B.D.F. finishes second round of taekwondo training
We checked in today on the second batch of B.D.F. soldiers who participated in Taekwondo training provided by the instructors from the Taiwanese army. Also participating, were a handful of police officers. The course started around mid January and just concluded today and you’ll be surprised at the skills acquired in such a short time.
Delahnie Bain, Reporting
Unarmed combat is the new skill being added to the training of Belize Defence Force soldiers. Today the B.D.F. and the Embassy of the Republic on Taiwan proudly presented the second set of soldiers to complete the rigorous taekwondo course.
Ting Joseph Shih, Ambassador, Republic on Taiwan
“This morning we have the pleasure again to present the second class of taekwondo training. B.D.F. soldiers are excellent themselves in their dedication, their commitment to maintain law and order.”
Brigadier General Dario Tapia, Commandant, B.D.F.
“It was a total of six weeks of hard work and training and was, as the soldiers would say, all aches and pains and bruises and so intense training for them to have acquired some significant amount of skills in that short period. I think, from the show that we received that it has been hard work because everything was crammed in a short six weeks and the display that they did shows that they put a lot of effort into it.”
The scope of the training was extended this time around to include a few police officers. But Brigadier General Dario Tapia hopes to take it even further to have around seventy-five percent of the force learn the unarmed combating skills.
Brig. Gen. Dario Tapia
“We want to make it an annual thing that they send instructors to help train us with unarmed training. So I look forward to that occurring. They both have assured me that that is something that they want to continue to provide for the B.D.F. so I think it will carry on.”
Ting Joseph Shih
Ting Joseph Shih
“It’s a joint effort by our two national defense ministries. So my government provides military forces special training unit instructors. So they dedicate in combat skills; they have excellent standing. I’m really amazed with the result. I think it’s a both fruitful and concrete one.”
Tapia says he also wants to include taekwondo in the training of new recruits and after the first two courses, the Taiwanese instructors are willing to return.
Brig. Gen. Dario Tapia
“It would be good if we start to capture this sort of training during our recruit training when we have a large amount of soldiers so that when they go to their unit they have some kind of taekwondo training. Certainly one of the things that we’ve been thinking about is maybe to have our own instructors trained even if it takes going all the way to Taiwan.”
Ting Joseph Shih
“I must take this opportunity to thank them for all the hospitality and courtesy they extend to our instructors. I think both of them tremendously enjoyed not only the friendship but the commitment of the soldiers in preparing themselves.”
A total of twenty persons completed the course—three police officers and seventeen B.D.F. soldiers. Delahnie Bain for News Five.
