Soldiers in training pushed themselves to the limit in the latest two-week recruit camp at the Royal Bermuda Regiment.

A total of 16 new recruits forced their tired tendons and strained sinews through a punishing regime in an effort to gain a coveted passing-out slot in October.

This week, it was training days with firing ranges and gruelling exercises testing all the rookies to their limits.

Teamwork and character building were in focus at Warwick Camp as the troops battled through a tough session on the assault course in the sun.

Marseille Williams, 18, a part-time cashier, is among the recruits on the foundational training programme, which concluded yesterday.

She said on Thursday: “It’s great.

“I am enjoying it and I have a cousin in the army, but the reason I joined was because a friend of mine was a member and he passed away in February. He was a Junior Leader but passed away in a motorbike accident aged just 19.

“His name was Jahzavier Wilson and this is kind of an ode to him.”

She added: “I play rugby for the women’s national team and I’m a winger.

“After this I will be training with the squad when I leave here as we have a big tournament coming up in America in November.”

Lamar Ible, 38, another recruit, said: “The training has been good, challenging.

“I used to play rugby as a winger or full back and played flag football at school with Warwick Academy.

“I have some friends in the army who are sergeants and I just thought I would try and join up. I would like to join the police or the coastguard and this should help.”

Colour Sergeant Adrian Bird. a physical training instructor at the RBR, highlighted how the obstacle course component this week was grounded in teamwork.

He said: “It’s about growth. We are giving them the tools and this two-week camp is pushing them out of their comfort zones, getting more confident in themselves.

“We have people who are scared of confined spaces, tunnels, while others have a fear of heights, but they have been helped with colleagues pulling and shouting them on, and they have flown through this.

“They are more proficient and harder, and this is just the start.”

The 37-year-old added: “It is not about conquering their fears, but becoming more independent and reacting radically under pressure, so that when they do hit it in real life they can deal with all sorts of things.

“We have had a guy whose past history was bad and he was struggling all week as a team player.

“He’s a strong individual, but we told him that although it was OK being first out the traps and first back to base, you are leaving the rest behind and not helping them.

“Now he is starting to get that team mindset.”

Colour Sergeant Bird, originally from Reading in Britain, moved to Bermuda last October with his wife, who is from the island.

He explained: “I joined the Royal Bermuda Regiment in January but back in the UK I was with The Rifles and have had a couple of tours of Afghanistan, among others. I’ve been in the military for over 20 years.”

D’nyjah Pitt, 20, from St George’s, is another recruit and signed up to the RBR to help maintain his wellbeing.

“I wanted to get some structure, be outside more and improve my fitness,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed it so far. I like the discipline, especially the physical training in the morning.

“The foot drills have been a little difficult and I had a little trouble with the rifle assembly but I got the hang of it; I just had to practise.

“This experience is building my confidence and the speed at which I learn.”

Tabari Burgess was a Lance Corporal in the RBR Junior Leaders from 2024 until this year and turned 18 last month, taking a spot among recruits in the adult battalion at the earliest opportunity.

The Paget resident said: “Now that I’m here, I can see that much of what we learnt in Junior Leaders has helped me in recruit camp.

“Everything we have learnt with the rifle, we learnt in JLs, so that was a really easy transition for me, along with some of the fieldcraft exercises.

“What has been challenging is the physical fitness part. JLs is a youth programme, so while there is a lot of physical training, it’s nothing compared to this.”

• For information on joining the Royal Bermuda Regiment, visit rbr.bm or call 238-1045