98 New B.D.F. Recruits

Approximately eight hundred applications were submitted to the B.D.F. for Intake number sixty- four but only one hundred and thirty were invited to train. But after the first several weeks of intense military, ninety eight of those recruits transitioned from civilians to soldiers. At today’s passing out ninety males and eight females marched with pride as they were honored at a ceremony at Price Barracks. The event also marked the forty-first anniversary of the B.D.F. Minister of National Security John Saldivar was on hand to address the recruits. Here’s more from the event.

John Saldivar

John Saldivar, Minister of National Security

“Our recruit assembled on seventh October and out of more than eight hundred who took the test country-wide a total of one hundred and thirty recruits got cycled into intake sixty-four; of which these ninety-men and eight women remain here today. Their routine of nineteen of nineteen hours training on most days, starting at four a.m. in the morning.  It involved physical training and practical and theoretical courses extending well into the night. Today’s graduation indicates that they have all displayed satisfactory proficiency in foot drills, skill and arms, first aid, map reading, navigation, military communication, the law of armed conflict, tactics both of conventional and non-conventional, jungle warfare and internal security.  Today’s event confirms that you have shown the courage, determination, and commitment required to be successful members of the Belize Defence Force. You have endured sixteen weeks of robust military robust training; training designed to transform you from a civilian into a combat ready soldier. The foundation has now been laid for you to now develop yourself into a career soldier. Today signals the beginning of a challenging and rewarding experience in the B.D.F.  And so having withstood the test of the recruit training, you are now ready to perform along the seasoned and battle ready senior soldiers of the regular force.”