MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Leaders from U.S. Marine Corps Forces-South, and the Belize Defence Force
visited II Marine Expeditionary Force and the School of Infantry–East as part of
a three-day visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct. 20-22.
The
purpose of the visit was to assess the capabilities of U.S. forces, discern
opportunities for Belize forces to train alongside Marines, and sustain enduring
partnerships between the two countries in their efforts to counter transnational
organized crime.
“The training we’re doing with the Belize Defence Force
right now is we have a security cooperation team of 25 Marines who are currently
living in Belize,” said Brig. Gen. Eric M. Smith, the commander of MARFORSOUTH.
“Our Marines are training a BDF company of troops in subjects such as land
navigation and marksmanship skills.”
MARFORSOUTH recently deployed
Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force –Southern Command, based out of
Honduras, in June. SPMAGTF-SC is tasked with conducting security cooperation,
providing training and support to partner nations for Countering Transnational
Organized Crime and providing limited humanitarian assistance and disaster
relief during the Atlantic hurricane season.
“Countering transnational
organized crime is our effort to prevent bad people, bad things, from flowing up
into our southern borders,” Smith said. “Belize has chosen to step up the fight
on counter-drugs and CTOC and we’re willing to help them do that. It all plays
into protecting the homeland.”
The BDF, led by Brig. Gen. David Jones,
took initiative with CTOC this year through their planning and hosting of
Exercise Tradewinds 2015, which was a pivoting point in the relationship between
MARFORSOUTH and the BDF.
Over 400 participants took part in the field
training exercise from Belize, MARFORSOUTH, Canada and 17 partner nations within
the Caribbean. The objective was to enhance CTOC capabilities through
partnership and promote interoperability among the nations. The event included
training in jungle warfare and riverine skills, two areas of expertise and
proficiency for the BDF.
“The strongest partnership we have in the fight
against drugs and narcotics is with U.S. forces,” Jones said. “We want to play a
larger role, and for us to do that, I need to better understand what our
partners can provide and what we can bring to the table.”
Jones said the
primary purpose of his visit was to gain a better understanding of the Marine
Corps’ capabilities and how Belize’s unique training capabilities could benefit
allied U.S. forces, enabling Belize to take on a bigger role within the
Caribbean community.
“This isn’t us supporting Belize,” Smith said. “This
is us supporting each other. So if we send Marines to learn about Riverine, or
to train at the jungle training school in Belize, we’re going to get something
out of that. Our Marines gain just as much as they give, so we’re hoping this is
a true symbiotic relationship with the country of Belize.”