B.D.F. Recruit Intake #54 ready to fight for Belize

Another intake of young men has gone from recruits to soldiers. This morning they became the newest members of the Belize Defence Force. Governor General Sir Colville Young was the inspecting officer at the graduation, which was also attended by the Acting Chief Justice Samuel Awich and Minister of Defence, Carlos Perdomo. The annual event was accompanied by the usual pomp and circumstance in the presence of proud family members. News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting

Forty nine young Belizeans passed the Belize Defense Force training and this morning at Price Barracks an award ceremony was held for Intake Fifty Four.

Dario Tapia

Brigadier General Dario Tapia, Commander, B.D.F.

“It is not always easy to do our recruit training and I am very proud of them. About seventy of them started and we ended up with forty-nine. It just shows you that it is physically, mentally demanding. I am very proud of them, very proud of young Belizeans wanting to join the force and it keeps going. Anytime we have a recruit intake that is assembling, lots of young Belizeans want to join our ranks and so I am really proud of them who finished.”

Four of the forty nine were awarded by the Governor General for skills and leadership displayed during the training.

Asterio Cal

Asterio Cal, Best Field Craft, Recruit Intake 54

“The best field craft is the way you will handle your weapon, the way you will camouflage and the way you will act to how you will shoot. Basically everything will be trained from the beginning and you will do it to the end.”

Jose Sanchez

“I know you were nominated as the best in this field. How did you find the training and what do you think will contribute to your new rank as a B.D.F. soldier?”

Asterio Cal

“Well actually as I started, I didn’t know anything about military things. But when I start the training, I have learned many things and I prove to myself that I can do it and I proved to myself what I have learned.”

Amin Hernandez

Amin Hernandez, Champion Shot, Recruit Intake 54

“Champion shot really is a person who knows how to manipulate a weapon, knows how to use a weapon, knows what exactly is a weapon—understand a weapon more than yourself.”

Jose Sanchez

“So I guess it is clear that you are also a good shot. What’s the weapon that you were utilizing?”

Amin Hernandez

“Well I use the M-16 and the saw-squat automatic weapon.”

Jose Sanchez

“So you are looking forward to being in the field—patrolling the borders or whatever your task may be?”

Amin Hernandez

“Well my task after this will be police duties right here in Belize City.”

Marcelino Bulum

Marcelino Bulum, Best Champion PT, Recruit Intake 54

“I am from Jalacte, Toledo and I am the Champion PT. Champion PT means you are a champion in the physical training with your muscles and your stamina nad everything.”

Jose Sanchez

“Looking out at the activity today, it looks like a lot of hard work went into it, a lot of practice. What pushed you to be the best?”

Marcelino Bulum

“Well, the workouts that we do, we do everything that they tell you, you become stronger and that’s how I achieved to be the champion PT.”

Jose Sanchez

“As a B.D.F. soldier, what are you actually looking forward to doing in the field?”

Marcelino Bulum

“Well as a B.D.F. soldier I come here with one mission to serve my country.”

Abdir Gideon, Champion Recruit, Recruit Intake 54

Abdir Gideon

“I am from Orange Walk, August Pine Ridge.”

Jose Sanchez

“What made you want to be a B.D.F. soldier?”

Abdir Gideon

“Well, they had work out there—basically we don’t got job. I graduated from Muffles High School, but it was job not there and so I decided to join the regular force.”

Jose Sanchez

“As the champion recruit, it means that of all the other intake, you are the best. How does that feel?”

Abdir Gideon

“Well I feel very proud of myself. It was challenging but I did it. Also my family proud of me.”

The options available for all recruits of Intake 54 are wide.

Brigadier General Dario Tapia

“We do our border patrol, we’re currently supporting the police and in case of the light engineering company at the moment being deployed to Haiti to assist in reconstruction efforts. We continue to support the other law enforcement. So the soldiers have to be prepared, trained and be able to meet all of those tasks that they have to do on behalf of the force.”

Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.