B.D.F. officers complete training in various trades
Graduation season is a couple of months away for schools but some twenty-five officers of the Belize Defence Force of the Light Engineer Company had an early start. The officers received certificates after completing a three month course at ITVET which is part of a multi-million dollar venture funded by the United States Military Liaison Office in collaboration with the B.D.F. The skills acquired by the officers are in the plumping, electrical, carpentry, masonry and AutoCAD trades. And according to Brigadier General Dario Tapia, the company will be well prepared in times disasters.
Brigadier General Dario Tapia, Commandant, B.D.F.
“There has been a significant amount of funding provided by the U.S. government in the millions. This program in itself, just this twenty-five soldiers graduating has cost about sixty thousand dollars Belize to train them and there is yet here more other soldiers to be trained. We did this with ITVET, because we felt that they are the premier institution to train our boys locally rather than having U.S. personnel to come and train them because they would understand much better what are the local needs. These folks have been training since last year to develop these skills that they so need to ensure that the light engineer company is fully equipped not only with equipment but the skills that they need to do their job.”
Duane Moody
“Mr. Tapia, how was this possible?”
Brigadier General Dario Tapia
“We got into the Global peace operation initiative, a program that the U.S. Government embarked and so we were able to get in the program and as such we got funding to equip the light engineer company, equip them and in addition to that the skills that goes along with being an engineer and hence we are here today graduating the first batch. This is the first batch because we have to train the entire company which is some additional soldiers probably some more about fifty more to be trained.”
Private Jose Tut, Graduate
“The skills I have learnt is carpentry, teach you also how to build two types of roof and stairs, how to do foundations. “
Cpl Edwardo Salam, Graduate
“When I entered this field I didn’t know nothing about how to build a house. Now I am very happy that I have grasped a lot from my instructor and I really thank them for the help that they gave me. It benefits me and the B.D.F. During disaster especially where the country is located, we are always experiencing some disaster and we, the engineer company already know to go out there and help the people who are in need of help.”
Sgt. Zacharias Pop, Graduate
“We participated in the electrical field, mostly electrical.”
Duane Moody
“In what way is it helping you and the B.D.F, noh?
Sgt. Zacharias Pop
“Well firstly, it’s helping myself first, being that I learned the trade and the skills that is being taught to me which then I will then use it in the Belize Defense Force because that’s what my company is part of.”
Cpl. Kenrick Parchue, Graduate
“This will help us and I say us as in country, internationally and for myself in that when I finish from the B.D.F. I can continue in my civilian life having a trade on hand and this is very important for us nationally in the event of a natural disaster or something like that, that we can actually execute what we have learned here.”
The next intake of another twenty-five officers will begin the courses at the end of the month.
