Soldiers-in-training at the Royal Bermuda Regiment have been successfully adjusting to military life, despite a week of cold and erratic weather.

New recruits said that their reasons for joining the battalion, which marked its 60th anniversary last September, included being part of a legacy and personal development.

Their camp started on February 8, when 22 men and women from Bermuda were joined by 12 people from the Turks & Caicos Islands Regiment, who will take part in the two-week foundational training course.

Recruit Kevin Minors, 33, said he was now one of several men in his family who had joined the regiment, including his father, godfathers and uncles.

He added: “All the men that I know from basketball to the barbershop to church, everyone has stories from their time in the regiment — how they were pushed to the limit, how they made lifelong friends, how the discipline and regimented lifestyle had lasting, positive impacts on their lives.

“They all had different stories to tell and I wanted to be part of that legacy.”

Mr Minors, a self-employed mathematics teacher from Sandys, said he joined to improve his physical fitness while also giving back to his country.

He noted that the training so far had included “a lot of new experiences” and assignments that took up “every minute of the day”.

While he admitted that the physical work was tough, Mr Minors said that the activities had “exceeded expectations” and kept him constantly motivated.

He added: “I like the camaraderie and knowing that we’re all going through this very tough challenge together and that we’re looking out for each other.

“Even though we’re tired, even though our feet hurt, even though we’ve been marching and doing drill techniques for the past hour, we’re all in it together.”

Recruit Noldré Brown, 23, said he had been enjoying the structure and discipline that came with regiment life, as well as being pushed to his limits, overcoming personal boundaries and learning to adjust to different circumstances.

He told The Royal Gazette: “From these first couple of days we’ve learnt so much.

“That part right there I value a lot — being able to grow in such a short amount of time and we still have so much time left.”

Mr Brown, from Sandys, said he signed up because he wanted to become a member of the Royal Bermuda Regiment Coastguard.

He added: “I know the regiment is all about discipline and building structure and those are assets to anybody’s life and that’s something that I want to increase in my own life.”

Mr Brown credited his athletic background for making sure that he had the physical and mental endurance required to get through training.

He added that his fellow recruits offered constant morale boosts.

Lessons last week included weapons handling, foot drill, history and structure of the regiment, and first aid.

The recruits were expected to start platoon tactics in the field today.

Recruit Rodezha Parker, 25, is one of the TCI Regiment troops who travelled to Bermuda to study under the RBR and take knowledge back home.

She added: “Since I’ve been here I’ve been really pushing myself beyond what I thought I could do.”

Ms Parker said she had previously served as a cadet in her home country and “wanted to do more”.

She added that she was in a “really excellent programme” with informative classes.

The pharmacy technician said: “Even though it’s basically ‘work, work, work’ it’s fun too.

“I’m just happy that I had the opportunity to come out here and learn hands-on.”

RBR Lieutenant Scott Brown took on the role of recruit camp Platoon Commander for the first time.

He added that, fortunately, he was dealing with “an exceptional group”.

Lieutenant Brown admitted that the poor weather had “upped the level of attrition and difficulty”, but added that each recruit had kept their calm.

He said: “I don’t think there is one Bermudian on the island who would volunteer to go stand on the square in a long-sleeve T-shirt and endure that for multiple hours, but there they were.

“They’ve come through it and they’ve shown real strength, courage and bravery.”

Lieutenant Brown credited the RBR’s targeted campaigns, which appealed to groups such as hospitality workers, to motivate them to apply.

He added that because each volunteer had chosen to be there he was dealing with strong levels of enthusiasm and professionalism.

The platoon commander said: “At different times we’ve been slightly low on numbers and even enthusiasm but this group is different.

“They’re eager, they’re willing and they’re really buying in.

“We have a very high standard that we’re holding through this recruit camp of 2026.”