Three Belizeans head for U.S. Military Academies

The armed forces of the United States of America may be bogged down in the occupation of Iraq , and stretched thin fighting twin wars against international terrorism and illicit drugs. But despite the superpower’s burdens, it still manages to find places in its prestigious military universities for students from abroad. And this year tiny Belize will be represented in a big way. News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports.

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
History was made during a short ceremony this afternoon at Price Barracks when three Belizeans were presented with acceptance certificates and scholarships to attend military service academies in the United States.

Robert Dieter, U.S. Ambassador to Belize
?By this fall, Belize will have seven candidates in the U.S. service academies. That is more than any other country in the hemisphere, more than the United States on a per capita basis. This speaks highly of the talent pool in Belize, a nation of fewer than three hundred thousand people, and especially the hard work and achievement of these young people.?

Hard work that according to Commander of the B.D.F. Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett began over a year ago with advertisements for the officer selection boards.

Brig Gen. Lloyd Gillett, Commander, B.D.F.
?The candidates come in and they go through a two-day process and at the end we select candidates not only for these academies, but for other training establishments abroad. Out of all of those candidates we look at the qualifications and decide who are most suitable to go to these academies. We then engage these people in a year long programme, which encompasses physical education, training for A.C.T. and we assist them with trying to get their transcripts and other things and bring them in to have a B.D.F. experience, so that they know what they are getting into and they are happy to continue with the process.?

According to General Gillett, although the scholarship programme with the United States began back in 1994, it was not until three years ago that it was resurrected … just in time for beauty queen Carrie Wong K to realise her long-time dream of becoming a pilot.

Carrie Wong K, Attending Air Force Academy
?It?s something I?ve been wanting to do since I was younger, it?s always been a dream, I just never saw it coming through. Until now where I am on my way.?

Kendra Griffith
?How did you heard about the process??

Carrie Wong K, Attending Air Force Academy
?Actually, it was thanks to Queen of the Bay. I met General Gillett at an Ex-Servicemen function that the queen usually attends every year and he mentioned to me the officer cadet programme. I enrolled, we did our training in December, and then they mentioned that various scholarships that are available and when I expressed my interest in being a pilot, they said it?s possible and to apply, so I applied.?

Robert Dieter
?It is a great accomplishment and an honour to be accepted to the prestigious U.S. service academies. The application process is extremely competitive, drawing applicants from literally around the globe.?

But the stiff competition did not stop Belize?s best. Jamaila Requena has been accepted to the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut, Matthew Gillett will be in New York at the Army?s West Point, while Carrie Wong K will be flying high at the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

The candidates cannot be more excited about the accomplishment and are eager to make their families and country proud.

Jaimala Requena, Attending Coast Guard Academy
?There?s mixed feelings, you?re excited, you?re happy to go, yet you?re going to leave behind everyone you know and it?s not like you?re just representing yourself, you?re representing you entire country, so you have to live up to their expectations.?

Matthew Gillett, Attending West Point Academy
?Yes, I am extremely proud, elated and honoured to be able to attend the West Point U.S. Military Academy. I know it?s something that is desired by many Americans. They are born, their parents groom them from they are young and still the admissions process do not find them acceptable, so yes I am greatly elated over the accomplishment that I?ve made.?

Brig Gen. Lloyd Gillett
?I am very proud of them and of the achievement. There?s a lot of talent in Belize and we will provide the opportunities for them to study abroad and to come back and serve the country.?

The training will last four years and at graduation the officer cadets will earn a bachelor?s degree. Upon returning home they will be required to work with government for at least four years. Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.

The three scholarships are valued at approximately seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. According to Commander Gillet, plans are in the works for the B.D.F. to team up with the Petters Research Institute in Dangriga to offer a three-week summer camp in math and science to improve the scholarship chances of future candidates.