Home Affairs minister Terry Lister got a first hand look at the Bermuda Regiment when he joined in a beach landing during manoeuvres in Jamaica last week.

Administrator of Defence Larry Burchall, who has been attending the trips since the 1960s, said: "I have never seen this happen before. He was very hands on, he did everything everybody did including leaping out of vehicles.

"He jumped in the water waist-deep wearing fatigues with his Permanent Secretary Robert Horton."

Mr. Burchall said the camp was going well and allowed recruits to be properly tested.

After arriving on March 9, recruits did a four-day live firing exercise.

He said: "Training which didn't make much sense in Bermuda suddenly clicks, discipline matters - it's life or death if the other guy isn't careful he can kill you.

"You are looking for the degree that soldiers knit together."

After a day spent painting a hospital, troops then took a boat up the coast and did a beach insertion, accompanied by Mr. Lister, which was the start of another four-day field exercise ending today.

Problems are thrown up for recruits to deal with on the spot, said Mr. Burchall. "It tests leadership skills and the ability to follow orders in an evolving situation."

A seven-man officers cadet group are also being tested to see if they are officer material. The regiment is due to return to Bermuda on Saturday.