Photos: RBR Soldiers Public Order Training

Soldiers of the Royal Bermuda Regiment underwent public order training last week.

A spokesperson said, “Soldiers from the Royal Bermuda Regiment were kitted out in protective clothing and armed with shields and batons when they took part in public order training last weekend. Troops learned the importance of de-escalation in the face of disorder as well as defence techniques in case of attacks by rioters.”

An RBR spokesman said: “The lessons were designed to provide exposure to training that is both fun and challenging, while achieving the aim of meeting the Regiment’s internal security mission. “One of our main roles is to provide support if, for any reason, a riot was to break out on the island and the police needed assistance to contain it and restore public order.

“We covered topics such as crowd dynamics and psychology, identification of different types of people within a crowd, and how some socioeconomic conditions can push individuals past their tolerance limits, which could make a peaceful protest turn ugly.”

“As well as the theory, soldiers at a foundational level learned public order drills and protection methods. More experienced troops who participated in revision training were involved in mock riot scenarios to test their skills.”

Private Justus Anderson, a member of the RBR Coast Guard, took part in the public order training for the first time. The 26-year-old said: “I’m usually out on the water, so it was definitely a different experience. “I’m the type of person that is open to different experiences, and learning different skills and techniques, which the Regiment provides.

“The instructors were well-versed and able to break it down for us, so that made it enjoyable. “It’s important, as a Regiment, to be able to come together and work together as a unit. There were people in our sessions I had never met before, so it’s nice to interact and also see some familiar faces.”

The RBR has delivered its public order training package to organisations in other countries. It ran courses in 2023 for members of the eastern Caribbean’s Regional Security System and as part of the US Southern Command-sponsored Tradewinds exercise.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Shaun Williams, a chief instructor on last weekend’s course, explained: “We are able to deliver advanced training, which includes things like dealing with petrol bombs. The lessons we can provide are in demand, especially since we’re teaching to different countries. We’re trying to help bring all the Caribbean community together when it comes to this type of training.

“That means if there is a country that requires assistance, they can call upon their neighbours who would be able to help with minimal instruction, because they’re already trained in the same concept.”

The spokesperson said, “The RBR invites legal residents of Bermuda aged 18 to 52 to sign up to the Regiment ahead of the next recruit training package, which will run from February 11 to 23. An enlistment night will be held from 6pm this evening – January 11, and another will start at the same time on February 1, the deadline for initiating the joining process.”

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