Introduction to the Issue:

Inadequate public attention towards military-educational, civil defense, and security domains results in a myriad of challenges: navigating emergency scenarios such as wars, earthquakes, and major accidents, alongside local concerns like survival tactics and location strategies. Familiar to many is the influence of adversaries aiming to undermine the morale and unity of the Armenian nation.

It is imperative, therefore, to foster heightened interest, participation, and engagement of the populace in these realms of education.

Who are we and what do we do?

Zorakan is a Center for Strategic and National Studies (CSIS) that conducts military campaigns, in which all individuals from the age of 14 can participate.

The team conducts training on the following topics with the involvement of experienced professionals:

• First aid
• Survival skills
• Rock climbing/mountaineering
• Self-defense
• Topography
• Introduction to UAV
• Informational and psychological warfare (hybrid warfare).

During our several campaigns and one military camp, participants learned a great deal of useful information, including:

• Define the landscape
• To get food and water
• Firearms training
• Mountaineering
• Tactics
• Controlling UAVs
• Evade and defuse traps without suffering damage.

What is our goal?

Considering that Armenia is a mountainous and war-torn country, the aim of the "Zorakan" RGAS is to equip the public with military knowledge and acquaint them with survival skills in forest and mountain conditions.

What is the objective of the current and ongoing camps/competitions?

• The primary objective is to recruit enthusiastic and self-motivated young people among the campers and pair them with mentors who can share their experience and knowledge for the benefit of everybody.
• Conduct 3-4 camps per year (number of participants: 30-35), 2-3 competitions (5-6 teams, participants: 5-6 people), multi-day camping trips
• Out of the one-year camps, 120-140 individuals get training. Plus, we'll have 60 to 70 individuals who have received training because of the competition.
• The main goal of the team is to implement all this in the entire Lori region, without focusing on one community.
• We will strive to embed the concept of comprehensive security into the culture over time, and one way to do this is via the team's efforts.

How will the camping gear be employed? 

In the Lori area, the Zorakan CSIS team plans to hold military campaigns where experienced instructors will guide these subjects:

• Civil defense/survival
• First aid
• Rock climbing/mountaineering
• Firearm training
• Self-defense
• Topography
• Introduction to UAV
• Informational and psychological warfare (hybrid warfare).

Zorakan is consequently in need of camping equipment. We intend to perform a one-time purchase to initiate the project.