Members of the Defence Force, perhaps in the face of public comment on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Defence and Police Complaints) Bill 2013 which seeks to grant them the same powers of arrest as police, recently invited members of the media to spend a day with them to see how they operate.The following is the experience of reporter Kalifa Clyne.
If a soldier cuts his chin while shaving, he has to account for the damage done. Enlisting in the T&T Regiment (TTR) means your body is the property of the country and damaging state property can be a punishable offence.No wonder soldiers don't smile often.
With the Miscellaneous Provisions (Defence and Police Complaints) Bill 2013 being placed under major scrutiny, both in the public and in the Parliament, the T&T Regiment has been under the spotlight in recent weeks. And after a statement from Attorney General Anand Ramlogan describing soldiers as "idly waiting for something to happen," the public has been questioning what it is that soldiers actually do.
Do the members of the country's approximately 2,000-strong army laze around all day and work two 24-hour shifts per week in addition to regular hours, wasting state funds? What is their role?The Regiment gave the media an opportunity to find this out last week during an arranged day out with them.Activities range from shooting practice and marching drills to working with police to patrol hot spot areas.
On Thursday, a 17-hour long day began with soldiers and media getting to the muster point to be transported to various camps.The troop carrier first headed to the home of the army's First Infantry Battalion–Camp Ogden.At 5.30 am, members of the media, along with a group of soldiers, including public affairs officer of the TTR, Major Al Alexander and Major Dexter McLean were on our way past the first established camp of the TTR, now the St James Police Barracks.
We were greeted at Camp Ogden by Commanding Officer (CO) of the First Infantry Battalion, Major Roger McLean, and his adviser, WO1 Goodridge, who welcomed us with a serious expression and an explanation of what occurs at camp.With breakfast at 5.15 am and inspection, debriefing and dispatch at 6.30 am, a soldier's life begins early.Alexander explained that while there were many jobs for soldiers within the camp, they were all soldiers first.
"It is a system designed to maintain itself so we can function without outside help...We have cooks, mechanics, barbers, doctors, everything we need internally," he said.He explained that the attitude of soldiers was to always be ready, as he pointed to several soldiers getting into a truck to head to Sea Lots to monitor the Government's People and Projects for Progress Programme.Others went off to their guard duties for the Prime Minister and President.
There are around 500 First Infantry Battalion Officers."Camp Ogden is strategically placed in the centre of the city and was very instrumental in defending the country during the 1990 coup," McLean added."The army instills patriotism. When you choose to join the regiment you are saying you will put the nation first. Soldiers take that responsibility very seriously.
"When Diego Martin flooded last year we received the call and headed to work. Within two hours we had contacted our engineers and had went out to give assistance with the public."People working in other agencies have the option of going home and checking on their children. In the army, once an order is given we have to follow and soldiers don't follow the orders reluctantly. Following orders is their nature. It is the job."
At this point, McLean gestured toward the group of soldiers being inspected.He said: "In the army they never train you to operate individually. Everything is done as a team and we are all responsible for each other. If a soldier comes out and he isn't dressed properly, his bunk mate can be held accountable as well."At breakfast, McLean told a story of his son being weaned off of breast milk by force, after he and his wife, Major Josette McLean, were confined in camp for nine days.
"It is not like any other job," McLean said.We left Camp Ogden around 8 am, passing soldiers heading to guard duty at President's House before heading to Sea Lots.There, a group of six to eight soldiers were tasked with monitoring and protecting the people cleaning their community.Captain Jerome Affonso, who heads the exercise, took us on a tour through the neighbourhood. The residents seemed very comfortable with the presence of soldiers.
"We just here doing the work," said 53-year-old resident Patrick Lewis."The money too small but we happy for the work."The residents clean the community every weekday and soldiers patrol the area and double check attendance.While residents held rakes and swept the gravel-covered ground, uniformed soldiers stood guard, talking to residents in what appeared to be an easy-going relationship.
The soldiers also play a big part in the Civilian Conservation Corps programme (CCC).The programme itself is run by Major Cheryl Richardson and has eight locations across T&T. We visited Richardson and her group next at the Transport and Industrial Workers compound on Eastern Main Road, Laventille.The programme, which targets marginalised youth from at-risk communities, is run by retired and active soldiers.
We also visited the MYLAT and MYPART compound in Mausica, where boys were busy running drills and setting up tents.One 16-year-old, Simba Felix, told this reporter that although he was grateful to the military for helping change his life, he doesn't necessarily want to be a soldier."My pastor told my mother to send me here because I used to give trouble, fighting and robbing people," Felix told the T&T Guardian.
"I see my friends and them getting shoot and I didn't want to end up like that. It has been a lot better since I came here."Back in the troop-carrier, we headed to Teteron Barracks in Chaguarmas.Teteron is the home of the army's Support and Services Battalion and its Learning Centre. All of the army's logistical support and needs are met there. The Battalion at Teteron provides training, food, clothing, medical support, gas for vehicles and just about everything else soldiers may need on the field.
A quick tour of the army's medical centre and Quartermaster Stores was followed by a training session on the gun range.Major Edwards, the chief training instructor at Teteron, said there is currently a big focus on continuous training for officers. This and mandatory physical training for officers of every rank ensures that the army is always ready for an emergency, he said.
At the Chaguaramas heliport, part of the army's 2nd Battalion operate. We joined the other half currently setting up a military base in La Romaine, where they assist South Division Police Officers in joint Task Force exercises.
The army's Engineering Battalion was our next stop and after observing the maintenance of army vehicles, we were suited up in 35-pound bulletproof vests and sent out with soldiers to a roadblock on the NP flyover in Laventille, before heading to Beverly Hills, where we joined soldiers and police on a Inter Agency Task Force joint patrol to Fort Chacon.The trek through dirt tracks and behind houses was quiet except for the heavy breathing of reporters and the loud barking of dangerous dogs.
The soldiers took a protective stance but engaged with civilians occasionally.The day ended back at the TTR headquarters on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, where we were debriefed by CO of the TTR Rodney Smart.