Bermuda Police Service is urging young Bermudians to join its longstanding, “life-changing” Police Cadet Programme.

On Monday the service began recruiting youths between the ages of 16 and 21 to serve the community while pursuing further education.

But the applicants must be enrolled or applying to be enrolled at Bermuda College before for fall of 2016.

Cadets will attend the Bermuda College — courtesy of the BPS — having had up to three-and-a-half years or seven semesters to pursue an associates degree. Upon completion, they will be required to give back three years working for the service. Inspector Charlene Thompson, told The Royal Gazette: “We can only hope that after they give us back their three years, they decide they like it and they want to stay with us, but if they don’t Bermuda is in a win-win situation because we now have young, educated Bermudians in our society.

“It comes with a lot and we expect a lot but during the programme itself, we’re bringing them in, we’re building character, we’re giving them a sense of themself and a sense of community service.”

While maintaining the expected GPA, cadets are required to attend drill and PT in the morning, complete four hours of community service a month and achieve the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

Inspector Thompson explained the benefits of the programme that include a starting salary of $38,000 to $40,000, free major medical and dental, a uniform, paid tuition as well as the use of a multipurpose gymnasium and a recreation club providing sports facilities.

Applicants must also pass the Police Service Initial Recruitment Test (PIRT), undergo security checks, take physical and psychological tests, a drug test, take medical and eye exams, a home visit and appear before an assessment board.

“One of the good things is that when they’re not at the college, they’ll be with us and they’ll be on attachments,” added Inspector Thompson.

“They get a chance to experience various different parts of the organisation. We attach them to anywhere from IT to frontline policing on the watches, to CID to the community action team, which works very closely with organisations as well as the marine section. So, at the end of the three years when they’re finished, some of them already have an idea which department they want to work in.

Police Cadet, Rajah Steede, 21, described her experience as “phenomenal” and will use the tools acquired to follow her dreams of one day becoming a surgeon. She said: “As I look back, it’s been a great investment within myself, it’s been very beneficial ... not just financially but because of the exposure I’ve received from being a police cadet I know that had I joined any other organisation I wouldn’t have had the opportunities to do the various things I’ve done within this job or be exposed to different things.

“I was able to get my degree at the college which was very important for me because after I graduated from high school I was unsuccessful in receiving scholarships, therefore I couldn’t go to university. I decided to reroute myself and become a police cadet. I’m pretty sure that if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have my associates degree in science today or it would’ve been a struggle financially.”

Police Cadet, Hans-Peter Roser Junior, 21, plans on being a forensic scientist.

“I joined the police cadets to further my career in forensics and so far it’s been a wonderful experience,” he said.

“What I have got out of the programme is discipline, integrity, professionalism and definitely time management. Before I joined I had a big problem with managing my time but ever since I’ve been here it’s taught me how to manage my schedule and I’m appreciative. Hopefully, now that I have received the further education award I can go off and pursue my career, getting my bachelors in chemistry so I can come back and work at the forensics department at the BPS.”

The BPS will be holding two information sessions at the Police Recreation Hall in Prospect tomorrow and next Thursday between 7pm and 8pm.

• Application forms, other documents and information will be available online via the Bermuda Police Service website, www.bermudapolice.bm and at Hamilton Police Station. For further details please call 247-1785.