The Belize Local soldiers are happy to know that sooner or later they will be receiving new boots and uniforms from the U.S. Marine. Where they will be going into a journey into the wild jungle on the their missions to counter-narcotics sporting with their new boots and uniforms, a thanks to the agreement with the Marine Corps in which the Belizeans trade a jungle warfare training package for their new supplies.
Back in June, Captain Juan Torres, who conducted a team of Marines guided Belizean forces here in the country, said Brig. Gen. David Jones, the commander of the Belize Defence Force, that the Corps had completed the agreement to make the trade. Jones said he was rapturous to be able to supply about a third of his 1,000-man army with new boots compared to those the Marines wear.
“In the jungle where these guys do patrols, it’s not nice to be walking in that type of terrain without good boots,” he told Marine Corps Times.
The exchange between the two services arose with a occupied struck by Gen. John Kelly, commander of U.S. Southern Command, and the head of the Belizean Ministry of National Security, said Maj. Mike Alvarez, a spokesman for the Marine Corps Forces to head South. About a total of 345 Belizean soldiers will receiving a brand new hot weather combat boots, woodland camouflage uniforms, H-harnesses, cartridge belts, ammunition pouches, canteens and canteen pouches.
"In interchange, Jones’ force will supply jungle warfare training for eight Marines, along with 1,000 gallons of fuel in support of the operation", Alvarez said. Belizean and their are other Central and South American troops who are skillful in jungle warfare training. The amount cost for the trade is approximately at closely to $92,000, Alvarez said, and it supports Kelly’s top objective: countering transnational organized crime.
In developing countries, the necessity of the local militaries are basic. Leaders here aren't questioning for the latest in fighter jets or amphibious assault vehicles, but they are asking for uniform items, ammunition or canteens.“It has become very difficult for us to get good, decent boots,” Jones said. “In the past, we used to buy them from a company in El Salvador. We try to buy from the region because prices are reasonable, but the quality is not very good.”
Every three months, Jones position in readiness a company deep into the jungle along the Guatemalan border. They spend a week patrolling, disrupting attempts at trafficking blunt and other illegal goods. In that type of environment, good boots can mean a difference between injury and a successful mission, he said.
