88 new soldiers for B.D.F.
They defend our threatened borders and patrol Belize City’s mean streets. Never before in this young nation’s history have we needed the Belize Defence Force more than today…and this evening the B.D.F. welcomed its newest members into the family. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods reports from Ladyville.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The eighty-eight members of recruit intake number forty-four successfully completed eighteen weeks of intense training and are prepared to carry out their duty as soldiers of the Belize Defence Force.
The new graduates are not only expected to defend the country, but will also be called upon to support civil authorities in the maintenance of law and order. Four of the soldiers received awards for their outstanding performance delivered during training. Champion recruit went to Fernando Castillo, champion shot was Lansden Blease, champion in physical training went to Victor Chi, while the in best field craft was Miguel Guerra.
In her address to the soldiers, Minister of Defence Sylvia Flores told the men that the B.D.F.’s commitment to their training is a reflection of the government’s desire to prepare soldiers for a variety of important tasks.
Sylvia Flores, Minister of Defence
“Our government recognizes how much you are needed, and even more so today as our nation struggles to maintain peace and stability, both within and without her borders. The courage that propelled you to enter the Belize Defence Force on April sixth must continue to discover greater wells of courage deep within you as you assist our nation in responding to the newer and sobering realities of increasing violence within our society.”
Visibly absent from the group of graduates was a single female recruit. It’s not certain why women are on decline in the military, but it is a situation that the new Minister of Defence intends to address.
Sylvia Flores
“While I respect and uphold the numerical constraints imposed by our constitution, I must also recognize the need for us to not undermine the presence of capable women in each new intake of our institution. It is the fact that current numbers within the regular force represents a shortfall of women, which we must correct in the next intake of recruits. Newer realities to which we must respond speaks to our need to not only have a unit that is representative in number, but also representative in quality.”
The ceremony was well attended by parents and friends of the new graduates. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
Special mention was made of the late recruit Rafael Pop who died earlier this year while on a run from the Salt Creek firing range to Price Barracks in Ladyville.
