Page 88 - Light Dragoons 2023 CREST

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Operations Officer – British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB)
After Wessex Storm the offer to spend six months in the Caribbean was one I snapped up (thank you Army). With the role Training Officer Belize in my head, I was going to be the Light Dragoons answer to Tarzan, well, a pasty hairless version. So, I packed my kit with all the essentials; bergen, webbing, helmet, and most impor- tantly fly-rod. On my arrival. after mini- mal comms from Belize. I was informed I was the Operations Officer. This came as a slight shock as my visions of a 6-month hol- iday of fishing on the flats and carving my way through the jungle changed just a little.
BATSUB was going through a transfor- mation when I arrived. It was mothballed in the Mid 2000’s and left with a skeleton crew to run the infrastructure. It has now become one of the British Army’s Land Regional Hubs - A base for the army to pro- ject into the Caribbean, South and Central America. Belize is a small, fascinating and diverse country covered in incredible jun- gle and boasts the second largest barrier reef in the world. An English-speaking country with a reputation for being dan- gerous but this was far from the truth.
During my time at BATSUB we hosted a multitude of Exercises and various VIPs along the way. This was a big part of the job. Organising visits and hosting, the Light Dragoon charm went a long way. Along with UK forces coming out includ- ing the HCR, 1WG and multiple Engineer regiments, we hosted a multinational exercise with 1000 troops from across the Caribbean, Central and South America. This came with its own challenges, all the British Army training areas in Belize are TOPL. Meetings with local landowners is key and a stray demolition display can throw a spanner in the works.
As part of the new LRH it was fantastic to work with multiple NGOs and the Belize
Caracol Mayan Ruins
Defence Force (BDF), setting up relation- ships to carry forward for units to complete a 4-month deployment. The Pilot will fin- ish in 2022 and be fully operational by 2024 with some amazing opportunities across the Caribbean and providing High Availability Disaster Recovery (HADR), and training to Commonwealth Caribbean nations.
But it wasn’t all hard work! Weekends gave the opportunity to visit the Island’s world class diving and fishing on offer, replete with white sand and clear water. Diving on the reef was outstanding with sea turtles, nurse sharks and the odd manatee. It was one hell of an experience. The fishing was world class. Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon in abundance and in the crystal-clear water it was amazing to stalk the saltwater Grand Slam. It wasn’t all hosting for work though. Making friends with fishing lodges was also key and getting accommodation and boats, simply for hosting guests in an even- ing was an offer I couldn’t turn down. Trips up to Mexico via the ‘Chicken Bus’ and a short hop to Cuba allowed me to relive the gap year experience.
The Caribbean culture on offer was incred- ible and for an awkward English man a carnival or a local nightclub was a sight to behold. Notable events included Lobster Fest, the first day of the lobster season; not your average food festival. Instead, a 3-day festival with music and rum at all hours of the day. I was proud of eating 9 lobsters in a weekend at £4 each. The local cricket was also something I couldn’t say no to. West Indies vibes and some big hitting T20 games where I was kindly invited to rep- resent the BDF. Only issue being my part- time medium pace swing (slow, no move- ment) which got put back over my head and into the swimming pool twice in one over.
I can’t recommend BATSUB enough, it is an amazing place and well worth the trip either as staff, exercising troops or just on holiday. It was an incredible 6-month stint and somewhere I am already planning on going back to.
ATJA
15lb Permit on the fly
Lobster Festival
Jungle Sunset Chiquibul National Park
86