Belize's Army: A Small But Mighty Force

The Belize Defence Force (BDF) is the military of Belize and is responsible for protecting the country's sovereignty. The BDF consists of a Service/Support Battalion, two Regular Battalions, and one Volunteer Battalion. Belize's military size in 2020 was 2,000, with a 0% increase from 2019. The British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence and currently has a training support unit in the country.

The Belize Defence Force (BDF) consists of a Service/Support Battalion, two Regular Battalions and one Volunteer Battalion

The Belize Defence Force (BDF) is the country's military, responsible for protecting Belize's sovereignty. It consists of a Service/Support Battalion, two Regular Battalions and one Volunteer Battalion. The BDF was founded in 1978, and in 2012, the Belizean government spent around $17 million on the military, constituting 1.08% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

The First Infantry Battalion was established in 1993 following the British withdrawal from Belize. This battalion has participated in military exercises in Belize and abroad, including United Nations Peace Operations in Haiti. It consists of three infantry companies and a small HQ staff, operating across the country and alternating between the south and north. The battalion is currently stationed at Fairweather Camp, Punta Gorda, with two companies, and in Belize City. It is equipped with small arms, transportation, logistics, and signalers, with additional support from the Logistics unit in Price Barracks.

The Second Infantry Battalion, a combination of male and female soldiers, was formed on October 1, 1994. Initially, it consisted of three Infantry Companies: Sierra, Alpha, and Echo. Between 2000 and 2002, it was redesignated as Land Command South (LCS) or Land Command North (LCN) depending on rotation. LCS covered the southern regions, including the Toledo and Stann Creek Districts, while LCN covered the northern areas, including the Cayo, Belize, Orange Walk, and Corozal Districts. In 2002, the battalion designation was reverted, and it was placed under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Reynolds Lewis, with the companies renamed as Hotel, Gulf, and Sierra.

The Service/Support Battalion commands the specialist platoons, including the Administrative Company, Mortar Platoon, Signal Platoon, Reece Platoon, and the Combat Engineer Platoon. The Combat Engineer Platoon has heavy equipment and is trained for construction and renovation work. It also includes an Explosive Ordnance Device Team responsible for defusing or destroying bombs and demolition work.

In addition to the battalions, the BDF also includes the Air Wing, the Special Boat Unit, and the Volunteer Guard. The Air Wing is based at Price Barracks, Ladyville, and the Special Boat Unit operates in the riverine areas, distinguished by their blue digital uniforms. The BDF has a total of around 2,000 personnel as of 2020, with 12 British Army personnel stationed in Belize as of 2012.

The BDF was founded in 1978, after the disbanding of the Belize Volunteer Guard and Police Special Force

The Belize Defence Force (BDF) is the military of Belize and is responsible for protecting the country's sovereignty. The BDF was founded in 1978 following the disbanding of the Belize Volunteer Guard and the Police Special Force in 1977.

The military of Belize has a long history, dating back to 1817 with the founding of the Prince Regent Royal Honduras Militia, a volunteer organisation. Between 1817 and 1978, the military force in Belize had ten different names, reflecting the changing political landscape of the country. Here is a list of the different incarnations of Belize's military force before the establishment of the BDF:

• The Prince Regent's Royal Militia (1817-1866)
• The Belize Volunteer Force (1866-1868)
• The Belize Volunteer Corps (1868-1883)
• The Belize Light Infantry Volunteer Force (1897-1905)
• British Honduras Volunteers (1905-1916)
• British Honduras Territorial Force (1916-1928)
• British Honduras Defence Force (1928-1944)
• British Honduras Home Guard (1942-1943)
• British Honduras Volunteer Guard (1943-1973)
• Belize Volunteer Guard (1973-1977)

The BDF was established as Belize's military force in 1978, with the primary role of safeguarding the country's sovereignty. The BDF operates under the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security, which is currently led by Hon. Florencio Marin Jr. The BDF itself is commanded by Brigadier General Azariel Loria.

In addition to the BDF, other security forces in Belize include the Belize Police Department and the National Coast Guard. These entities fall under the jurisdiction of the Minister of National Security, headed by the Hon. John Saldivar.

