Bermuda Regiment recruits are receiving training in hospitality thanks to a collaboration between the regiment, Bermuda College and the National Training Board.

The idea behind the pilot scheme is for the participants to get training in occupations needed in Bermuda while they are doing their military service.

Dr. Eugenie Simmons, Director of the Centre of Professional and Career Education at the college said: ?The recruits are getting training while training. We decided to go with the hospitality courses first because it?s an area that goes begging for qualified Bermudians. It also sweetens the military experience for a growing number of young Bermudian men who may be balking at doing three years of compulsory service.?

The National Training Board has agreed to underwrite the entire programme, and according to Quartermaster Captain Warren Furbert, enthusiasm has been high so far.

Fifteen recruits began the first classes last week, which run for three hours twice a week in the evenings. They are then given ample opportunity to practise their newly-acquired skills on their comrades, explained Captain Furbert who anticipates the vocational training being extended to other areas such as business, if the pilot is successful.

The Bermuda College instructors on the hospitality course include Chef Tenika Eve, and bartender Irwin Raynor. At the completion of the programme the recruits will receive either a certificate for the waiter/bartender course, or a diploma for the trainee chefs.