B.D.F. soldiers show off skills at ‘Fuerzas Commando’
ganey dortch
In July, the National Basketball Team is heading to the Dominican Republic to take part in the Centro Basket Tournament. But they won’t be the first delegation to get there. A contingent of highly trained soldiers from the Jewel is taking part in a series of military exercises that test everything from shooting assault rifles and hand guns to sniper as well as tactics in aquatic situations. According to BDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Ganey Dortch, a section from the force has been doing very well in the multination exercise called Fuerzas Commando.
Lieutenant Colonel Ganey Dortch, B.D.F. Chief of Staff
“Exercise Fuerzas Commando is a US sponsored exercise. This year it is being hosted by the army of the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo where we have over nineteen countries participating in such an exercise. Friendly matches where soldiers from the special operating section or special operating forces will be partaking to actually display their skills. They will be firing fire weapon types; their primary weapon which is the assault rifle, the secondary which is a pistol, and the tertiary, which is basically a sniper weapon. The troops were well trained. We have our Belize Special Assignment Group who have been deployed since last week Saturday with the hope of coming back on the twenty-fourth of this month.”
Jose Sanchez
“These types of games or competitions, is this something that the B.D.F. normally participates in?”
Ganey Dortch
“Yes, we have participated for several years now and the aim of this exercise, apart from fostering good working relationships with other nations, it tests physical agility, weapon marksmanship, aquatic skills and also certain levels of tactical capabilities.”
Jose Sanchez
“Okay, and how many soldiers do we have out there?”
Ganey Dortch
“We have a very small contingent, approximately seventh soldiers. And as part of our contingent we also have a major who is going to be judging to ensure that justice is served as we partake. I must say at this stage that our soldiers are doing fairly well and we expect them to conclude good rating. The Belize Defence Force would also like to take this opportunity to thank the US government for their continual support and dedication to the development of our army.”
Also taking part in the exercises are the US Southern Command, Caribbean and South American countries.
Maybe the BDF should take those skills to the crime infested streets of the Jewel.I believe it would serve a better purpose.
Totally true Elgin, the people don’t need to sit down and observe their so called “skills” on the bench but rather on the streets where the actions should be taken. If we see progress on the streets then we’ll applaud their skills!!
These skills are just for entertainment purposes!!! HOLLYWOOD!!!
why not try this skills protecting our reserve in the south where guatemalans are getting into our jewel. if you can do your marksmanship in the bush then we’ll applaud for that but for the mean time you do the show of aquatic skills we need them in the bush to serve and protect our borders.
why is it that people always have silly comments. I wish u all wud know what all it take to be wat u are, give people courage and trust. Its tru they should be the ones clearing the infested areas but again we need to understand that here the GOB need to implement clazy law so that law and order be restored. cause u kill today ur out tomorrow wat kind of think is that, they should implement laws that if u do the crime meaning u take a life let ur life be take and see if things no wah change.
I agree with all the comments here lol
The BDFs are not Police Elgin, they’re soldiers. It’s the police men who should be taking care of the streets. I agree with Belizean Pride they should be protecting our border. But it’s because they have to be using their manpower to be assisting the police they can’t even do one of their main task which is to protect our borders from incursions. As an ex-soldier i Know.
what good is a skill if its only for entertainment. Sound like the BDF are there just for a joke rather than protecting Belize.
I believe that the BDF is doing a good job over there, is good to learn new skills and teach our modern soldiers the concept of warfare and skills that they can acquire if they train hard and to make a stronger army for belize… The people of belize must understand that the BDF primary role is to defend belize from external agrecions… And not just being on the streets, that’s why their is a police force….