Bermuda Regiment Holds Leadership Training
Strides were made to add further professionalism to the command capabilities of Royal Bermuda Regiment [RBR] soldiers with the recent delivery of courses by British Army educators.
A spokesperson said, “Two versions of the Army Leadership Development Programme were provided – one for 18 junior non-commissioned officers [NCOs] and the other for 15 senior NCOs and warrant officers.
“The five-day courses ran at Warwick Camp and were each designed to deliver tailored training to help leaders at various levels become more proficient in their roles.
“For junior NCOs, the programme aimed to broaden and develop the participants’ knowledge and skills so that they may effectively lead and manage small teams.
“It equipped them with additional tools to better absorb information, solve problems and make considered decisions.
“The course for senior NCOs and warrant officers was created to develop greater professional competence by building on their knowledge, skills and experience.
“It aimed to introduce and develop analytical skills that can be applied in planning as well as in the Regiment’s operational contexts.
“Both packages used scenario-based exercises to encourage critical thinking while participants also deepened individual self-awareness through activities that encouraged them to focus on aspects of emotional intelligence.”
Major Thomas Wood, the Regiment’s Second-in-Command and Executive Officer, said: “The courses are a significant step in providing professional education to the non-commissioned ranks and represent a commitment by the RBR to professionally prepare all ranks for the challenges of leadership.
“It was the first iteration of these types of courses in Bermuda but due to their overwhelming success, it is hoped that they will become a regular occurrence, providing a pipeline of professional education throughout an individual’s career in the RBR.”
The spokesperson said, “The programmes were delivered by Captain Jack Ren and Captain Eglantine Betts, of the British Army’s Educational and Training Services.”
“We have both been very impressed by how much the soldiers have engaged with the courses, especially the junior NCOs,” said Capt Ren.
“They showed both informally and formally in feedback how much they appreciated the content.
“We saw them in the classes constantly raising hands, offering valuable and insightful contributions – these were really to a high standard especially for their rank, it was a level that we would expect of senior NCOs in the UK.”
He added that “in the case of the RBR’s senior NCOs and warrant officers, the wealth of experience and range of ranks led to productive discussions in which various perspectives and alternative ideas were presented.”
Colour Sergeant Patricia Woolridge, who took part in the course for senior NCOs and warrant officers, said that “the facilitators encouraged participants to think at higher operational levels than they may be used to.”
“It opens your mind to consider different perspectives around decision making,” she said.
“It helped us understand that there are a lot of things happening that we’re not always aware of but that need to be taken into consideration when priorities are set by those at the top.”
CSgt Woolridge, the RBR Coast Guard Company Quartermaster Sergeant and a Bermuda Monetary Authority systems analyst in civilian life, added: “Overall, the instructors did an amazing job in helping us to realise that our toolboxes are bigger than we think, and giving us different ways to use those tools, as well as how to sharpen them.
“They would ask a question and everybody had the answer, but they helped us to consider how we’re actually applying the skills.”
The spokesperson said, “For information on joining the Royal Bermuda Regiment, visit rbr.bm, call 238-1045 or contact the Recruiting Team at rbr.recruiting@gov.bm.”
