Louisiana Guard graduates two from partnership country

By Sgt. Tresa L. Allemang
Louisiana National Guard

Belizean Defense Force soldier Jamie L. Lord shakes hands with Col. Joanne F. Sheridan, the Louisiana Army National Guard's 199th Regiment commander, as she receives her a second lieutenant bar. Lord completed the eight-week accelerated Officer Candidate School at Fort McClellan in Anniston, Ala., March 20. Louisiana adopted Belize as its partnership country in 1996, which has led to bilateral training exercises to include participation in the accelerated OCS program. (Photo by Sgt. Tresa L. Allemang, Louisiana National Guard)
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CAMP BEAUREGARD, La., (4/17/09) -- A ceremony recently held here at the post chapel recognized Jamie L. Lord and Timothy B. Elijio, both from Louisiana's State Partnership Program country, who graduated with more than 100 Soldiers from an accelerated Officer Candidate School.

The eight-week course prepares military leaders, both physically and mentally. The graduates conducted a 10-mile foot march, troop leading procedures, a leadership reaction course, combat water survival training, and honed their skills in infantry squad tactics, operations, military intelligence, tactics, call-for-fire and communicative skills.

Although Lord works as a customer service representative for a bank in Belize City and serves as a volunteer for the Belize Defense Force (BDF), she took advantage of the opportunity to become a leader in her battalion by participating in the accelerated course.

"I believe there is always room from improvement," she said. "I've gained leadership and training skills that I know will benefit my battalion."

While gaining the crucial skills needed by a military officer, the 23-year-old now has the opportunity to fulfill her life-long dream of becoming a pilot, as the BDF offers training scholarships to officers.

"As far back as I can remember I wanted to be a pilot. I have just always had a fascination with anything that could fly," she said.

Lord explained that going through the course at the Alabama Military Academy gave her the opportunity to more rapidly qualify for pilot training.

Elijio, a junior high school teacher in Belize City, said the course did more than prepare him for the military. "I plan to use the leadership skills I've acquired through this course not only at my unit, but also at to the school where I teach."

Both agreed that the hardest part of the course was adapting to the unfamiliar Alabama weather. "In Belize, the average temperature year-round is usually 75 to 80 degrees. To come to the winter program where it got as cold as 16 degrees was really a challenge for us," Elijio said.

Lord said the trainers expected the best from the OCS candidates."They were hard on us, but they had a reason," she said. "They wanted us to understand the importance of being a leader and provided a lot of mentoring."

Before attending the accelerated course, the BDF soldiers completed the Louisiana Army National Guard's Warrior Leader Course and Basic Non-commissioned Officers Course at Camp Cook in Ball, La., to help prepare them for U.S. Army traditions and skills, such as marching, saluting, and drill and ceremony. Their primary military training was provided by the British Army.

Belize, which prior to 1973 was known as the colony of British Honduras, declared its independence from Great Britain in 1981.

The state partners actively participate in a host of engagement activities ranging from bilateral familiarization to training exercise opportunities, fellowship-style internships, civic leader visits and medical assistance.

To date, this partnership has given Elijio, Lord, and three other Belizean soldiers the opportunity to train as leaders with American Soldiers.

Col. Joanna F. Sheridan, commander of the 199th Regiment on Camp Cook in Ball, La., said she is proud of the BDF soldiers and very anxious to follow their military careers.

"I plan to make a trip to Belize within the year," she added. "I will certainly make sure I find them and see what great things they have accomplished since the return to their country."

"This was just a great experience. I learned to push myself to the limit. I also learned how to apply team work and be supportive of others," Elijio said.

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