Recruit Camp To Get Underway This Sunday
The new intake of Bermuda Regiment recruits will join up for their basic training this coming Sunday [Jan 13]. A total of 125 new soldiers will arrive at Warwick Camp to begin two weeks of intensive basic military training.
Commanding Officer Lt Col. Brian Gonsalves said: “I would urge everyone to come with an open mind and a positive attitude. We are pleased with the record number of volunteers, ranging from 18 to 51 years of age, all coming with various skills and life experiences.
“We recognize that perhaps not all recruits want to serve in the military – but they should focus on the many opportunities the Regiment will present to them.
“The Regiment offers opportunities for overseas travel, competitive rates of pay and the chance to acquire useful skills and experience which can make all the difference in civilian life and helps our soldiers stand out from the crowd when it comes to job applications.”
Lt Col. Gonsalves added: “It is not in our interests to have unhappy recruits – we want soldiers to enjoy the training and get as much as they can out of it. We are a modern military unit following best practices in line with UK Forces. This is not only for training matters, but Equality and Diversity, anti-harassment, and many other personnel matters.”
But he warned that recruits should not bring weapons, drugs or any other prohibited items covered in the Joining Instructions provided to every recruit [also on their website] – and warned offenders would be disciplined with under military law.
Recruits are to report to Warwick Camp at 7:45am this Sunday and will be authorized a twelve hour leave period commencing at 10:00am on Sunday 20 January.
The Regiment said: “Recruits must arrive wearing their beret with polished cap badge worn over their left eye, ironed combat uniform, along with issued belt and socks and polished rubber-soled boots.
“All other military equipment must be packed into the issued rucksack. Personal gear, including toiletries, personal clothing, sneakers, flop flops and other equipment itemised in the Joining Instructions should also be brought in a small suitcase or duffle-style bag.
“Private vehicles will not be allowed into Warwick Camp and there is no parking in the vicinity, including Chaplain Bay car park during recruit training.
“Soldiers should also have a regulation haircut in line with the rules in the Joining Instructions and the only jewellery allowed are wedding rings and watches. All other jewellery will be confiscated. Mobile phones and other personal electronic devices such as iPods, MP3 players, etc. are not permitted and must be left at home.”
Lt Col. Gonsalves said: “While the Regiment must be a disciplined organization and some might find military regulations restrictive, we are confident people will accept they are there for good reasons and will be comply.”
He added: “Soldiers have rights and I’d urge all recruits to read the handbook supplied to them (or visit our website) so they know that there is protection and strictly impartial procedures for complaints in the unlikely event they ever feel they need to use them.”
Lt Col. Gonsalves said: “The Regiment has changed a lot in the past few years and will continue to evolve and improve to meet Bermuda’s current needs – I’d tell recruits to forget what they think they know or have heard about the Regiment, instead focus on working hard, following orders and I guarantee they will have an awesome time.”
As long as they don’t get frisky with my Mr Bojangles and Chester Fonsworth I will begrudgingly comply with my regiment duties. HOORAH.
Sorry. SIR Chester Fonsworth. He reminded me when I sat down and my leg squished him. Painful Sir Chester Fonsworth paaiiiinful.
Waste of time and Tax payer’s money!
until the storm hit!!! then you need them!!! HUMANS????
Why do we need a MILITARY FORCE to clean up after a hurricane? It boggles the mind that people can’t see what is wrong with this… Our conscripted soldiers are trained to be killers. That is what they are taught to do. Shoot to kill. This isn’t some fantasy land where we send our young men to become disciplined adults and constructive members of society. We send them there and we spend half of our time learning how to kill other people. We learn to shoot. We are taught to only shoot to kill. Why the f*#K do we need to learn to kill? Who are we going to kill? The loonies in charge actually believe there are potential threats to our borders… I’m not joking! Why not get people to sign up for 10 years of hurricane clean-up duty in lieu of 3 years of whatever it is we are supposed to be doing up at warwick camp? I’d sign up for 20 years just to get out of this hell hole…
You obviously haven’t spent any time in the army if you really believe half of the 3 years is spend learning how to kill people… I have never heard anything relating to shoot to kill while in the army..at all. In fact, the little cards that you would have seen if you’d spent any time in the army say the exact opposite.
