Guard graduates two officers from Louisiana's "sister" country

Photo By Sgt. Tresa L. Allemang | Belizean soldiers, Timothy B. Elijio and Jamie L. Lord, stand in front of the American Flag after graduating from the rigorous, eight-week accelerated Officer Candidate School at Fort McClellan, Ala., on March 20. Louisiana adopted Belize as its "sister" country in 1996, which has led to bilateral training exercises to include the accelerated OCS program.  

PINEVILLE, UNITED STATES

04.17.2009

Story by Sgt. Tresa L. Allemang 

Louisiana National Guard

PINEVILLE, La. — Two Belizean Defense Force soldiers graduated from the accelerated Officer Candidate School at Fort McClellan in Anniston, Ala., last month, as part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program, which links states with partner countries for the purpose of supporting security objectives.

In 1996, Louisiana adopted Belize as its "sister" country after the State Partnership Program was established in response to the radically-changed political-military situation following the collapse of communism and the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

A ceremony held at the post chapel recognized Jamie L. Lord and Timothy B. Elijio, from Louisiana's "sister" country, as part of more than 100 Soldiers from around the nation able to meet the demands of the rigorous course.

The eight-week course prepares military leaders, both physically and mentally. The graduates conducted a 10-mile foot march, troop leading procedures, a leadership reaction course, combat water survival training, and honed their skills in infantry squad tactics, operations, military intelligence, tactics, call-for-fire and communicative skills.

Although Lord works as a customer service representative for a bank in Belize City and serves as a volunteer for the BDF, she took advantage of the opportunity to become a leader in her battalion by participating in the accelerated course.

"I believe there is always room from improvement," she said. "I've gained leadership and training skills that I know will benefit my battalion."

While gaining the crucial skills needed by a military officer, the 23-year-old now has the opportunity to fulfill her life-long dream of becoming a pilot, as the BDF offers training scholarships to officers. "As far back as I can remember I wanted to be a pilot. I have just always had a fascination with anything that could fly," she laughed.

She explained that going through the course at the Alabama Military Academy gave her the opportunity to more rapidly qualify for pilot training.

Elijio, a junior high school teacher in Belize City, stressed that the course did more than prepare him for the military. "I plan to use the leadership skills I've acquired through this course not only at my unit, but also at to the school where I teach."

Both agreed that the hardest part of the course was adapting to the unfamiliar Alabama weather. "In Belize, the average temperature year-round is usually 75 to 80 degrees. To come to the winter program where it got as cold as 16 degrees was really a challenge for us," Elijio added.
Lord realized that since training military leaders is their job, it makes sense that they only expect the best. "They were hard on us, but they had a reason," she explained. "They wanted us to understand the importance of being a leader and provided a lot of mentoring."

Before attending the accelerated course, the BDF soldiers completed the Louisiana Army National Guard's Warrior Leader Course and Basic Non-commissioned Officers Course at Camp Cook in Ball, La., to help prepare them for U.S. Army traditions and skills such as marching, saluting, and drill and ceremony, as their primary military training was provided by the British Army.

Belize, which prior to 1973 was known as the colony of British Honduras, declared its independence from Great Britain in 1981.

The state partners actively participate in a host of engagement activities ranging from bilateral familiarization to training exercise opportunities, fellowship-style internships, civic leader visits and medical assistance. To date, this partnership has given Elijio, Lord, and three other Belizean soldiers the opportunity to train as leaders with American Soldiers.

Col. Joanna F. Sheridan, commander of the 199th Regiment on Camp Cook in Ball, La., said she is proud of the BDF soldiers and very anxious to follow their military careers.

"I plan to make a trip to Belize within the year," she added. "I will certainly make sure I find them and see what great things they have accomplished since the return to their country."

"This was just a great experience. I learned to push myself to the limit. I also learned how to apply team work and be supportive of others," Elijio, a father of three, said.

• Date Taken: 04.17.2009
• Date Posted: 04.17.2009 15:34
• Story ID: 32521
• Location: PINEVILLE, US