In other BDF news that has nothing to do with tendering, rations, or food, last week we introduced you to Dee-Ancor Reyes, the BDF's first female force sergeant major. According to the Brigadier General, they've been focusing on including and elevating women within the ranks. Here's what he told us yesterday.
Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez, Commander, BDF
"When I first joined the force, there were a few women here. And I have seen that we have done a lot to change culture of keeping women out basically back then or undermining the roles of women in the military. Today we have very educated, very intelligent women with us. We have doctors. We have several doctors who are women and we have the force medical officer who's a woman. We have other highly educated and very intelligent women who are officers as well."
Jaleeza Roberts:
"Last week we saw the promotion of Dee-Ancor Reyes. Can you speak about what that means for women in the military?"
Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez, Commander, BDF
"It means a lot because this is the first female who has been appointed as force sergeant major. And the force sergeant major is the top non-commissioned officer in the Belize Defense Force. And that person is responsible for advising the commander on the welfare and morale of the soldiers. So she's the link between the soldiers and the commander. And she advises the commander about best practices for the soldiers. She has broken big barriers and big ceilings. Since the inception of the Belize Defense Force, it has always been a male-dominated appointment. And she is eminently qualified to be the force sergeant major. She didn't get it because she's a female and we needed a female to put there to look good. She's eminently qualified. She's done her rounds. She's well-educated. So far, she's doing a great job. Even before she became the force sergeant major, she was working hand-in-hand with the former sergeant major and making things happen."
