Military of Belize

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Military branches: Belize Defence Force is responsible for protecting the soverignty of the former British colony of Belize.

Contents 1 History 2 Organization 3 Facilities 4 Equipment 5 Data 6 References

[edit] History

The BDF was founded in 1978 following the disbanding of the Belize Volunteer Guard and the Police Special Force. The military of Belize dates back to 1814, then under the Belize Volunteer Guard of the British Territorial Army.

[edit] Organization

The Chief of Staff the BDF Lieutenant-Colonel Reuel Magdiel Black reports to the Honourable Cordel Hyde, Minister of Defence of Belize. The Commander

The BDF consists of:

• Ground Forces
  • First Infantry Battalion
  • Second Infantry Battalion

• Maritime Wing

• Air Wing
  • Troop Transport
  • Freight Transport
  • Searcn and Rescue (Casualty/Medical Evacuation)
  • Reconnaissance
  • Exclusive Economic Zone Patrol
  • Parachute Resupply
  • Light Ground Attack
  • Showing of the Belizean Flag
  • Air Wing Cadet Corps

• Volunteer Guard
  • Volunteer Battalion

The Belize National Police is a quasi-military unit in Belize.

[edit] Facilities

• Mountain Pine Ridge Training Area
• Price Barracks
• Fairweather Camp
• Orange Walk
• Belizario Camp
• Corozal Training Center
• Dangriga Training Center
• Phillip SW Goldson International Airport

[edit] Equipment

Aircraft

• Harrier GR3 - RAF
• Puma HC1 - RAF
• Gazelle heicopters - RAF
• 1 Cessna 182J - AOP and surveying
• Slingsby T67M-260 Firefly - trainer
• 1 Britten-Norman 2A Islander - transport
• 1 Britten-Norman 2B-21 Defender - patrol

[edit] Data

Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 800 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 35 874 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 3 213 (2005)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.2 million (2005)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: .7% (2005)

[edit] References

• This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain. 2000, 2006
• BDF
• BDF Air Wing info

See also : Belize