Two years ago the Belize Coast Guard contacted the USCG requesting assistance in forming their own Auxiliary.  The Belize Coast Guard had heard of the USCG Auxiliary and wanted to use us as a model.

John Cooper, Director, Caribbean operations of the CG Auxiliary International Affairs Directorate and Commander David Allen, District 7 Director of Auxiliary spent the better part of a week conducting a Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) with members of the Belize Coast Guard in Belize City.  They covered how the USCG Auxiliary was organized and what their main missions, recreational boating safety and operations, were and how to create these units in Belize.

Last month the Belize Coast Guard asked the USCG Auxiliary to re-visit and review their progress in forming an Auxiliary.  Once again John Cooper, now accompanied by John VanOsdol, Division Chief, International Directorate, journeyed south.

Both of these trips were managed and funded by the Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) an interagency command made up of members of the four military branches.  The SOUTHCOM commander in Belize, Army LTC Eldridge hosted the visit and met with Auxiliarists Cooper and VanOsdol for an initial briefing and an exit briefing.  Captain Mike DeSelle set the tone of the meeting by establishing that the Auxiliary in Belize would act as a force multiplier, much the same as it does in the United States, freeing active duty personal for law enforcement and security duties.  SOUTHCOM, very much wants this effort to succeed.

The Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, Captain John Borland hosted a briefing on Tuesday.  He gave an in-depth presentation on the Belize CG, their missions, responsibilities, force makeup and deployment. 

On Wednesday, day two, Auxiliarists Cooper and VanOsdol went to the island of Santo Pedro to meet with a group of citizens anxious to form an Auxiliary.  Santo Pedro is a one hour boat ride from Belize City.  That trip was made in a Columbia built ‘go fast’ drug boat captured by the USCG, modified and given to Belize.  It did go fast!! Santo Pedro will be the home of a new Coast Guard Station and the nation’s first Belize Auxiliary Flotilla.

Currently the Auxiliary International Affairs Directorate is actively working with the Dominican Republic, Barbados, Jamaica and Belize in forming Auxiliaries.  Subsequent articles will detail results in those nations.

~GJA