The Bermuda Regiment's new recruits will be able to "look back with pride on their accomplishments", according to their Commanding Officer William White.

The 173 recruits were released on Sunday following a busy 15 days of training culminating with a drill square at Warwick Camp in front of family, friends and other well-wishers.

The annual camp's aim is to introduce recruits to basic soldiering skills and ensure soldiers understand their role for deployment in an internal security role.

They are also taught how to use a rifle to a high degree of safety and competence and receive well-grounded instruction in drill for ceremonial parades.

Lt. Col. White said: "I promised they would learn much about themselves; that they would surpass their own expectations of what their limits were; that they would become part of a team, a team of which they would be proud to be a member; that they would make lifelong friends.

"And I promised then that at the end of recruit camp they would be able to look back with pride on their accomplishments.

"These things I promised, and I think you can all see for yourselves the evidence in the bearing, pride and discipline these recruits have demonstrated, the Regiment has delivered on that promise."

Governor Sir John Vereker presented prizes to the recruits awarded for training achievements and sporting competitions over the past two weeks.

A third of this year's recruits have already volunteered for additional training in the Potential Junior Non-Commissioned Officers' Cadre. They will train intensely for the next year.

The Boot Camp training came amid controversy as Bermudians Against the Draft (BAD), a campaigning group, has challenging the legality of conscription.

Its leader, Larry Marshall Sr., has publicly compared conscription to slavery and heavily criticised the Premier's support of the Regiment as being out of touch.

BAD's filing with the Supreme Court is now said to have 18 names. According to Lt. Col. White, at least six of the men named were supposed to have reported to duty for the current recruitment class.