Bermuda Regiment soldiers have finished five gruelling days of training in how to conduct a shooting range.

Ten soldiers, ranging from Captain to Corporal, got weapons training from expert small arms instructors, courtesy of the British Army’s Small Arms School Corps (SASC).

Major Andy Atkinson, a former Irish Guardsman now attached to the SASC, commended the Bermuda soldiers as “enthusiastic, keen to learn and very diligent”. Maj Atkinson, along with Sergeant Martin Black — who served with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards before joining the SASC — will also run a separate blank firing course, including how to carry out basic field craft exercises.

Regiment soldiers received instruction in weapons ranging from sidearms to heavy machine guns. They also learned gun safety and British Army marksmanship standards.

Regiment Colour Sergeant Aaron Burchall said he’d enjoyed the course

“It’s been informative, interesting and a good learning curve,” he added. “It’s good to learn what happens on the other side of the range rather than just shooting.”

Second Lieutenant Mark Prior said: “Something like this is crucial to our troops when they’re learning live firing — through and through, it’s all about safety, from top to bottom.”