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Record number of volunteers for Regiment

Owain Johnston-Barnes
Updated: Jan 13, 2014 07:46 AM
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(Photo by Glenn Tucker)Recruits and volunteers as old as 53 were awake bright and early for day one of the Regiment’s two-week training camp at Warwick Camp.

A total of 130 new recruits laced up their boots for their first day of service in the Bermuda Regiment today, including a record number of volunteers.

According to a Regiment spokesman, a total of 40 volunteers signed up to serve — half of whom are women.

The numbers are notably higher than in previous years. Last year 111 recruits attended the two-week training camp, including 20 volunteers, and just 84 soldiers took part in the camp in 2012, 19 of whom were volunteers.

Commanding Officer Lt Col Michael Foster-Brown said: “We are delighted with the number of volunteers this year. It shows our message that the Regiment is a worthwhile and valuable organisation is getting through.

“We as a Regiment — and particularly the staff looking after the latest intake — are really looking forward to it. It’s really rewarding experience watching them develop over the two weeks.”

Col Foster-Brown also said that for the first time, a new recruit will be posting a daily update on their experiences at the annual training camp on the Regiment’s website and Facebook page.

“It’s a recruit’s view of the whole experience and we hope it will help demystify the Regiment and its training,” Col Foster-Brown said.

Enrico Durrant, 19, from Sandys, was one of the men who volunteered to serve in the Regiment. He said yesterday: “I did it because I wanted to better myself — I’m really looking forward to it. I’m interested in computers and IT and I’m keen to get into that in the Regiment.”

Fellow volunteer Hannah-Lynn Johnston, an 18-year-old sales assistant in a fashion store said: “It’s a learning process. It’s a totally different perspective on things and I want to better myself, mentally and physically. I’d really like to become a medic.”

Matthew Hollis, 25, from St David’s, whose grandfather Brendan Hollis is a former Regiment CO, said: “I’m not nervous about it at all. I’m looking forward to the shooting. I’m certainly not in shape, so I’m also looking forward to getting fitter.”

Over the next two weeks the recruits will learn drill and survival skills, and be trained in the proper use of firearms.

(Photo by Glenn Tucker)Recruits and volunteers as old as 53 were awake bright and early for day one of the Regiment’s two-week training camp at Warwick Camp.
(Photo by Glenn Tucker)Recruits and volunteers as old as 53 were awake bright and early for day one of the Regiment’s two-week training camp at Warwick Camp.
(Photo by Glenn Tucker)Recruits and volunteers as old as 53 were awake bright and early for day one of the Regiment’s two-week training camp at Warwick Camp
(Photo by Glenn Tucker)Recruits and volunteers as old as 53 were awake bright and early for day one of the Regiment’s two-week training camp at Warwick Camp.
(Photo by Glenn Tucker)Recruits and volunteers as old as 53 were awake bright and early for day one of the Regiment’s two-week training camp at Warwick Camp.
(Photo by Glenn Tucker)Retired Prison Officer Shelly Eve, 53, waits to hear her name called to be placed in a company. Recruits and volunteers were awake bright and early for day one of the Regiment’s two-week training camp at Warwick Camp.