Boot camp is over but now the hard work really begins for many of the new recruits in the Bermuda Regiment.

About half of the 200 conscripts will now take part in five weeks of intensive training in time for the arrival of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in March.

Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Allan Rance described the training schedule facing his men as "a challenge.'' But Lt. Col. Rance is certain his men will rise to the occasion and be prepared for the ceremony to welcome the Royal Couple on March 8.

Normally the new recruits will be trained for the April 20 Peppercorn Ceremony involving the Governor Lord Waddington at St. George's.

They would also be expected to parade on the Queen's Birthday and at the Opening of Parliament.

But the Royal Couple are flying into Bermuda and the Regiment will be there to meet them. A planned visit to Warwick Camp by the Queen and Prince Philip never materialised because of other commitments.

Lt. Col. Rance said: "This group of recruits will do the ceremonial parade.

Half of them will start in a matter of weeks doing rehearsals for Her Majesty's visit.

"We are not breaking with tradition, but it is a little bit earlier than usual for the first ceremony. It is a challenge but I think we will rise to meet it.'' Following Saturday's drill competition at the open house at Warwick Camp Lt.

Col. Rance said: "When you consider they have only had 12 days of training, their standard was extremely high.

"I have been in the Regiment for 18 and a half years and I have ceased to be amazed at how well we turn these kids around in two weeks.'' The two week boot camp involves intense training in drill, shooting and knowledge of arms, riot training, exposure to CS gas and learning how to work as a team.

After an initial shock of arriving at camp the majority of recruits appeared to be enjoying their experience.

Capt. Larry Mussenden said: "They do enjoy themselves because they are doing things here that they would never be able to do out of camp.'' The recruits will now train some weekend's and nights and fly out to Jamaica to overseas camp.

Boot camp ended with an assault course and then extra drill training for the recruits.

On Saturday afternoon crowds of family and friends poured in for the open house to watch the drill competition.

The recruits then finished at 9 p.m. before they were allowed to return to their homes after their two week training programme.

Lt. Col. Rance said: "The camp went off extremely well. There were some hardships with the weather but that is no unexpected.'' UNDER THE WIRE -- Pte. Keenan Tucker grimaces as he crawls under barbed wire on the assault course at the Bermuda Regiment's Warwick Camp on Saturday.