The BDF's volunteer battalion was in Independence village today showcasing what they learned during their intensive training. While the battalion itself has endured plenty of challenges, the 55 new recruits got their first taste of a live simulation.
And this year, they faced a riotous crowd of villagers as well as a traffic accident - simulations, of course. Courtney Menzies traveled south today and saw them in action. Here is that story.
The volunteer battalion consists of over 500 civilians from all over the country who have dedicated their time and energy to the BDF so that they can be called on whenever there is an emergency.
The training then culminates in an annual camp and this year, 300 volunteers and 55 new recruits were taking on the aftermath of a category 5 hurricane.
Lt. Col. James Petillo, Commanding Officer, Volunteer Battalion
"The simulations, when the concept came up, it was a category 5 hurricane hitting the country of Belize, impacting Independence and from there the volunteers were sent to conduct order in Independence so the aftermath of the hurricane, what you saw was the aftermath of the hurricane in terms of the riot drill, civil disturbance, vehicle checkpoint and then the RTA so but the civil disturbance is geared at the citizens from Independence wanted more food items from the Big Creek Port so we then deployed the riot squad to Big Creek and then end off that situation there in Big Creek."
Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Defense
"Very impressed with the soldiers that we have, remember these are volunteers, so they're not full time so we were just speaking, me and one of the fellow officers, of all the logistics and effort that goes through it, all the training that goes through it, and the dedication because you could put the training there but if you don't put in your part, it won't come out so I saw them first, the recruits, a little bit over this side, doing some of their drills. I was particularly impressed with the riot training, they're the riot control because that is essential, you have to be able to move as a unit, you have to be able to move as a team, you have to be able to move with cadence to be able to disperse a riot professionally and properly so totally impressed with them."
And today's simulation is a part of what they refer to as internal security and disaster management training - which, according to the brigadier general, is only one of four kinds of training they receive.
Brigadier Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, BDF
"During the course of the year, the soldiers they do a bit of training over, I think it's twice a week for two hours, and it culminates in an annual camp or a battle camp and traditionally it happens in some part of the country and it is always rotated into four parts, a jungle phase done in the one year, and the second year we rotate it into conventional training which is warfare, the attack, defense and withdrawal operations, etcetera, camp duties, and the final one is what you saw today, it's mostly internal security operations."
"Internal security involves our local populace and usually the police, they are our first responders and when they are overwhelmed they ask for assistance and usually we respond in support of the police department whenever we have those types of incidents, wherever in the country because sometimes there would be flare ups, let's face it, it happens in any country whenever a certain sector of the populace is disgruntled about something and they sometime resort to violence instead of amicable negotiations that is what we are prepared to do. So we are in support of the police and we escalate, all the time we use minimal force but it doesn't mean we cannot go to lethal force if needed."
Lt. Col. James Petillo, Commanding Officer, Volunteer Battalion
"We did well, for them it's the first time that this set of volunteer and recruits have, this is the first time they have done internal security and disaster management exercise. So they did well, while we had a rocky start, we can't run away from that, but we ended up doing very well, I'm pretty impressed with them."
And one of the volunteers - who doubles as a teacher - said that the skills she learns in the field can also be used in the classroom.
Officer Cadet Adejah James, Volunteer Battalion
"To be honest, I love what I do, I love being a volunteer, I love being in the field, I just love soldiering and it fluctuates because as a teacher, the problem solving and the skills that I have to adhere to in the classroom also comes back to here in the volunteer."
Courtney Menzies:
"What part of it do you love the most?"
Officer Cadet Adejah James, Volunteer Battalion
"Being in the sun. It's just endurance, endurance is the key, because yes, in the BDF we say pain is weakness leaving the body so we just have to endure and get what has been tasked to us."
Courtney Menzies:
"In today's simulation, how did that go for you?"
Officer Cadet Adejah James, Volunteer Battalion
"I just had to endure until I couldn't take it anymore."
And though the current commanding officer will be retiring after 30 years, the battalion will continue, since, according to the minister, its vital in times of national distress.
Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Defense
"I think it's very important, if you remember with Hurricane Lisa, you know how the BDF was quickly called up and thanks to the work ethic and discipline of our soldiers because there were volunteers there are well, the work ethic and their discipline was able to help clean up Belize City and the surrounding area very quickly so it was very important, of course that is just one aspect, if you notice they also did the riot training and as well you saw the part where they had the vehicle accident, dealing with people who were hurt in an accident so it's a wide range of activities and I think it helps the country in having another asset available to assist whenever the country needs."
Lt. Col. James Petillo, Commanding Officer, Volunteer Battalion
"We know for a fact that our hurricane season is June to November, and while we conduct hurricane exercise, we could never tell what will happen so we must be prepared to support the Belizean public."
The next training will be conventional, which includes enduring the jungle.
