385 soldiers are battling illegal Guatemalan Xateros in the harsh jungle terrain of Western Belize. But this is only a simulation – “Operation Chatterbox”– which started yesterday. After a week of training – the operation is the ultimate test for the men and women who serve in the volunteer unit of the Belize Defense Force. They make up one-third of the BDF’s fighting power – which is why even though serving in the BDF is a part time job for them – it is still a full time commitment. They train twice a week, one weekend out of every month, and two full weeks once a year. We visited Douglas D’Silva Forest Reserve on Friday and Keith Swift has the story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
These are the BDF’s newest volunteers. They are too young to join the regular element but 16 year old Brian Ortiz joined as a volunteer because for him it is a calling.
Brian Ortiz, Volunteer Recruit
“I am here to like be something in the future and help out myself,
my family, and only that because my father is in there too; my father, uncle, aunt..”
Keith Swift,
So you want to be a soldier when you grow up?
Brian Ortiz,
“Yes sir.”
Kenyon Dominguez, Volunteer Recruit
”I joined this course because it is very interesting, they teach you new things and they also help you how to survive if you end up getting lost or something. You learn different tactics and it is just very interesting.”
And along with the new recruits – there are 285 other volunteers who’ve left their regular day jobs for two weeks in the rugged jungle.
Cpl. Floyd Thimbrel, Volunteer Soldier
“My job is driving for the Ministry of National Security.”
Keith Swift,
Why did you decide to join the volunteer unit?
Cpl. Floyd Thimbrel,
“Well I joined the volunteer unit from 2000 and I really like it. It is something I look forward to. It is very adventurous and I am happy I am doing something nice for my country.”
Jerome Marshall, Volunteer Soldier
“I am a lifeguard at Old Belize. It is kind of weird how I became a soldier. My brother wanted to try it and so I went with him the same day as moral support and we joined together and he ended up backing out and I ended up here for the second year in a row. I’ve always had a passion for the military, I’ve always had a passion for it.”
Keith Swift,
Can you see yourself doing this fulltime?
Jerome Marshall,
“I am not sure.”
Keith Swift,
Which job you like better, lifeguard or a soldier?
Jerome Marshall,
“I would say being a soldier because as a soldier every single day you get a new experience in being out here.”
Gerald Gillett, Volunteer
“I joined due to discipline, hard work, and dedication.”
They are learning that hard work and dedication in the Douglas D’Silva
Forest Reserve. The soldiers are simulating an operation to detect cross border bandits. The focus is on jungle warfare tactics – primarily river crossings and of course live firings. But to war in the jungle – you also have to survive in it – which is why the volunteers are also learning to collect water – and hunt in the jungle. And a major part of that jungle survival is actually cooking here in the jungle. This is a piece of wild turkey that was caught here in the jungle and cooked by soldiers and it tastes…just as good as chicken from Lli Chee.
The volunteer element’s Commander Lt. Col. Edmund Zuniga says his troop came as volunteers but will leave as trained soldiers.
Lt. Col. Edmund Zuniga, Commander – Volunteer Unit
“Soldiers train for war and according to the Defense Act the Belize Defense Force comprises a regular element, a volunteer element, and a reserve. We are that volunteer element and besides being prepared for war, and of course to be the defense guarantee of Belize in the event we have an invasion, we also train for national emergencies, both internal security wise as well as for national disasters.”
Keith Swift,
So those soldiers leave here ready, once they are called?
Lt. Col. Edmund Zuniga,
“Our soldiers will be ready.”
And to make sure they are, on Friday Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo and his CEO General Lloyd Gillett visited the volunteers.
Brig. Gen. Lloyd Gillett, CEO – Ministry of National Security
“The volunteers are even more important to the force when there is a state of emergency declared because then they come in and provide support
in terms of maintaining order, support to shelters if there is a hurricane emergency, and general manpower to help the population recover from any event that might have caused disturbances.”
Perdomo’s vision for the volunteers is beyond disaster response and war.
Hon. Carlos Perdomo, Minister of National Security
“Both the regular BDF and the volunteers begin to do more work with the younger members of our community, not only the teenagers but even young – elementary schools and so forth. So part of it is for that kind of work and part of it is to feed and try to recruit a little bit more in each district.”
But the element isn’t without its problems.
Lt. Col. Edmund Zuniga,
“This year we’ve had some negative responses from a few employers who are saying they can’t release their employees and really don’t give a reason. We are always prepared to discuss with employers and to say we can meet half way and let us have our volunteers because the volunteer actually goes back an d is a better employee for that employer.”
Keith Swift,
And again you guys don’t do this for the money so why do you do it?
Lt. Col. Edmund Zuniga,
“It is in here, for the love of it.”
The requirements to join as a volunteer are that you have to be between the ages of 16 and 30 and you must be in good physical shape. There is no salary, only a stipend.
