A women’s drill team is set to put their best foot forward for their public debut at the annual Bermuda Day Parade.

The Bermuda Rifle & Drill Team — a first for the Island — are perfecting their moves under the eagle eye of expert drill instructors from the Bermuda Regiment.

And the team, despite only being formed in February, has already received its first invitation to deploy overseas — to a major parade in Chicago scheduled for August.

The team, which has been practicing for several weeks, was the brainchild of the Regiment’s Sergeant Debbie Symons.

She said: “We want to promote the Regiment and try to encourage women to join and at the same time promote general fitness and bring something new and different to our Bermuda Day celebrations.”

Sgt Symons, from Somerset and a bank financial advisor in civilian life, said the 25-strong team was made up of a mix of civilian and Regiment volunteers.

The team’s manager and choreographer added that, in addition to tough sessions on the parade ground, the team also take part in gruelling physical training and runs to get in shape for their inaugural performance.

Sgt Symons said her squad will wear special uniforms in Bermuda red, white and blue and carry white wooden rifles.

And she promised: “It will be quite spectacular on the day and we’ll also have a Bermuda flag banner with our name on it.”

Sgt Symons said that, in addition to serving women soldiers, her new troops included teachers, police officers, bank staff and nurses.

She added: “They are all confident they will be ready, although some of them have never marched before. They’re all working really hard and they’re excited about appearing in public for the first time.

“We are all very grateful for the Regiment’s support and training — it really helps bring our soldiers closer to the community they serve.”

Tina Brangman, an administrative assistant in the Department of Public Prosecutions from Sandys, said she had volunteered on the spot after hearing about the team from Sgt Symons.

Ms Brangman added: “I was really excited — more so because I knew it would the first of its kind in Bermuda. I just said ‘let me sign up’.”

She added: “The girls are lovely and they’re very positive — it’s really refreshing to see Bermuda women come together and support each other. Everybody seems to be enjoying it.”

“We’re proud to be doing this because we know we will be ambassadors for Bermuda and representing the Island abroad.”

Corporal Aisha Jordan signed up for the team and extra work, despite already being a signaller in the Regiment.

The 36-year-old nursing assistant from Devonshire said: “Sergeant Symons has been talking about this for a while and it’s something we always wanted to do.

“I wanted to share what women in the Regiment can do, besides doing drill.”

“It gives us a chance to show our girly side as well and let civilians see what we can do outside of being a soldier.”