You obviously haven’t spent any time paying attention in the army (sic) as that is exactly what the white card says. We are taught not to shoot to incapacitate but rather to shoot to kill. Everybody thinks the regiment is just a bit of innocent fun and games but there are very real consequences to the things we are taught. Are you prepared to kill a fellow Bermudian if your platoon commander tells you to?
Shoot to kill? LMAO!!!! It’s the Bermuda Regiment not SOCOM!
Less than a quarter of the time recruits are on the shooting range most of the time they are taught & taught over & over again to keep in unison with the rest of their platoon plus how to keep their mouths shut & keep still when they are supposed to. This should have been taught to them years before they turned 18 IMO since the real waste of time in the regiment are the idiots that act like children when they are already supposed to be grown men. Teamwork & discipline is key in the real world & it’s sad that so many lack this when they enter the regiment & the rest that do what their supposed to have to repeat the same procedure numerous amounts of times because of others. Obviously you are one of these grown children since you missed the part where you are taught to always keep your weapon pointed at the ground & never discharge it unless ordered to by one of the officers. Shooting someone is taught as a ultimate last resort even if someone is driving a vehicle full speed at you.
Where exactly in the ‘real world’ does one need to stand perfectly still for extended periods of time (or any time for that matter)? Or, where in the ‘real world’ does one need to keep in unison with a group of complete strangers? Nowhere should these men have been taught such assinine ‘skills’ before being conscripted into the regiment…
Is this really what my taxpayer dollars are being spent on? Teaching young men when not to talk, how to stand still, how to shoot a gun, and how to march around? Is that all the regiment has to offer? I thought there were actual life-skills being taught! Guess not… FML
Sounds like you’re a waste of time as well!!!
Can anyone with regiment experience answer this question for me? I have some exams coming up in a few weeks. Can anyone tell me how much free time you have during the evenings? I was hoping to get a few hours of studying in before lights out each night. Is there any point in bringing my study materials with me or am I going to be too beat by the end of the day to keep my eyes open?
Thanks,
Employed, University Educated, and in the F*ing regiment!
On another note, can anyone – employee or employer verify the statement that “…our soldiers stand out from the crowd when it comes to job applications.” I would like to know if this statement has any substance to it or if they are encouraging yet hollow words? If I do well in the regiment can I expect my superiors to reward my hard work by taking the time to write me letters of recommendation?
I hope I am not coming off in the wrong way. I am trying to be open minded about the experience and look forward to learning new skills and helping my wonderful home if called upon.
Thank you
To Other new recruit. I was asked to join in the mid 80′s. I was someone that doing positive things with my life, and I didn’t think I needed to be in the Regiment. Because of my association with the U.S. bases, I knew a bit about military life. That helped me a lot. After training camp, I joined Recce, which was the toughest branch. Long story short, my time in the Regiment was some of my best years of my life. What you put in is what you get out. Get your stuff done and you should have time to study. I am not a HR person and I only know of one job I applied for that being in the Regiment MAY have helped. Put your best foot forward, and if nothing else remember, this too shall pass.
Polish your boots and badge to perfection ..ideally before you even get there.. and it opens up a LOT of free time in the evening.
From someone who has done the Regiment… no, you will not have any time/energy at all during boot camp to study. Leave your books at home. I’m curious though, what sort of exams are you sitting? Normally if you’re enrolled in a professional development program the Regiment will give you an exemption until you’ve completed it.
I got exempted while I was at University overseas for 3 years (obviously), but then got a further 3 year exemption while I sat my professional accounting exams while working back on the Island. So I ended up doing my first year at 18 and then got a 6 year study break and did the last 2 years when I was aged 26-27.
And yes, your officer will write you a letter of recommendation. I can’t say if it will help you get a job, but it certainly won’t hurt.
Good luck.
To New recruit:
I am currently in the regiment and am also educated. I have two degrees (math and finance) and I struggled to find employment. BTW I’ve also passed a few underwriting exams and had excellent internships the last few years. I went on tons of interviews within the insurance industry and nothing was going my way.
To make a long story short I went on one interview with a highly respected company and the interviewer saw that I was in the regiment (from my resume). I didn’t know he was a former military personnel in CDA. He called my captain for a recommendation and because of my performance and attitude in the regiment he made me an offer the following day.
The regiment has a huge network. Make the best of the opportunity.
PS Leave your study materials home. Any free time you have you will be getting ready for the next activity or sleeping…
@Other new recruit – Boot Camp isn’t there for you, you’re there for it!
