New BDF Commander Launches Nationwide Tour to Boost Troop Morale and Assess BDF Readiness

The newly appointed Commander of the Belize Defence Force, Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez, has begun an extensive countrywide familiarization tour aimed at strengthening leadership presence among soldiers stationed in remote operational areas.  This afternoon, the Commander was in the remote village of Cadenas when we spoke with him, as he continued his southern tour. Velasquez has been camping overnight with soldiers deployed in isolated locations, a move intended to better understand their daily realities and operational challenges firsthand.  The visits form part of his commitment to personally engage every unit across the country and ensure soldiers receive support and recognition for their role in safeguarding Belize’s sovereignty.

Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez, Belize Defence Force Commander: “So the tour is the familiarize myself and other staff officers dealing with the communication, logistics and operations with the installation of the Belize Defence Force. So the remote observation post and forward operating bases that we have throughout the country so this tour is the southern tour and we’re touring the Sarstoon FOB, Cadenas and other locations within the Punta Gorda district. And we visited the troops to boost morale and to check the situation in the area and also the logistic situation whether we need to make some improvements and thereafter we changed out if we need to we change our operation approach to operating in the area if there is a need. It’s an assessment to confirm that we have the right amount and right balance of soldiers and equipment and the operational imperatives to make sure we’re doing our jobs efficiently.” 

Velasquez also noted that the experience has been personally meaningful, saying the time spent alongside soldiers in the field strengthens both leadership and troop spirit.  He notes that from a commander’s perspective he can do better in addressing the needs for greater security and improved working conditions.

Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez, Belize Defence Force Commander: “I get to spend some time with them and see the actual situation on the ground. I have been on the ground many times in the past many years ago but this is a fresh look at the same situation and there are different things that changes over time. So it’s a very good opportunity for me to make a new assessment of the operational environment throughout the whole country. The other visits that I did we are formulating, we are possibly formulating a new strategy of dealing with the entire Sarstoon area, Cadenas and the Forward Operating Base.”

Reporter: Do you have plans to overnight with them as well ? With some of your soldiers that are deployed. 

Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez, Belize Defence Force Commander: “Yes I have been visiting other areas and it will definitely call for an overnight. Very remote areas, many miles away from what we would call civilization and it will require maybe a two day trip to get there and another two day trip to get back. So it will require an overnight in the jungle.” 

Also present during portions of the field visits was Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier General Azariel Loria.  The tour marks one of Velasquez’s first major initiatives since assuming command, signaling a hands-on leadership approach focused on direct engagement with frontline personnel and assessing conditions on the ground.