SOME people argue it's outdated and unnecessary, but the Bermuda Regiment is once again answering the doubters and proving its worth.

What our soldiers are doing in Grenada ? repairing hurricane-wrecked public buildings in a country with nothing like the financial resources of this island ? is doing more to enhance Bermuda's reputation abroad than any number of overseas trips by members of our jet-set Government ever could.

Residents of the village, where the Regiment's mission is to repair a primary school and a community centre, have already overwhelmed their welcome visitors with gratitude. And there is likely to be a bond of bonhomie between those people and Bermuda for years to come.

The soldiers' efforts represent ordinary people giving sweat, toil and their valuable time to help others in need. And their employers, who have, in most cases, allowed their staff two weeks off work to join this compassionate mission, make up part of the Bermuda sacrifice.

The Ministry of Education and the Bermuda Union of Teachers have joined in, putting together a batch of educational supplies worth $15,000 to be sent to Grenada with the second consignment of Regiment soldiers this weekend. A whip-round among the Regiment ranks produced another $1,000 for the Grenada Ministry of Education.

Maybe it's true that this small group of predominantly conscripted soldiers will never be required to go to war, nor could they realistically protect us from a serious invasion attempt.

But while the Regiment's military importance may have dwindled in modern times, its value as an emergency response outfit and as a positive force in society has been repeatedly proven.

Remember the Regiment's magnificent clean-up efforts after Hurricane Fabian. There was no other organisation in Bermuda that could have mobilised so many able people so rapidly to accomplish that task in such an efficient manner.

The Regiment's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Eddie Lamb, clearly appreciates that the Regiment's primary role has evolved into providing back-up for the island in times of crisis. The fact that Regiment training also includes learning how to use chain saws and chipper machines is an illustration of that. During a strike by prison officers two years ago, the Regiment was standing by, its soldiers prepared to staff the prisons if necessary.

With the prevalence of families lacking a father figure, the Regiment's role in providing guidance for young people and helping them to make the best of themselves is also as important now as it ever was.

As Col. Lamb told this newspaper in an interview in 2003: "It's not just discipline we teach, it's taking responsibility for your own actions, making positive choices and having respect for yourself and others.

"We teach people how to work as a team. And we teach people how to find solutions to problems. Life does not accept excuses and neither does the Regiment."

The debate about the rights and wrongs of conscription will go on, but the Regiment's experience has been that nearly half of conscripts voluntarily put in more training than is required of them. That suggests that once in the army, many people find aspects of the training they can enjoy and challenges they want to meet.

Our soldiers on duty in Grenada will be getting a close look at what life is like in a less affluent country, an experience that will give many of them the chance to put into perspective what they have here.

Bermuda should salute the Regiment for helping to steer our own young people in a positive direction and to help others in need at the same time. And we should thank it for putting goodwill on the small list of Bermuda exports.