The Bermuda Regiment is to launch a campaign to recruit more female volunteers to join its ranks.

In newspaper adverts to run ahead of January's annual recruit camp, 18 to 30-year-olds will be urged to consider the challenge of a military career.

The Regiment has around a dozen female soldiers at the moment. Lt. Col. William White, Commanding Officer of the Regiment said yesterday: "Women have contributed greatly to the success of the Regiment over the last forty years, serving as equals alongside male soldiers in many key roles.

"It has been three years since we have advertised for women volunteers, yet we have continued to welcome a handful every year."

Major Brian Gonsalves, Training Officer and Regiment Second-in-Command, said that other than separate accommodation and ablution arrangements, the female recruits would go through identical training to their male counterparts.

"Some of our best recruits have been women and they have gone on to serve the Regiment, and their country, with pride. As there's only a dozen or so women currently serving, we very much welcome new female recruits," he said.

W/O Dorothy Nisbett, who has served since 1983 and is a member of the regimental full time staff, said: "The Regiment is providing excellent training and development opportunities, both from within and outside of the battalion.

"Our Student Soldier Initiative promotes and funds educational development for all ranks. In addition, the level of military and leadership training both locally and overseas is tremendous.

Cpl. Wolette Darrell just returned from training with the Royal Gibraltar Regiment in Gibraltar and Morocco.

The news comes as 14 young men calling themselves Bermudians Against the Draft (BAD) prepare to launch a legal case which they hope will get conscription outlawed.

The group has branded the process as akin to slavery, alleging in legal papers that the ballot which picks conscripts is gender-biased and a breach of human rights because only men are picked, not women.

It also claims the Governor has not made reasonable efforts to recruit sufficient volunteers to the Regiment — in violation of the Defence Act — before filling its ranks with conscripts.

Lt. Col. White denied the drive was in response to BAD.

The advert asks women to call 335-0252 by December 4 for more information.

Health checks and enlistment procedures must be completed before new recruits are taken on.