Regiment, why do women volunteer for boot camp? According to the servicewomen who volunteered for this year's camp, the Regiment experience presents them with a challenge for personal growth.

Pte Danika Powell, a 27-year-old who admits basic training has proven to be quite "tough'', said she is enjoying the chance to focus on her own development.

"I think a lot of women don't even consider joining the Regiment because Bermudian women aren't socialised to do things this demanding,'' said Pte Powell.

"Women spend so much time taking care of our families, our husbands or boyfriends and our children... But this is something we have to decide to do for ourselves. If you do it for anyone else, you're not going to make it.

"Back in October I started going to the gym to get some semblance of physical testing,'' she said.

"It definitely helped, but the intensity of the training here is so much harder -- it's so consistent and there are no breaks.

"Every day I walk to the edge and teeter and stare at quitting.. . but when I make the decision to dig down deep, I can step back and feel good that I pushed myself.'' Pte Powell said the first time she had to go on one of the infamous 6 a.m.

Regiment runs, she pushed herself to the limit.

"We ran from Warwick Camp to Rangers, up a steep hill... I was just screaming, you'd think I was having a baby or something,'' she laughed. "But the corps will support you if you bust your ass and give 150 percent.'' During one exercise, she had to run while carrying another soldier piggyback.

"My pride got in the way for a moment... but then I said to myself `Danika, you are a soldier' -- and I reminded myself there are no women and men here, just soldiers.'' Twenty-one-year-old Pte Raynika Brangman has been playing saxophone in the Regiment Band since she was 15.

Her mother suggested she join, but it was not until she saw the Band on parade that she took the plunge -- eventually rising to the rank of Corporal.

But she noticed she wasn't given the level of respect from other soldiers as a member of the Regiment Band without military training.

"I've been in the army for six years and these guys will talk about how you're not a real soldier, the band doesn't do real stuff,'' she said.

"They don't really have respect for the Band -- but I wanted to show that I can do everything they could do -- plus more.

"I'm not sure if I'd leave the band to join the ranks, but I like soldiering -- I like the weapons, the marching...'' Private Deborah DeShields originally planned to go into boot camp back in 1990 when she was 23 years old.

"I always wanted to do it, I saw it as a challenge -- but when it was time to pick up my kit, I changed my mind. I kept asking myself if I should go for it -- and nine years later, I finally decided to do it,'' she said.

"I'm really enjoying it... I've been a tomboy all my life, so I'm enjoying the physical parts, and I'll have a lot to tell my nephew when I finish.'' "I just wish they'd fix the hot water -- these cold showers at 6 a.m. feels like they're dropping ice on me,'' she laughed.

Corporal Zina Darrell joined the service in 1987 and returned to the Regiment this year to administrate Eight Platoon.

"I was determined to be a soldier from my childhood -- after having my daughter, the opportunity came and I joined.

"This time around, it's a little different -- mainly because I've done it before and the previous experience has been a big help.

"Most of my family and colleagues at work think I'm crazy to do something like this.

"But a lot of women don't do things for themselves -- and those who do things for themselves often give them up once we have a family,'' she noted.

"Even though it hurts, you're basically enjoying yourself because you're not depending on anyone else except yourself to do this -- you're the one getting satisfaction out of it,'' she added.

The servicewomen said that although they've been doing the same hard work as the other recruits, there are a few distinctions and problems that need ironing out.

Some of the women said it was obvious that the officers had received sensitivity training working with women.

For example, the three things that are said to male recruits, but never to servicewomen, are: "Stick your chest out'' "spread your legs'' or "when is your next period''.

However, a few of the women said some of the precautions made them feel a bit left out.

"It seems like when they decided to have women recruits, they thought about it, but didn't really think it through,'' said Pte Brangman.

And Pte Powell said: "Every day, it's a different set of rules -- for example, we can't walk around in towels, but the men can -- and we can't really socialise with the men.'' Pte Powell said much of the precautions were taken to avoid problems with sexual harassment -- but she said sexual harassment needed to be defined without paranoia attached to it.

"If someone fixes a button for you, that's not sexual harassment,'' she noted.

And Pte Brangman said she would like to form friendships with male recruits the same way they form friendships with each other -- friendships that could last a lifetime.

But at the end of the day, as Pte Powell points out, it's best not to take anything at the Regiment too personally.

"The whole thing about military training is to test you. Whatever you experience here isn't a hundredth of what you experience in the field.'' FITTING IN -- Gender doesn't buy any favours at boot camp, say female recruits: "But the corps will support you if you bust your ass and give 150 percent.''