Young Bermudians have completed two weeks of intensive Cadet Camp training, showing their ability to carry out off-camp exercises such as cross-country marches, reconnaissance missions, sporting and military drill contests.

The completion of the summer camp may have ended with the most keenly contested element, the drill contests in front of family and friends at Warwick Camp, but that was only the final act in an experience that taught and tested the skills of young Islanders.

One of those who knows the benefit of being a Cadet and attending the camps is Lt. Liam Anderson who has worked his way through the ranks during the past nine years.

Now 21-years-old, he joined the Corps while at high school ?doing cadets every Wednesday? and attending the weekend camps held every two months and the yearly two-week camps each July.

He graduated from Berkeley in 2001 and then from Acadia University in Canada before returning home to become a lieutenant with the cadets and also their public relations officer.

From his first-hand experience he said: ?I would implore any employers, especially the Ministry of Education, to be supportive of any employee that chooses to give their time to the Corps. Most units operate in schools, which means some of our staff take time off from their full-time jobs to come and spend time with the cadets.?

This year?s summer camp had the senior cadet company Minden and one of the two junior companies Talavera being put through their paces.

For the older cadets there was a total of six days ?off camp? with ?tabbing? (military walking) from Morgan?s Point to Fort Scaur and Whale Bay Fort and also from Ariel Sands to Blue Hole Park carrying full kit and rifles.

During the exercises the cadets also faced casualty scenarios and objectives to keep them on their toes.

For the younger cadets time was spent on the camp learning daily drills, weapons, field-craft and First Aid, as well as live firing and Church Parade.

Lt. Anderson, who has trained at the Cadet Training Centre at Frimley Park in the UK, was in charge of the older cadets as they attempted abseiling and water crossings that developed into company attacks and were judged on use of tactics and competence of the cadets taking part.

During the camp there was also a sombre moment as cadets paid their last respects to 17-year-old Cadet Corp Sgt. Derick Paynter who died in a road traffic accident.

The inaugural Intersection Road Race saw 13-year-olds Pvt. Shaquil Philpott and Pvt. Leeann Maderios win victories before the second week of the camp saw both cadet companies go off-camp to do reconnaissance work and for the seniors to take part in ambushes and attacks.

The camp concluded with an Open House for the public, the drill competition, a cadet ball and a passing out parade.

Lt. Anderson said: ?In the end we hope that they (the cadets) will have had more positive experiences than negative. We can?t say that they will never have had negative emotions, if anything we can only guarantee it, but make no apologies.

?However, the Corps? job is to show them that they can overcome those negative emotions and become the outstanding young person we know they are.?

Anyone wishing to get involved as a cadet or staff should contact the office on 238-8206 or visit the Corps website at www.bdacadetcorps.org