Pride and accomplishment took hold of the Bermuda Regiment's new recruits after they completed the Regiment's annual two week boot camp.

More than 150 recruits were released on Saturday following a busy 15 days of training culminating with a drill square at Warwick Camp in front of family, friends and other well-wishers.

The annual camp's aim is to introduce recruits to basic soldiering skills and ensure soldiers understand their role for deployment in an internal security role.

One 22-year-old recruit, who did not want to be named, told The Royal Gazette that he learned a lot from the traditional camp, despite feeling uneasy about serving before it.

"It was okay I guess," he said "A lot of my friends who served in the Regiment didn't like it and that left a bad impression on me when it was time for me to be called up.

"Also, for me, this is the first time I've been apart of any disciplined organisation... so it has been quite an experience for me... I just want to get my three years service over with though."

Recruits are also taught how to use a rifle to a high degree of safety and competence and receive well-grounded instruction in drill for ceremonial parades.

New Governor Sir Richard Gozney inspected the parade and presented prizes to the recruits, awarded for training achievements and sporting competitions over the past two weeks.

A crowd of about 300 friends and family members looked on as their loved ones put their newly-learned marching skills and weapons-handling training to the test.

Perhaps the biggest crowd-pleaser was the drill competition which took place on the Warwick Camp grounds, a traditional event that puts various troop divisions against each other in a display of disciplined showmanship.