The Bermuda Regiment got a weekend visit from the UK’s top military officer in the US, Major General Buster Howes.Gen Howes, the defence attaché at the British Embassy in Washington, said both the Regiment and the British Army could benefit from closer links between the two forces.On his first visit to the Island, Gen Howes said he’d been keen to watch the members of Bermuda’s defence force during their training.“I’ve got a reasonable feel for things — we’ve had a really good look around and had candid discussions with people right across the Regiment,” he said.“The Regiment is an important resource and perhaps one of the important recognitions is you can’t suddenly generate a force and build trust and competence in an emergency.”Gen Howes praised moves by the Regiment to attract volunteer soldiers, such as the reception for potential recruits to be held at Government House on September 25.The veteran soldier, who served in both Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Northern Ireland as well as overseeing Royal Navy anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean, also served on detachment to the US Marines.Gen Howes said one avenue in which the UK could assist local forces was the Royal Marines, which could potentially work with the Regiment’s boat troop.The boat troop is expected to assume a greater role in maritime security in the future.“There seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for the maritime role and, speaking as a Marine, I can understand that,” Gen Howes said.The senior officer said explosive ordnance disposal experts from Britain could boost the Regiment’s expertise and that there was “an aspiration to source British weapons” in improving the Regiment’s armaments.Added Gen Howes: “Bermuda is a beautiful place renowned for its diving and there are barracks where people can be accommodated — so the ability to provide adventurous training for British personnel would be one of the ways Bermuda can reciprocate.”