Governor Sir Richard Gozney made his first visit to the Bermuda Regiment's Recruit Camp yesterday.

It was the Comamnder-in-Chief's first full tour of Warwick Camp and he struck up an easy rapport with the trainee soldiers ¿ admitting later that one of his own sons wants to join the Army after university.

Sir Richard ¿ the Queen's representative in Bermuda ¿ took a three hour tour of the Camp and its training facilities, accompanied by Commanding Officer Lt. Col. William White, Quartermaster Major Warren Furbert, ADC Capt. Kevin DeSilva and Regimental Sgt. Major WO1 Errol McKenzie.

Dressed in a navy blue suit, blue and white pin-striped shirt and Bermuda Regiment tie, Sir Richard was keen to chat to some of the 143 trainee soldiers at boot camp.

Speaking to members of 8 Platoon during their rifle training, Sir Richard said: "I'm almost as new to Bermuda as you are to the Regiment ¿ I've only beaten you by a few weeks. I wish you well for the training period and hope you manage to find the next few weeks interesting, and even enjoyable."

He joked: "I don't expect you to find getting up at 6 a.m. either interesting or enjoyable but I hope you will find some of the other things enjoyable, and that there is perhaps more to be had out of conscription than you thought.

"If you do find things such as weapons handling enjoyable, you are likely to do better at them and the time will go more quickly. You will find it of benefit to you and the whole experience of part-time soldiering will be more enjoyable as well."

Sir Richard told The Royal Gazette that as Governor he could not give his personal opinion on conscription, but said he was keen to see more women recruits.

He said: "Regarding conscription, I think this is for the people of Bermuda to decide. It is quite normal from time to time that there should be a debate on something like this, but it is not the job of the Governor to opine about the merits of conscription."

Bermudian males aged 18 to 33 are liable for call-up to the Regiment but women are exempt, and any recruits are volunteers.

Sir Richard said he thought the presence of more women into the military was "healthy".

"I hadn't realised there was a time a few years ago when a lot of Bermuda women volunteered. It would be nice to get back to that," said Sir Richard.

"Women in the Armed Forces is something we've been through in the UK and now it is absolutely normal. I think that's healthy in this day and age, when women expect to have the same opportunities.

"I think because the women in the Bermuda Regiment are volunteers it highlights there is that possibility ¿ it is not just conscription."

During his tour ¿ his second visit to the Camp ¿ Sir Richard met Warrant Officer, WO2 Dorothy Nisbett in the Quartermaster's Company. He asked her whether she had managed to persuade any of her female friends to enrol with her 24 years ago, to which she replied there had been 13 women recruits.

The Governor said: "It just shows that can be done. If that developed naturally then it seems to be a very healthy tendency."

Sir Richard added he was "very impressed" by the Regiment. He told The Royal Gazette: "There are very few small countries which have a long-standing Regiment like this, which I think people appreciate. People want to see the Regiment being able to help the civilian Government and help after an emergency such as Hurricane Fabian. So I think there's a strong support for what the Regiment does, and I think that's tremendous.

"They clearly do a good job and I hope they continue to get support across the board."

The Governor watched the 11 a.m. drill and recruits' weapons training, before touring the 25-metre firing range, the Guard Room, Regimental Dining Room and Quartermaster's Company. He also visited soldiers taking part in 25 pound gun training ¿ the large guns used in ceremonial parades, and chatted to three Junior Non-Commissioned Officers in 7 Platoon's Barracks.

The Governor's visit ended with drinks in the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess, lunch at the Officers' Mess, and the recruits' Afternoon Muster in the Square.

Sir Richard was sworn in as Bermuda's new Governor on December 12. He previously served as British High Commissioner to Nigeria and Her Majesty's Non-Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

A career diplomat, he has served in Argentina, Indonesia and Swaziland and has also worked in the Foreign Commonwealth Office as Head of Section for NATO nuclear arms control, Principal Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary and Head of Security Policy Department.