No one there is interested in your ‘requirements’. You’re not anyone special. Welcome to the real world – get used to it. Same goes for the rest of the recruits.
Do your duty, appreciate the training and learn from the experience. You’ll leave a better man.
Good luck.
Yes, learning how to shoot a gun..sorry rifle…will make him a better man. Learning how to march will make him a better man. Meeting people he has had no intention of meeting until this point in his life (drug dealers, wannabe gangsters, violent people, men who see women as possesions to be used/abused, etc.) will make him a better man. Getting yelled at will make him a better man. Sorry, this is not the ‘real’ world..it’s an outdated and backwards world.
Awww what’s the matter? Did the Sergeants or Corporals not rub your little tummy and tell you that you’re someone’s special little guy whilst you were in boot camp? Grow up.
Your comments are the only thing outdated, backwards things here.
Now you have a great day and remember, you’re someone’s ‘special little fella’.
??? Not sure what that was all about but how about you engage in a real discussion and lay out 2-3 benefits the regiment actually provides our ‘soldiers’. That shouldn’t be too hard for you, should it?
1. I have no interest in engaging you in a discussion.
2. If I have to explain it, ( both the tone of my last email and the 2-3 benefits you’re struggling to find), it’s clear your never experienced basic training and, therefore, you would not fully appreciate it or the benefits there-of.
Alpha Mike Foxtrot.
I am currently serving in the regiment and would have hoped by now to have been exposed to ‘basic training’ (whatever that is)…it is afterall my final year of duty! You sound like a typical regiment fan-boy…socially awkward and unable to grasp the reality that Bermuda does not need a military force of any kind. When basic human rights are infringed on throughout the 3 years and 2 months each conscripted soldier must serve, then something is wrong. When people like you have a say in how I must live my life, something is wrong. When our government pays millions of dollars each year on a service with little to no tangible benefit to the community as a whole (except every 10 years when there is a hurricane to clean up) – or to the ‘soldiers’ currently serving – something is wrong. Alpha mike foxtrot? You don’t have the balls to be a real soldier, mate.
To be honest, you sound like you might be the socially awkward one who is unable to grasp reality. Grow some balls, suck it up and deal with it… you’re in your final year for crying out load.
Am I socially awkward for not enjoying having my rights impeeded upon? I don’t think so. How is it that you have bigger balls than me if you don’t have the balls to stand up to an unfair and unjust system in the first place? Your enjoyment of having others forcing you to act in certain ways shows just how big those manly balls you have are…
The reality is conscription is unfair in it’s current form and as shown around the world has little place in modern times. One must only look at the likes of Germnay, et. al. who have recently ended or moved towards ending such outdated practices. Bermuda will one day get it… (y)
You obviously tried to go against the grain because you thought you were better than the rest of your comrades. This is most likely why you are in your last year & know less than the basic. If you had put your all into it you would have been given a chance to join one of the specialist companies & learned something you can take with you when done. The regiment like life is what you make of it.
I work in an office job. I now know how to shoot a gun, march, fight rioters, etc. What exactly is transferable into my daily life?
what happened to cutting recruit numbers? last year was 80 and this year 125..where is the money coming from? i can think of a number of schools that need that money more than toy soldiers
just crawl back to your small world!
And you to your even smaller one.
i feel sorry for all the recruits going to the regiment, biggest waste of time ever and no it doesnt help you get a better job locally, maybe if u where in the us army or something your better off, real training wghat can you learn in 2 weeks seriously, us boot camp is 3 months,so what training will you recieve? theres no advantage to being in the regiment other than the over the top amount of boose you get, create our next gen of alcoholics!!! I believe if regiment was a full time deal it could maybe work, why dont we have a coast gaurd it would be more relevent to are island and may chase away the illegal fisheries from wiping out our fish population
Poor recruits?!?!? Like you typed 2 weeks versus 3 months. So what’s the big deal? Most will if they actually pay attention learn something they didn’t know & find that they can endure more than they thought they could.
No one twist the soldier’s arms to drink & the privates are not even privy to drink except for the party they have at the end of recruit camp. This time is quite funny if you get drunk because more then likely that is when you get waken in the wee hours out of your hangover to do drills on the square. When I was up there I had a funny feeling that would happen & made sure I only had two bevies which I was thankful for when I saw the other drunken soldiers struggling to march in a straight line while tripping over themselves.
nooooooooooooooooooooooo000ooooo
save me