A group of teenagers got a taste of military life in the field, courtesy of a summer camp offered by the Royal Bermuda Regiment.

The 24 schoolchildren learnt drill, fieldcraft and skill-at-arms lessons, accompanied by a robust physical training programme and a variety of sports, including an old army favourite — tug of war.

The annual camp is the highlight of the regiment’s junior leaders programme, which exposes young people to military life, helping them to develop leadership and people skills.

Eight members of the group joined the cohort for the first time when the camp began in June.

Captain Gavin Rayner, the junior leader commandant and the RBR’s adjutant, said the camp, launched at the end of the school academic year, gave aspiring soldiers an introduction to what can be expected as junior leaders: a taste of military life and a springboard to a possible career in soldiering.

He said: “Like camps for adult soldiers, it’s a short, sharp shock to the system for new members, which offers a taste of what we do.

“Now that we’ve got some of the fundamentals down, we can build on that and work towards activities that are more exciting.”

Similar to regular RBR soldiers, junior leaders can advance to command positions, allowing for formal recognition of their capabilities and promise.

“We had promotions at the beginning of the camp based on the maturity of junior leaders and their leadership potential,” Mr Rayner said.

“For the most part, they have all really come into their own in terms of stepping up to their new ranks.”

The programme, which runs throughout the school year, is also an award centre for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, allowing junior leader recruits to gain credit towards the scheme’s bronze, silver and gold levels of achievement.

Lance Corporal Tristan White, 14, a pupil at Chatmore, has been a junior leader for two years and noted that the programme offered opportunities to meet people from diverse backgrounds.

He said: “I want to keep going and rise through the ranks.

“But I’m also proud of myself because my grandfather reached the rank of captain. He was very proud of me when I joined and also when I got promoted.”

Reflecting on his time in the youth wing of the RBR, Mr White said: “I’ve seen that my confidence has increased and I’m using my voice. I’m a loud speaker so I’m using that to my advantage now.”

Private Haylee Hamilton, 14, who attends CedarBridge Academy, joined the junior leaders last week to take part in the camp.

She enjoyed skill-at-arms and medic lessons and added: “I’ve learnt how to make time.”

Private Amir Best, 13, who attends Erie Day School in Pennsylvania, was also new to the group.

He said part of the reason he joined the camp was to make new friends.

He enjoyed the discipline of drill, and said the most fun activity was firing a weapon.

“All the work and time spent in skill-at-arms lessons paid off,” he said.

He too honed his timekeeping skills.

Mr Best added: “Usually I’m a couple of minutes late to most places, but after being here I will never be late.”