Ten days into his first experience of army life, Private Kendricks Zuill is shaping up to be a star soldier who has already decided to become a top officer some day.

To that end, he plans to take advantage of every opportunity the Regiment offers to get there. Certainly, officers watching the rookie's progress are impressed with what they see, not just because of his attitude and positive influence on younger recruits, but also because they are aware of the 26-year-old's background, and find his epiphany as remarkable as it is laudable.

By his own admission, Pte. Zuill suffered a very rough and difficult upbringing. Not surprisingly, along the way he made many wrong choices which ultimately led to his imprisonment. There, the young man took stock of his life and realised that it was not anger but wisdom which would pave the way to a better future, and so began his road to self-improvement.

While incarcerated, he was called up for the Regiment. On his release, he went to Warwick Camp of his own volition, met with Colonel Lamb, and laid his cards on the table: he needed a year's deferment to adjust to freedom, and get himself and his life in order.

“How do I know you will come back?” the Colonel asked.

“Sir, I have only my word,” the conscript replied.

Sure enough, when the 2004 recruits arrived at the gates of Warwick Camp, Pte. Zuill was among the first to step through them.

“Son, I am proud of you,” the Colonel told him then, and several times since.

A member of “green” platoon, Pte. Zuill has not only put his heart and soul into the training, but also has become a mentor and voice of reason to the younger men with whom he shares a barracks, and for whom he wants a better future. He has not hid his past from them, but used it as an example.

“Being in the army is a chance for me to show a lot of the younger privates that I am looking to make a difference for myself. If I can be a positive influence on a lot of the other recruits, I feel it is an opportunity to make a difference in their lives. I try my hardest to bring discipline among them, as do the corporals,” he says.

“The (younger ones) tend to look on the corporals, sergeants and lieutenants as forcing them to do something they don't want to do, but I try to show them that, if anything, they should look upon themselves as doing something that, in the long run, they are going to be very proud of doing.

“At first, a lot of them were not into the Regiment regimes, such as waking up at 5.30 a.m., physical training, and having cold showers when the hot water runs out. Many have been nurtured and reared by their mothers, so they have not been responsible for taking care of themselves. Being amongst them has been an eye-opener.”

Thus it is that Pte. Zuill has been quietly striving to make the younger soldiers “more of men, and more responsible for the things of everyday life, such as being fathers to their children, being their brother's keeper, serving their country, and being proud of serving their country”.

It seems that his counselling is bearing fruit. He is looked up to, and many come to him to talk through their problems. Some even ask him to articulate their concerns in better form to the corporal or sergeant.

“They call me ‘Zulu' and look at me as a leader amongst them - their spoken voice,” Pte. Zuill says proudly. “I try to show them that approaching things in a hostile manner will get them nowhere, whereas being calm and gentle about their words will get results.”

The caring recruit has also composed a motto for his barracks, which he has written on a blackboard for all to see. It says: “To be successful is to show potential. To show potential is to give it your all. Heart of a lion, voice of a champion.”

Reviewing his army service to date, Pte. Zuill, who owns his own security business, readily admits that he has completely revised his original thoughts about serving in the Regiment.

“I didn't want to serve any Queen whom I have never seen, and who doesn't do anything for me, but so far the ten days I have been here have changed my whole outlook and opinion of how I view the Regiment,” he says.

“I now feel very proud to be part of the Bermuda Regiment. As much as I didn't want to come, it doesn't make sense running from what you have to face in life because you don't know what the outcome will be. You can only further yourself through being in the Regiment.”

Pte. Zuill has also enjoyed meeting people from all over the island and making new friends, but his favourite part has been the camaraderie.

“It is nice to see people in harmony, with a community spirit amongst them,” he says.

To the young men out there who have not yet found their niche in life, Pte. Zuill advises: “If you are trying to make a difference, and society is not helping you, then the Bermuda Regiment is the place where you can further yourself in whatever career you want to pursue in life.”

As for his own future, the keen new recruit says: “I very much look forward to trying to do something really good within my own country that can set an example in the years to come.”

Private Wolda (pronounced ‘Wolday') Gardner's affiliation with the Regiment got off to a rather shaky start. Because his name appeared incorrectly in the newspaper he did not know he had been called up.

It therefore came as a great shock one day at the airport, when he was about to board an aircraft, to have two Regimental Policemen pounce on him and drag him off to Warwick Camp.

He duly underwent a physical, and on the night prior to boot camp turned up to collect his kit. Told that his name was not in the computer, he left without it. On Sunday, January 11, the Regiment called and asked if he wanted to serve.

He did, and caught the last bus out of St. George's to begin army life.

“It has been a total experience so far,” the Corporation of St. George's employee says, “but the real experience was going home on my break last Sunday. The little children were so excited to see an army guy. Children love the army. Seeing the expressions on their faces brought such joy to my heart. They spoke to me like a choir. It was like being a hero in my neighbourhood. I didn't think I would get that kind of joyous feeling when I walked through the streets, and that is what made me so proud. This week I am going to conquer.”

Pte. Gardner, who is also a member of “green” platoon, admits that, while he has no regrets about his decision to serve, the experience has totally changed his outlook.

“It has made me look at the Regiment in a different way, and respect Bermuda in a different way because this is the last thing that is really ‘Bermuda'. Everything else around here is not really Bermuda. To me, that is why the Regiment is a good thing. People have to take pride in the Regiment and in themselves,” he says.

He has no time for gangs and their negative behaviour, and blames cable television for “ruining the Island”.

“There are no more men around here. To me, the guys are childish,” he says.

Pte. Gardner sums up having the right attitude towards the army as “a mind over matter thing”.

“If you have a weak mind, then keep on running, but if you are a boy and want to become a man, or if you are a man and you want to become mature, then the Bermuda Regiment is a good place for you. It is not discouraging, it is a positive experience. Growing up, my dad was a good role model who tried to show me the right way, and today I am glad my family and friends are proud of me.”

Private Jordan Trott, a member of “blue” platoon, volunteered when he was 18 “to get it over with”. Today, the 19-year-old van driver describes his first boot camp as “a lot of fun”.

“The Regiment is what you make it,” he says. “I have a nice platoon; the corporals are good, and the colour sergeant is good. You have to pay attention. As long as you do that, and do what you are told to do, everything is fine. It is definitely not as bad as I thought it would be. I think people blow it out of proportion. I have made so many friends.”

Private Alex Cabrall, also a member of “blue” platoon, was raised with a “non-violence” philosophy and does not believe in combat. Consequently, although he is finding his second week of boot camp easier than the first, and sees “a lot of value in it”, he is still working to resolve the inner conflict that comes from having to comply with a law that is at odds with his beliefs.

“I am still a reluctant recruit,” he says. “I wanted to go the conscientious objector route, which hasn't gone through yet, so I am having to deal with my personal beliefs and putting them aside for the good of the country. That is a pretty big task. Because I have grown up with anti-violence beliefs it is challenging to try and understand the logic behind combat.”

Nevertheless, Pte. Cabral, who works in human resources in the insurance industry, believes recruit camp is valuable “because it pushes people to their limit and challenges them as to how far they can go”.

“I have surprised myself,” he admits.

So what is his advice to other young men facing conscription?

“If you want a completely different experience, and you want to have a helluva lot of fun, then give it a go. Some people are 30 years old and have been running for years, but the army catches you in the end, so just come in and get it done. You obviously have no choice in the matter. It's the law, and if you want to be a law-abiding citizen and serve your country, then you should make the best of it. There are definitely lifelong lessons to be learned, such as challenging yourself physically and mentally, and seeing how you work under major pressure, time limits and public scrutiny.”