The BDF Volunteer Battalion's Annual Battle Camp was held earlier this month at the very wet and rainy Salamanca Compound in the Toledo District.
The camp ran for two weeks and the commanding officers told the press officers what the 300 volunteer soldiers learned:
Major Alex Nolberto, XO-BDF Volunteer Battalion
"The Belize Defense Force received information that there were enemy activities within this general area. So, the volunteer battalion was tasked to come and conduct patrols and to locate these enemy positions and take them out. Essentially what happened, the guys established satellite locations, they conducted wreckings, they found the enemy position and then they conducted an attack on those enemy positions this morning."
Lt. Col. James Petillo, Battalion Commander
"We have over 300 soldiers on the ground and they are doing, like I mentioned earlier, a jungle exercise. How it is structured is that within the first week we conducted the dry training which is patrolling, harboring, we did weapon handling, first aid and many more others that coincide with jungle training. During the second week, everything that is learnt within the first week is implemented in the second week with a FTX exercise that is presently taking place in the jungle."
Major Alex Nolberto, XO-BDF Volunteer Battalion
"So, what happened in week one is we taught them all the basics for jungle survival, fighting in the jungle, and this week it's a combination of that training with an actual exercise where they get to practice all that has been taught to them in real time. We have tracks of the soldiers moving through the jungle, attacking an enemy position, and now making their way back to camp."
Lt. Col. James Petillo, Battalion Commander
"The goal is to train the soldiers to be ready for any battle that we can stand beside our regular element."
Major Alex Nolberto, XO-BDF Volunteer Battalion
"We taught them basic tactics. Hygiene in the jungle, how to build their shelter, how to collect water, the jungle rules, survival rules. And how to actually stay concealed and how to conduct operations so as to take out enemy positions and to maintain and dominate ground."
