The island’s newest soldiers fired their first shots on the firing range yesterday.

The 25-strong group of recruits spent days learning safety procedures and the workings of the Royal Bermuda Regiment’s SA-80 rifles before they were allowed to open fire on targets.

After they had successfully passed a tough weapons test, the soldiers practised their marksmanship on the 25-metre range at Warwick Camp.

Lance Corporal Linden Landy, 21, a section commander, said last week: “We take safety very seriously — if they don’t pass, they don’t shoot.”