (students’) competence in ensuring the proper level of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical protection of the SBGSU units’ and their personnel actions while performing the tasks of operational and service activities under various conditions of situation as well as actions under the conditions of weapons of mass destruction use by the enemy or accidents at potentially dangerous facilities.
Formation of the aforementioned competence is carried out during the study of General Tactics, which is an integral discipline including material from such subjects as Mechanized Units’ Tactics, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection, Basics of Combat Support. This discipline is studied by the cadets of the following specialties: State Border Security, Law and Law Enforcement Activity, Philology and Psychology, Automobile Transport, Telecommunications and Radio Engineering throughout their term of study.
During studying of the disciplines related to ensuring of the proper level of cadets’ (students’) training on NBC protection, they acquire the knowledge and skills needed to:
understand the damaging effects of nuclear, biological chemical and incendiary weapons;
use NBC dosimetric control devices, personal protective and special treatment equipment;
provide security and protection of personnel in the infected areas created as a result of the use of weapons of mass destruction, as well as destruction of objects containing nuclear components and chemically hazardous objects;
carry out necessary calculations and evaluate the influence of radiation and chemical environment on the units’ actions;
determine the procedure of moving across the zones of radioactive, chemical and biological contamination;
be aware of and able to follow safety precautions when acting on the infected area.
The training of cadets (students) on the issues of ensuring Nuclear, Biological and Chemical protection of actions is based on the principle of maximum visualization of educational material and practical work in the classroom (with the help of situational tasks). Percentage of the classes that provide the cadets with the necessary knowledge and skills are: up to 13% – classes where cadets directly acquire knowledge and form skills in NBC protection of actions; up to 25% – classes where cadets apply knowledge and skills in NBC protection of actions as a part of finding solution for integrated situational tasks.
Practical classes at the Field training center, maximum use of educational mock-ups and technical training means and facilities during various types of lessons are the basis of training. All this contributes to proper level of cadets’ training, ensuring the effective performance of their future functional duties.
The department is supporting and constantly expanding interdisciplinary connections with other departments of the Academy on the issues related to NBC protection of actions. Namely:
with the Border Control Department – on the issues of border units’ actions after detecting dangerous NBC objects;
with the Engineering Support of Border Protection Department – on the issues of arrangement of structures for collective protection against the damaging effects of the WMD.
These issues are worked out during integrated practical trainings at the Field training center.
To conduct classes at high methodical level, the academic facilities of the department have been created and are being constantly upgraded.
PHYSICAL TRAINING AND PERSONAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT
Sports culture and physical education of the National Academy is organized and conducted by the personnel of the Department of Physical Training and Personal Security which was reorganized in 2016. In different years, the department was headed by lieutenant colonel A.Y. Zheltyakov, lieutenant colonel Antonets V.F., colonel Toropov O.F., colonel Mozolev O.M., colonel Martynyuk I.A., colonel Figura O.V. Today, the Department is headed by a candidate of pedagogical sciences, assistant professor, lieutenant colonel Melnikov A.V. The task of the department is to develop officers’ applied motor skills, physical and psychological qualities. By the end of the training course, the border guard officers need to have great physical abilities and high readiness to conduct day-to-day state border protection activities, as well as to function effectively in combat missions, if necessary.
The department carries out physical training for the border guard officers of tactical and operational-tactical level for the SBGSU units (officers and other categories of servicemen), as well as for civilian youth in all specialties, in particular – junior specialists and specialists for the protection of foreign diplomatic institutions. The department also provides professional development courses as a part of vocational training system.
Today the scientific and pedagogical staff of the department comprises 12 instructors, among them 4 candidates of sciences, 3 associate professors, 1 honored master of sports, 2 masters of sports of international class, 5 masters of sports of Ukraine.
In 2015, new sports facilities were put in operation, which gave additional opportunities for development of team sports at the Academy. Training sessions and workouts of various academy sports teams are held there supervised by the instructors of the department.
Within the framework of the main sports and mass events of the Academy, the staff of the department annually organizes and holds various sports competitions: football, basketball, volleyball, one- three- and five-kilometer runs, hand-to-hand wrestling, weight-lifting, sambo wrestling, pull-ups, table tennis, shooting, triathlon, track and field athletics, chess, sports orienteering etc. Quite popular are the Rector’s Cup mini-football tournament and “Mom, Dad and I” family sports competitions.
Academy athletes usually take the highest places in various sports competitions both in Ukraine and abroad. In addition, under the leadership of the department, academy sports teams are constantly involved in sporting events at the regional level, e.g. in the competitions among universities of Ukraine and those organized within Dynamo national sports club system.
DEPARTMENT OF FIREARMS AND SPECIAL TACTICS
The history of the department begins after its establishment in 1993 as the Department of Firearms and Range Practice. In September 2016, in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of training, a Department of firearms and special tactics was established on the basis of the Personal security department, which was headed by a candidate of psychological sciences, associate professor colonel Trobiuk V.I.
The main task of the department is to provide quality training of the specialists for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine capable of handling weapons in various situations of operational and service activities and in cases of border-related interdictions. The department instructs cadets in “Firearms and special tactics”, which is an obligatory subject for the first (Bachelor) level of higher education.
In addition, the staff of the department actively participates in the training of specialists responcible for providing security of foreign diplomatic institutions. The department also prepares moderators and multipliers for tactical and firearms training to be further conducted in the border guard units.
The educational and training facilities of the department have been created in accordance with the tasks performed which allows to conduct training sessions at a high methodological level. According to its purpose and location, the training facilities are subdivided into classrooms, laboratories and field centers.
The department actively cooperates with different universities of Ukraine. In particular, it maintains close scientific and technical cooperation with the National Defense Academy of Ukraine, the Military Institute of the Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University, the National Academy of National Guard of Ukraine, and many others, actively cooperating with border authorities of the neighboring countries, Germany and the United States.
Significant contribution to the development of the department in different years was made by Agafonov Ye.V., Grinkov V.V., Martyniuk I. A., Figura O.V., Mariukha V.V. and other renowned officers.
At present, the staff of the department consists of the instructors who possess significant teaching experience and is constantly updated by the professionals, many of whom had combat experience in the area of anti-terrorist operation in the East of Ukraine.
The department implements the latest techniques for modeling border guard personnel actions involving the use of weapons and military equipment taking into account current trends in the sphere of weaponry, various combat scenarios and military tactics.