The Krapovy Beret – 2026 qualification selection was held at the Karabas training ground in Karaganda among servicemen of the Burkit special-purpose units of the National Guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Over the course of a week, 101 candidates from different regions of the country underwent a series of demanding tests.
One of this year’s major innovations was the introduction of an FPV drone operation test. This is one of the important areas of modern combat training for special-purpose unit personnel.
Following the selection stages, 60 servicemen completed a 65-kilometre march, performing a series of physical and tactical training exercises designed to test endurance and weapons handling skills.
The test programme included a 5-kilometre run, movement across mountainous and rocky terrain, carrying a wounded serviceman, obstacle courses, running while wearing a gas mask, trench digging, topographic navigation, crossing a water obstacle, live-fire exercises and an obstacle course.
During the tests, the candidates also demonstrated their ability to repel an attack by a simulated enemy, operate under fire and conduct hand-to-hand combat. The tasks were designed to assess not only the servicemen’s physical fitness, but also their psychological resilience and ability to make decisions under pressure.
During the long and exhausting march, a number of candidates were unable to meet the established requirements and were eliminated from the selection.
As a result of the tests, 13 of the 101 candidates successfully completed all stages and earned the right to wear the Krapovy Beret.
The Krapovy Berets were presented to the successful candidates by Lieutenant General Ansagan Baltabekov, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard. Representatives of partner agencies, led by Yermagambet Bolekpaev, Akim of the Karaganda Region, also attended the ceremony.
It should be noted that the Krapovy Beret is one of the special tests designed to determine a high level of professional and combat readiness among special-purpose unit personnel. The results of the selection confirmed the high level of combat training and professional skills of the special forces personnel.
Press Service of the National Guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