Belize's military has undergone a series of name changes and reorganisations over the years, adapting to the country's evolving needs and international relations. The BDF, as the current incarnation of the country's military, continues to play a crucial role in protecting Belize's sovereignty and national interests.

The British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence

The British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since the country gained independence from Britain in 1981. The British Army Training Support Unit in Belize (BATSUB) is the name given to the current British Army Garrison in the country. The unit is based in Price Barracks, which is also home to the Belize Defence Force (BDF) and is located near Belize International Airport in Ladyville.

BATSUB is primarily used for jungle warfare training, with access to over 13,000 square kilometres of jungle terrain provided by the Belizean government. The unit carries out up to five dismounted close combat exercises per year of varying sizes and hosts the final exercise of the notoriously tough British Army Platoon Commander's Battle Course, which runs three times annually. The challenging environment of the Belizean jungle provides British soldiers with transferable skills that set them up for success on future operations.

The British Army's presence in Belize has evolved over time. Initially, following Belize's independence, the United Kingdom maintained a deterrent force called British Forces Belize to protect the country from potential invasion by Guatemala, which claimed Belize as its own. This force included a battalion and No. 1417 Flight RAF of Harriers. The main British force left in 1994, three years after Guatemala recognised Belizean independence, but the UK maintained a training presence through BATSUB and 25 Flight AAC until 2011 when the last British forces left Ladyville Barracks, with the exception of seconded advisers.

In 2015, rising tensions between Belize and Guatemala, along with British cutbacks on military bases worldwide, led Belize to request the return of BATSUB. The UK government agreed, and BATSUB continues to operate in Belize today, with plans to potentially deploy personnel more regularly and for longer durations. As of 2012, there were 40 British Army personnel stationed in Belize.

The BDF's Special Boat Unit wears blue digital uniforms to distinguish themselves from the Belize Coast Guard

The Belize Defence Force (BDF) is the military of Belize and is responsible for protecting the sovereignty of the country. The BDF consists of a Service/Support Battalion, two Regular Battalions, and one Volunteer Battalion. The BDF also includes the Air Wing, which became part of the Belize Coast Guard Service in 2005, and the Special Boat Unit (SBU).

The SBU is tasked with ensuring no illegal activities occur within Belize's rivers and coastline. They operate a variety of boats, including outboards and jet drives, and are moving towards riverine capabilities as their mandate includes mostly rivers.

To distinguish themselves from the Belize Coast Guard, the SBU wears blue digital uniforms, while the Coast Guard wears full blue. The Coast Guard is primarily found along the seas, whereas the SBU restricts its presence to riverine areas.

The BDF's Special Boat Unit is distinct from the Special Boat Service (SBS), which is the special forces unit of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. The SBS conducts highly classified operations and has similar operational capabilities to the Special Air Service (SAS). Both the SBS and SAS fall under the operational command of the Director Special Forces and undergo an identical selection process.

The British Army Training Support Unit in Belize enables troops to train in a close country and tropical environment

The British Army Training Support Unit in Belize (BATSUB) enables troops from the UK and international partners to train in a close country and tropical environment. The unit is based in Price Barracks, which is also home to the Belize Defence Force. The British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since the country gained its independence in 1981.

BATSUB is manned by 12 permanent staff and employs over 100 local civilians. The unit carries out up to five dismounted close combat exercises per year, of varying sizes. It also hosts the final exercise of the notoriously tough British Army Platoon Commander's Battle Course, which runs three times a year.

Belize provides challenging terrain and an austere environment, giving the British Army a world-class training area. The country has around 60% of its land under natural forest cover, which equates to over 5,000 square miles of jungle terrain. This provides an excellent opportunity for troops to learn how to survive, live and fight in the jungle. The jungle environment presents unique challenges, such as dense vegetation that can limit lines of sight and arcs of fire, but it also offers opportunities for camouflage and the building of fortifications.

In addition to military training, BATSUB is committed to the stewardship of nature and wildlife in the areas where the armed forces train. They have partnered with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and Panthera, an international charity dedicated to the conservation of big cats, to study the effects of British Army training on jungle wildlife. The project has captured rare footage of wildlife, including jaguars, pumas, ocelots, and endangered species such as the Baird's tapir. The results of the project indicate minimal short-term effects on mammalian populations and negligible long-term impacts on species ecology and behaviour within the training areas.

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