The Bermuda Regiment?s should continue with its current role ? and should continue to draw most of its recruits via conscription ? according to a review commissioned by Governor Sir John Vereker.

But the Regiment must start replacing is ageing equipment if it is to continue to improve its role. The Review based many of its recommendations on a Fitness for Role inspection ? which will now be repeated annually ? last November by senior British Army officers that found the Regiment is fulfilling its roles ?adequately but not perfectly?.

Sections of the review were contained in the Defence Board Review released by Governor Sir John Vereker on Monday.

?In its current state, the Bermuda Regiment is able to fulfil its existing roles adequately but not perfectly,? the Review said. ?Its strength is its people, conscription notwithstanding.

?The Regiment is a small unit with little non-Bermudian inflow, which is both a strength and weakness. The Regiment needs to be aware of, and ward against, the disproportionate effect of personality,? it said.

?In the light of the increasing demand on the performance of individual soldiers within the Regiment, there should be a fresh look at the current training policy and programmes.?

The Regiment?s viability will be annually assessed by overseas experts, it said, while it predicted no major difference in the demands upon it up to 2011.

The greatest risks to the Regiment?s effectiveness were its ?rapidly ageing? communication equipment, vehicle fleet and weapon holdings, respectively, and a rolling five-year re-equipment programme would soon start, it said.

Sir John, who commissioned the review last year., said he had asked the Defence Board to take the necessary action and report back by August 1.

The main recommendations of the Review included no change in the Regiment?s Mission ? to support the Civil Authority with the security of Bermuda, its people, property, livelihood and interests in order to maintain normality, he said.

And the principle of manpower obtained predominantly through conscription would also not change, the Review said. The Regiment should include at least 450 to 500 soldiers supporting at least three platoons in the front line, despite the fact that only 411 men were actually produced for the November inspection ? 38 were soldiers absent without leave, 15 were excused, ten were sick and nine on leave, it said.

?The Board considers that the existing Regimental policy of accepting and encouraging all suitable male and females as volunteers should continue; and that there should be an increased emphasis on attracting volunteers,? it said.

The Regiment would review pay and bounty structures in order to retain more soldiers after their three-year conscription, it said. To keep conscripts on, the Regiment must play up the important role the Regiment has played in the growth and development of employees to the business community, it said.

The Regiment would also work jointly with Police to establish a common methodology and tactic for handling serious public disorder, even though it conceded there was little chance of race riots reoccurring.