Soldiers on the streets and the water to enforce the state of emergency regulations are backed up by a hard-working support team at Warwick Camp.Royal Bermuda Regiment chefs and medics are working overtime to keep about 200 troops fed and fighting fit — part of the engine room of the RBR that powers its large-scale provision of support to the civil authorities.Colour Sergeant John Lema, 38, said his team in the cookhouse had adapted to strict social-distancing rules and disruptions in the supply chain caused by restrictions on movement around the island.Colour Sergeant Lema, a chef in civilian life, said: “The social distancing of the tables in the mess has made our job a bit more difficult.“We can’t get as many people in as we would usually do. It’s just 40 at a time.“We’re feeding 130 in camp and 70 stationed around the island in different places.”He added: “Everything they would normally pick up themselves — condiments, knives, forks, cups, that sort of thing — we have to hand to them ourselves, wearing gloves. It’s a whole different set up.”Forward operating bases to speed the movement of troops to checkpoint sites have been set up at Warwick Academy, Saltus Grammar School and at the bus terminals in Hamilton, St George’s and Dockyard. The Coast Guard, part of the RBR, is based at Watford House in Sandys. Colour Sergeant Lema, from Smith’s, who is married with a nine-year-old son, said the chefs had been embodied for almost four weeks and expected to be on duty for the foreseeable future.He added: “It’s difficult and stressful, but we’re managing. We do a lot of joking and laughing, which keeps our spirits up.”But Colour Sergeant Lema admitted it was tough being away from his family.He said: “We’re doing OK, but my wife’s looking forward to me getting home and I’m really looking forward to seeing her and my son.”Private Asiyah James, 24, a supervisor at People’s Pharmacy when not in uniform, has been on duty for just over a week as troops were rotated through Warwick Camp to give as many soldiers as possible a chance to get home for a break.Private James, from Sandys, admitted: “I wasn’t prepared for something like this, but the troops are appreciative of all the hard work we’re doing.”But she said: “I’m missing being with family, but it’s good to be here helping.”Lance Corporal Melanie Gauntlett, 33, from Sandys, a medic, added: “It’s been good. This is my first embodiment. I’ve never been embodied before and I can’t complain, but it’s been difficult being away from my family.”Medics are monitoring the temperatures of troops on return to camp and working to ensure they stay fit and healthy.The married mother of two said: “It’s been about 30 days since I last saw my kids, but the Easter bunny still managed to pay a visit.”She added that the main problem she had dealt with was some sunburn among lighter-skinned soldiers on duty at checkpoints.Lance Corporal Gauntlett added: “We’ve not had anything serious, but if something serious happens, I’m not doing my job.”RBR Commanding Officer Major Ben Beasley said: “Our soldiers have performed very well under trying conditions.“They are trying to be as helpful as they can be to the public, who are sometimes under a lot of stress and pressure. They’ve had great support on checkpoints from the Bermuda Police Service, who have followed up on non-compliant vehicles.”Major Beasley added: “There is the three-way pressure of the job — having to perform, being away from home and families and, for the commanders, making sure soldiers are being supported.”He said: “I’m no different to anyone else, which is important to help understand the problems the troops are facing.“But we are performing an essential role that no other body would have the resources to do. It’s not just the soldiers on the streets. We have enormous diversity of capability in these trying times.“It’s not just the soldiers at community advisory points, it’s the ones providing transport and the 24-hour capability of the Regiment.”Major Beasley promised: “We will stand firm until the country can find its new normal.”