Nine women marched into Warwick Camp yesterday to start their first day as trainee soldiers for the Bermuda Regiment.The young women contributed to the highest number of volunteers in recent years, as 36 men and women freely reported for military service.In past years only a handful of volunteers have trickled into the gates of Warwick Camp, but yesterday Captain Chris Gauntlett said the numbers had nearly doubled.Last year there were five women that enrolled, while in 2008 only two females signed up for service and one in 2007.The female recruits will join their male counterparts over the next two weeks learning basic military skills including drill, weapons handling and live firing.Other than being housed separately, the female soldiers will be treated exactly the same as the men, said Regiment Commander Brian Gonsalves.Governor Sir Richard Gozney, who last year called for more efforts to attract women volunteers, said yesterday he warmly welcomed the news of more volunteer recruits.“As Recruit Camp gets under way I warmly welcome what I hear of an increase in the number of volunteers, and in the number of women volunteers, reporting into Warwick Camp.“I hope that in a fortnight’s time all the recruits, conscripts and volunteers alike, will feel that they have gained something useful out of the two weeks, and that even those conscripts whose expectations of Recruit Camp may be limited are pleasantly surprised by some of the skills which they have been taught.“I look forward to visiting Recruit Camp in a couple of days’ time,” he added.One hundred and sixty two trainees showed up yesterday for Recruitment Camp 2011. Some wore pristine uniforms and polished boots and said they were looking forward to the two week induction to soldier life.Others had come in plain clothes and were ordered by Regimental Police to take off earrings, jewellery and head gear.More than a dozen late comers had to be given a shove in the right direction, with some being escorted into camp through the gates.The more enthusiastic of the bunch arrived well before the 8am cut-off point, such as O’Brian Gibbons, 20, who said: “I am looking forward to starting. I am looking forward to the adventure.”Chrashun Santucci, 20, said he was injured in a road accident and hoped to be relieved of his military duties.“I am not sure if I am going to start at all because of medical issues. I am not looking forward to it. I don’t think I would be fit for it because after a day’s work my legs quit.”Captain Duncan Simons said the new recruits would be in for a hard physical and mental challenge, including working more than 16 hour days.He said they would start each morning at 5.30am with personal training sessions, which start off easy and build over the next two weeks. The recruits would also have to march for three to four hours each day.“It’s an opportunity for a broad cross section of young Bermudians between 18 and 30 years old to have a shared experience together, to go through a challenge with mild adversity and come out as disciplined and positive men and women that can confront a challenge whatever it may be,” he said.Former cadet Ridge Mello Souza, 19, said he volunteered for the Regiment and hoped to become a soldier in the British Army one day.“Its something I always wanted to be. I always wanted to become a soldier and fight for my country.”He said he was looking forward to starting his first day as a trainee soldier and added: “I feel good I know its going to be tough, but I am going to do my best.”His foster mother Wendi Moore Reynolds said: “He was a cadet for seven years and he finished up with that programme when he was 18. He said he missed it and asked me how I would feel if he volunteered.“He has always liked the army aspect to things and said he always wanted to join the British Army.”She said his behaviour and outlook improved greatly after becoming a cadet and added: “He has really come a very long way and for him to want to volunteer for the regiment attests to the sort of character he has. We are really proud of him.”Father Ernie Mello was also there cheering Mr Mello Souza on and said:” I think the Regiment is a good idea for him in a lot of ways. His time in the cadets [programme] has changed him. He has matured and is a lot more focused on the task at hand.”l Photo essay see Page 4