Soldiers from the Bermuda Regiment have been sleeping under the stars, learning jungle survival skills and taking part in a mock operation to help a nation restore law and order after being hit by a hurricane. Elements of the Regiment – mainly Alpha Company, Support Company, Quartermaster Company along with Regimental Headquarters – left Bermuda for Jamaica for Exercise Irie Onion, its annual overseas camp, earlier this week.

When they arrived they were greeted by the Jamaican Defence Force (JDF), who are providing host nation support, and bussed to Titchfield Camp, Port Antonio, where Alpha Company began preparations for Exercise Shakeout.

Regiment Training Officer, Captain Julian Wheddon, said: "Exercise Shakeout is exactly that, a shakeout exercise to acclimatize Alpha Company soldiers with living conditions in Jamaica, and to achieve the training objectives set by the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Brian N. Gonsalves, through a conventional operations scenario."

The troops practised jungle survival skills taught by local guides and members of the JDF, as well as tropical medicine, jungle navigation and close quarter battle drills, all while living under the stars in the areas of Burlington and Fellowship, within the Rio Grande valley.

According to Cpt. Wheddon all this was set against a background of assisting the fictional island nation of Portland in restoring law and order as part of overall relief efforts after a devastating hurricane.

Captain Kenji Bean, Officer Commanding Alpha Company, said: "I found the heat of Jamaica to be very intense, but one thing I have found, intense heat and pressure has a way of making a diamond out of coal, or bringing the faults to the top.

"This overseas camp definitely does both in all aspects, and I have enjoyed both aspects thus far and watching them develop or be overcome by my troops."

Pte. Donavan Ratteray, of Section 3, 3 Platoon, added: "More than anything, any training the Regiment does builds your mental and physical stamina, and teaches techniques that not only are useful in the Regiment but outside as well if you think of it. Survival is more than just living in a jungle environment, these experiences will help you survive life in general and handle any situation that you may face."

Alpha Company has now returned to Tichfield Camp for replenishment before returning to the field for three days of adventure training and range work, while elements of Support Company continue their specialist training throughout Jamaica.