Pins of Pride: Sandhurst Alumni Recognized  

Today, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst held an Alumni Ceremony at the Belize Defense Force, bringing together graduates of one of the world’s most prestigious military institutions. The ceremony featured remarks from former graduates who reflected on how their time at Sandhurst shaped them, with one speaker touching on a reality close to home: that many Belizean graduates could not afford to have family present at their passing-out ceremonies due to financial constraints. The afternoon closed with the presentation of official pins to all honored graduates. Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, CEO of the Ministry of Home Affairs and a Sandhurst graduate himself, spoke about what the academy means to those who pass through its doors.

 

Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, C.E.O. Ministry of Home Affairs

“So to have been selected at that point, to represent Belize and to have gone out and to attend this program, it’s something that has definitely forged my career. It lay the foundation not only for my first appointment as a platoon commander, but the values instilled in me at Sandhurst certainly still remains with me as a leader. So it prepares you not only for your first assignment, but it prepares you well into the leadership world. We have two current sitting ministers that are graduates of Sandhurst. We’ve had I believe 9 generals from Belize to have gone through Sandhurst and two admirals, myself and John Boreland. We’ve had 4 CEO’s in government who have gone through Sandhurst, so its really a proven institution and not only in Belize but across the world.”

 

Officials say the Sandhurst experience continues to produce some of Belize’s top military and public sector leaders, with its legacy still shaping leadership across the country and beyond.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: