Tradewinds 2007 takes on riot control
Belize’s military forte may be jungle warfare, but over the next two weeks the Caribbean, U.S., and U.K. troops gathered here for the annual Tradewinds Exercise will focus on other important skills. News Five’s Kendra Griffith had a front row seat.
Kendra Griffith, Reporting
Today Price Barracks was abuzz with activity as soldiers participated in Martial Arts and Public Order training as part of Tradewinds 2007.
Assisting with the martial arts training is Gunnery Sergeant Richard Torres of the U.S. Marine Corps. Torres has been practicing the discipline for fifteen years.
Gunnery Sgt. Richard Torres, U.S. Marine Corps
“Right now we are training them in level one of the Marine Corps martial arts programme, which is a tandem level, which takes them from the basic fundamentals of how to fight, how to stand, how to move, how to take somebody to the ground and how to restrain somebody in a combat environment.”
Kendra Griffith
“How has it been going?”
Gunnery Sgt. Richard Torres
“Besides the heat, it’s been going very well. We’ve had lots of little strains and the heat has been taking its toll. But other than that a lot of people remained focussed and we got test out today and pretty much three quarters of them are doing very well.”
Most of the soldiers had never done martial arts before, but after four days they’re already addicted.
Kendra Griffith
“Have you done martial arts before today?”
W.O. 2 William Arthur, Guyana Defence Force
“No, I have never done martial arts before.”
Kendra Griffith
“Did you like it?”
W.O. 2 William Arthur
“Yes, I love it. I love this martial arts.”
Kendra Griffith
“Tell me some of the things you learnt.”
W.O. 2 William Arthur
“I learn the rear bear hug, the choke, the forward roll, I learnt the side kick, the round kick. … I plan to continue. I asked the guy for a book so that I can read for myself and continue.”
Kendra Griffith
“So you’re hooked?”
W.O. 2 William Arthur
“Yes, I am hooked to it.”
Cpl. Kerwin Raymond, Trinidad & Tobago
“At first it was difficult, the falls and the lashes, but after you practice it was okay.”
Kendra Griffith
“Do you think that this is something that you will be able to incorporate in your duties as a soldier?”
Cpl. Kerwin Raymond
“Yes I definitely could. We will be going back home and teaching the players who didn’t get to come over.”
According to Tradewinds Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Omar Pulido, it’s a good thing that the soldiers are taken with the martial arts training.
Lt. Col. Omar Pulido, Battalion Cmdr., Trade Winds
“It will become more and more a necessity. First of all, it’s a way of keeping fit. It’s a very physically oriented and if you could see some of the training they have been doing in the last few days, it’s a lot of physical fitness training. And secondly, when you go out in the streets, more and more we will have to deal with the civilian population in a non-lethal way.”
Further down the barracks another group of soldiers were dealing with a mock civilian population in a simulated riot.
Capt. Allen Speedie, British Royal Marines
“We have some rioters made up of the Belizean police and the other CARICOM nations are trying to disperse the rioters.”
According to the trainers, they try to make the simulation as genuine as possible so that the soldiers know what to expect when they encounter the real deal.
Capt. Allen Speedie
“We have a saying in Britain: train hard, fight easy. So try and make the training as realistic as possible.”
“They are learning how to strike rioters without doing serious damage and also how learning to batten and shield, and also how to protect themselves in a serious situation.”
Kendra Griffith
“What would you say is one of the most important things to do when you are controlling a riot?”
Capt. Allen Speedie
“It’s all about escalating and deescalating the situation. If you can talk your way out of the situation, that would be more beneficial for yourself and also the people who are protesting as well. So you’re got to know when to step up your presence and obviously when to step down.”
In the mix of soldiers are approximately thirty-three Belizean police officers. P.C. Elston Rojas of the Police Support Unit has gone through the real thing with the 2002 upheaval in Benque Viejo. He’s using this course to bolster what he already knows.
Elston Rojas, Belize Police Force
“I have learnt how to use the shield properly and protect ourselves. … You know, general election is around the corner, so we are training very hard for that. … Yes, to be prepared.”
For members of the Dominican Republic Army, the riot training is a first and they are not allowing language to be a barrier to their learning experience.
Capt. Danilo Lopez, Dominican Republic Army
“In our country, this type of training we didn’t do it because we’re the army and this is usually police training, so for the soldiers it was very different. … I’ve been talking to my Colonel and we are planning to incorporate this training in all courses in our country.”
Kendra Griffith
“A number of people that came along with you don’t speak English, how are they handling the language barrier?”
Capt. Danilo Lopez
“I am acting as interpreter between everyone. I am lucky that I know English, but we’re doing well however, it doesn’t matter, the language is not a barrier.”
But in addition to the training, the soldiers are also fostering closer relationships with each other.
Lt. Col. Omar Pulido
“We have linked up with Jamaica, Guyana, and the Belizean soldiers and they are very cohesive with each other.”
Maj. Rodrick Williams, B Co. Cmdr., Jamaica Defence Force
“I supposed what all the countries are looking for, more cooperation, more integration, a little bit more interaction so that we can strengthen our collective capabilities so that we can respond as a Caribbean region to incidents that concern us.”
A number of the soldiers are also being groomed as trainers in each of the different areas so that they can go back home and train their colleagues. Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.
The only reported casualty of Tradewinds thus far has been a single soldier from Antigua who apparently arrived in the country with a case of chicken pox. Reports are that he has been placed in isolation.
