beauty queen Miss Zina Minks, who joined because she wanted to "be a challenge'' to the 202 men called up for army training last October.

Miss Bermuda 1980 also wanted to work on boosting her self esteem and putting discipline back in her life.

She is so determined to complete the Regiment's gruelling two-week boot camp that not even running up and down Warwick Long Bay beach in the pouring rain -- at the crack of dawn on her first day in camp -- has dampened her spirits.

But the 29-year-old conceded: "It was a rude awakening.'' Miss Minks, who is in Seven Platoon, believes her presence challenges as well as supports the male recruits.

"Having a woman in their section doesn't make them feel as bad if they have a hard time doing something,'' she said. "It also challenges them in performing their tasks.'' She insisted she is not subjected to any teasing or cat-calls by the male recruits. "After a while they get so used to seeing me in my uniform; it's like I'm one of the guys.

She lists her favourite part of camp as self-defence training, meal times and sleeping.

Miss Minks is among seven other female Regiment volunteers who will be paid $314.16 at the end of the two week camp.

Thereafter, they have to attend Warwick Camp one night a week and camp one weekend a month for three years.

Nine women had originally signed up but two had to be deferred for medical reasons.

But the remaining seven are doing very well and do everything the men do, said Captain William Madeiros.

"I think I'd be safe to say it's the largest number of women we've ever had in the Regiment and they are doing a great job,'' he said.

However, he does admit the physical training exercises and weapons training, in which they have to run with backpacks and rifles over their shoulders, takes a lot out of the female members.

Capt. Madeiros noted the Regiment had a quiet year in 1992, with no situations arising where members had to be called in to help out Police or assist in the aftermath of hurricanes.

But the Regiment served the community in many other ways, he said, such as providing pomp and ceremony for visitors and locals at Government functions and introducing a large number of young men to discipline.