Each year the BDF holds a month's worth of activities in January to celebrate its anniversary. This year, it's extra special because it's the force's 30th anniversary. And while the regular force takes up most of the limelight, Belize's other army - the volunteers are also doing their thing. Today I sought them out to discover why the name "reserves" might not do them justice.
Jacqueline GodwinReporting,
There are just under one thousand soldiers in the Belize Defence Force and four hundred of them are volunteers, civilians who have their regular jobs but made the decision to also serve as defenders of Belize.
Lt. Col. Edmund Zuniga, Commander - BDF Volunteer Element
"It is critical, about one third of the commanders I think are in the volunteer. That is one part of it. The other part is that we play a major role supporting the day to day activities of the regular force. We have people at Price Barracks or all the other camps countrywide performing duties such as cooks, yardmen, caterers, you name it - we're there."
While what is available to the volunteer element may not be as extensive as the regular element today these proud men and women showcased what they use to get the job done. The display is part of their contribution to BDF's thirtieth anniversary.
Lt. Col. Edmund Zuniga,
"Some of those equipment and things that we do on a day to day basis, either administratively or operationally and so we've invited the schools especially so that the young persons can have a look at us. Hopefully we can recruit some of them down the road and strengthen the volunteer element."
The volunteers are in a unique position. Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Zuniga who is the commander says they are unique because their services are not only in high demand by the BDF.
Lt. Col. Edmund Zuniga,
"Many employers who we've in touch with have remarked that the persons who work with them who are members of the Volunteer Element actually make better employees than those who are straight civilians. One of the things that we try to instill in our volunteers and soldiers is that we must be organized and we must be prepared to give orders as well as take those orders. So I guess it is one of the things that the military puts into the individual."
While the Belize Defence Force has yet to fight a battle it has suffered losses. Nineteen names of the volunteers who died while on duty are on this memorial
monument recently erected by retired volunteer Staff Sergeant Kenneth Banks and his family.
Lt. Col. Edmund Zuniga,
"To mark the members of the volunteer element who have died, either by natural causes or those who have died on training by accidents and so on. A number of our volunteers who have died on duty I must say have died in traffic accidents, in transit from one training point to the other and so their names are up there on the monument. The volunteer is here and we always welcome new members. Our actual recruiting is in October but we have a full year of activities."
Five years ago the BDF volunteer element moved into its new headquarters at mile one on the Western Highway. The volunteers report to the Militia Hall twice a week for two hours and then dedicate one weekend per month. This year they will participate in an annual sports meet, jungle warfare camp and the annual closing parade.
