Last night we showed you part one of our interview with retiring Chief Defense Staff, Rear Admiral John Borland. We spoke about the long arc of his 37 year career and his time in the BDF and the Coast Guard, of which he was the first commandant.
But, we also asked him about the culture of the armed forces - and how he's seen it change since he first came into the BDF as a volunteer:
Jules Vasquez
"General Bob Garcia used to tell me, we don't recruit from heaven, we recruits right on earth and so our recruits are reflective of the society. The character of many of the young recruits are not of the highest standard and so we see inevitably allegations of corruption, bribery, lawless behavior, involvement in various little criminal intrigues."
"How do you observe it from your perspective having entered as a volunteer in 1987 and seeing the type and the personality of soldier or Coast Guard recruit, seeing that change over the years?"
John Borland, Rear Admiral - Chief of Defence Staff
"You're right and I'm not going to hide from that. General Garcia was right in what he said to you back then, but when I enlisted back in 1987 because I wanted to be here, I wanted to be a soldier, I wanted to serve this country and I thought there was nothing more important than that and to be honest with you I still think that is the most important thing that any of us can do, to serve this country and defend this country with everything God has given to us."
"But times have changed and yes we come from the society all walks and cross sections of it and try as we might to vet the individuals coming into into training. There are a few that slip through the cracks that have had previous encounters with the law with criminal elements, it's inevitable, but then again the Coast Guard's basic training is for 12 weeks, the BDF basic training is for 17 weeks and one of the objectives of basic training is to transform a civilian bad as he might be or good as he might be into a military figure, a military subject and by instilling discipline the most important thing and training, training to teach him all that he needs to learn so that he can at the end of 17 weeks pick up his rifle and his equipment and patrol that border or stand guard at an observation post fully knowing all the requirements what his duties are he has a discipline to stand that watch, he has education to carry out the tactics and the maneuver if necessary and he has the belief in his leadership that those that are giving orders to him are qualified, are competent and are the greatest leaders on earth and he will follow them to hell and back."
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