Volunteers hone fighting skills at annual camp
They say that the pine trees are dying, but for the past week and a half the forest reserve has been alive with the sounds of quickly marching feet and loudly firing rifles. Jose Sanchez reports from the front.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
It’s the high point for every member of the BDF volunteer contingent; two weeks of active training in the field. This year’s annual camp is being held at Cooma Cairn in the Mountain Pine Ridge. Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Zuniga commands the volunteer element.
Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Zuniga
“This year we have ninety-eight recruits. It is actually the largest recruit group that has attending camp. You can recall that sometime last year there was this massive recruiting drive for the volunteer. At that time we actually got one hundred and forty-five recruits to join the volunteers. But of those only ninety eight could come this year. We ask them to report to training at evenings at the training centres. At those training centres we train two days per week for two hours each time and one weekend per month.”
But these young men and women need more than a weekend. Being a soldier requires dedication and concentration particularly when it comes to handling a weapon.
Luke Usher, B Company
“The purpose of the cleaning exercise is to enable a soldier to know his weapon and how to clean it so that it doesn’t cause stoppages in warfare or practice. Because if you don’t know how to clean your weapon, then you don’t know how to use your weapon so basically this is what you have to do.”
Lorvelle Ebanks, B Company
“We do map reading, field craft, weapon handling, and various other stuff and since I am here on two weeks training I learned a lot.”
Jose Sanchez
“So you feel like it will help you become a better soldier?”
Lorvelle Ebanks
“Oh yes, I just become a soldier, so it will help me. At least I am not going down running, I’ll be going down fighting if anything.”
Lives will inevitably be lost in a battle, but the art of war teaches that a good soldier in addition to knowing how to kill, will also learn how to save lives. According to Corporal Danny Garbutt, it’s mandatory for recruits to learn first aid.
Cpl. Danny Garbutt,
“The principle is that you have to sort out the casualty in order of priority. If you have four casualties you have to start with those people that are not breathing first. They are the first, once you deal with these people that are not breathing, then you deal with the people that are bleeding. So you have four B’s. We always say four B’s when we have breathing, bleeding, breaks, and burns.”
In addition to first aid and weapon handling, the camp also includes intense physical training. But even though the uniforms and firearms are intimidating, the recruits are ordinary citizens like Duane Jones who spends his working hours at a shop in Belmopan.
Jose Sanchez
“Is it a big change from Venus store?”
Duane Jones, Bravo Company
“Well not completely different change because I am still working there just Tuesday and Thursday I do the training. I do the training at Belmopan.”
Jose Sanchez
“So in the event of an actual war, you will be fighting?”
Duane Jones
“Definitely I will be out here fighting for the country.”
Joe Sierra
“I am planning to get into military but I am trying to get all my documents and things because I want to really advance into this thing that I really like and always wanted.”
Jose Sanchez
“What school do you go to?”
Joe Sierra
“Eden High School.”
Jose Sanchez
“How different is this for you?”
Joe Sierra
“Well it’s a change as I am a student, I am already used to being out there with my friends and to be out here two weeks without seeing your friends…well it’s something good to because you meet new friends and things like that, but you actually miss what you used to do.”
While these recruits were getting their first taste of the field, trained soldiers were being moved out for a more serious exercise. Major Edison Ogaldez briefed us on Operation Rumble Grumble, which was underway deep in the Pine Ridge.
Major Edison Ogaldez, Talking to troops
“The enemy is advancing from that direction. Our forces are advancing towards them in order to block their movement in this area. The enemy’s intent is to destroy some installations that are within this area. The best form of defence is attack. Therefore on Sunday afternoon, by orders given by the commanding officer, our troops advance north along that line.”
Jose Sanchez
“The recruits are taking part in basic training, but next year they might become trained soldiers like these volunteers behind me, who are divided into three different companies. Charlie Company, which is Corozal and Orange Walk, Bravo Company, Belize City, Belmopan City and Cayo and Delta Company which is Dangriga and Punta Gorda.”
The companies held their positions in trenches, camouflaged to look like their surroundings, keeping them partially safe from attack.
Jose Sanchez
“We’re here with the Delta Company and we’re under attack by the Peten Armed Forces and I’m trying to give them a hand.
Reporting for News 5, Jose Sanchez.
The annual training camp began on July first and ends on Saturday.
