and running for next year's recruit camp, it was revealed yesterday.

And Regiment commanding officer Lt. Col. Patrick Outerbridge called for the Island's part-time army to be given a freer hand to impose military-style discipline in the Warwick Camp guardhouse for trouble-making teenagers.

Lt. Col. Outerbridge said testing raw recruits could produce valuable statistics on the scale of drug abuse among the Island's young.

But he added: "We would require funding because this is not cheap -- but I believe it would be money well-spent, both for the Regiment and Bermuda.'' Lt. Col. Outerbridge added that his instructors were currently being used in the CADET school -- Centre for Adolescent Education, Development and Training -- but were hampered in their attempts to instill discipline by having to stick to school-style methods.

He said: "At the moment, the disciplinary system being used is that being used in all the other schools -- not very much.'' And he warned: "I'm confident that, as it has failed in schools, it will fail in Warwick Camp.'' But he said he was in talks with Premier and Minister of Education Jennifer Smith to introduce a tougher regime in the CADET scheme.

And Lt. Col. Outerbridge warned: "At the moment, I'm happy to take on the responsibility.

"We will make it work..but it will detract from our normal training and, if it continues, we will have to take on new staff.'' The Regiment's top man also poured cold water on suggestions that its role should change to that of a sea-going force.

And he said that the idea of the Regiment converting itself into a smaller, full-time force was also a non-starter.

Lt. Col. Outerbridge explained: "There is no way we can use the numbers we have in a marine role.'' But he backed an expanded boat troop with bigger boats to work with Police and other agencies in patrolling the Island's waters -- although he stressed extra cash would be needed.

Lt. Col. Outerbridge added that a full-time force of company strength would be unsuccessful for two reasons.

He said a full-time cut-down force would be "camp-bound, under-trained and underused''.

And he added: "It would be no cheaper -- in fact more expensive than the Regiment is now -- and we would miss out on the chance to instil self-reliance and confidence in our young people.

"This sort of racial and class integration is available nowhere else in Bermuda -- and it won't be given away without a fight by me.'' And he said: "There is quite simply nothing on the Island to rival the Bermuda Regiment for all the reasons I have covered.'' But he admitted hardline action was needed to track down young men who dodged the draft.

He said that too many youngsters escaped their stint as soldiers without feeling the heavy hand of the law -- and that could affect others in two minds whether to turn up for duty when called.

Lt. Col. Outerbridge said: "I have written to the Defence Department asking them to take some action -- I've asked the Defence Department to get a move on.'' Lt. Col. Patrick Outerbridge: Call for drug tests Graphic file name: OUTER MILITARY MIL