Ten Royal Bermuda Regiment Junior Leaders built on their infantry skills and characters during a two-week training course in St Lucia.

Members of the RBR youth programme joined the St Lucia Cadet Corps’ Annual National Summer Camp to learn drills, first aid, adventure training, fieldcraft and map reading.

Private Amirah Trott, a 15-year-old whose been in the programme for two years, said: “It was really fun because we got to experience some new terrain and we made a lot of good friends.

“It was a little challenging getting used to an unfamiliar environment and structure — the schedule of the day — it was a different rhythm for us.

“Since there were a lot of people that we didn’t know, we had to really step out of our comfort zones and take on leadership positions at times.”

The trip came after a local training camp involving many other junior leaders.

Private Trott, a BHS pupil from Hamilton Parish, said one of her favourite events was hiking Gros Piton, one of two volcanic peaks that make up a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Meanwhile, Sergeant D’Angelo Williams, 17, said the trip taught him how different training camps worked.

He explained: “The Saint Lucia Cadet Corps has more cadets than us so it was very eye opening to see how they run their camp.

“It allowed me to gain more knowledge and experience.

“It helped me to grow to be a better sergeant.”

The Pembroke resident said a “really enjoyable moment” was hiking ten miles from the group’s camp to Moule à Chique lighthouse — the second-tallest lighthouse in the world.

He added that he enjoyed closing out with the Future Leaders group after five years with an overseas trip.

“It was good to have the opportunity to travel away and take part in these experiences with the Junior Leaders, I’m fortunate to have been able to do that.”

Sgt Williams recently graduated from Mount Saint Agnes Academy and hoped to start aviation training in Canada.

The camp was one of several events the RBR offered to help Bermudian children develop skills, such as outdoor survival and public service, to excel in military and civilian life.

Junior Leaders will resume its weekly training in September.

• To join the Royal Bermuda Regiment or its Junior Leaders programme, visitrbr.bm, call 238-1045 or contact the recruiting team at rbr.recruiting@gov.bm