In a brief interview, Private Justin Hill said he was aware of the controversy which erupted after images of his late arrival at Warwick Camp were displayed in the print and broadcast media.

"What happened was basically my fault," he said. "I've never been late and what happened, happened. I guess I'll never be late again. I should have come earlier."

The 18 year old added he was aware of the Regiment's strict disciplinary codes prior to his arrival last Sunday and has since adjusted his own attitude to meet them.

"You just have to come in with an open mind and get used to it. You have to do what you have to do and get it done when you're asked. It's not really as hard as I thought it (would be). You just have to get adjusted to it."

The Bermuda Regiment chastised the media for its unbalanced depiction of the events prior to what Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Eddie Lamb has described as the "nudge" ? absent was the fact that the recruit had sworn at the RP and disobeyed orders.

According to Col. Lamb, such behaviour can be common at boot camp. Though not necessarily the case with Private Hill, as many as 50 per cent of those entering the Bermuda Regiment are not taught discipline in their homes.

"If we're talking about those young men who come through here with no sense of what we call the ideal, nurturing environment, it's shockingly high," said Col. Lamb. "I would say, and I'm guessing here, close to 50 per cent ? and I would say 25 per cent is quite high.

"Let's be honest, a lot of these young men are coming here with no parents in their lives, such is the prevalence of drugs in this country. (Many) will come in here not knowing any sense of structure. (Many) are coming from homes where both parents are on alcohol or drugs. I would venture that close to 50 per cent of the guys coming through our gates bring with them some serious issues.

"I'm not shocked at all (at the public response to Sunday's incident) because the picture wasn't pretty. (But) it was taken completely out of context. They only showed the portions where the young man fell to the ground. I would like to have not seen that part of Warwick Camp being portrayed.

"I am comforted by the fact that lots of people realised it was taken out of context. Many, many people out there are supporting the Regiment and realise that that incident is not what we're all about. And, as you would have witnessed by talking to Private Hill, he's cracked on with what he has to do. And that's what we're all about. We're not all about pushing people down."

Asked if he supported the disciplinary action taken against Private Hill on Sunday, Col. Lamb stressed the importance of making the recruit aware of what the Regiment expected.

"I support the idea of his being handled in a manner that makes him aware of his being late and addressing the issue of tardiness," he said. "Unfortunately, it resulted in his falling to the ground. That I don't support. We're not into pushing people down to the ground. That's not what we're about. The intent of the (RP) was to give him a short, sharp shock . . . the intent was not in any way malicious."

Television news footage provided evidence of that fact, he added.

"If you look at the demeanour of the Regimental Police after the young man fell ? each time the (RP) went to him in a very hospitable manner and picked the young man off the ground. He helped him to his feet and then gently encouraged him to move about his way.

"Perhaps we could do a better job of selling what we do to the wider community. But bear in mind, when a lot of these young men come through these gates, they are opposed to in a uniform ? not just the Regiment, also the police.

"What makes a young man of 18 years old so strongly against the police when the police are out there serving the best interests of the entire country? But I accept the point that perhaps we could do a better job of selling to the wider community what we do so by the time they become 18 they won't be so averse to coming."

Despite the rough start, Private Hill insists he has now adjusted to Regiment life.

"Waking up early ? I'm not used to it. I'm doing a whole lot of training with muscles I'm not used to using. But you just got to do what you got to do."

According to Col. Lamb, most new recruits adopted a similar outlook on arrival and soon found they were enjoying the experience.

When asked how long the adjustment period took, he joked: "Five minutes. No, as I said, we introduce them with a short, sharp shock. And for some it is a shock to their system, but for others who have been brought up in a disciplined environment (it's not). I would say that by the end of the first day of recruit camp, they've got a strong sense of what making time is all about; about being dressed correctly is all about; what working as a team member is all about.

"Some come already disciplined and they, in fact, help others who are not so disciplined. Certainly by the second and third day, those points are strongly honed in."

By yesterday, the fifth day of camp, Col. Lamb said he felt most recruits had come to see the experience as a positive one.

"The morale in the camp is extremely high," he said. "I personally have been through the barrack lines and talked to scores of soldiers who are here, many of whom I know. Many of these young men are sons of some of my peers and I'm very proud of what I've seen.

"Whether they wish to be here or not, frankly, is irrelevant at this point to them because for the most part, they are thoroughly enjoying themselves. (They're) recognising that this is an experience they can't get anywhere else on this island.

"Most of these men are coming in here without having any discipline in their lives. For the first time, many of them are coming up front and personal with who says, 'Wait a minute. These are the rules. These are the parameters within which you must operate.'

"For the first time in their lives they've had to confront that situation. So the country as a whole, has to make up their minds what they want from these young men.

"A lot of (them), to their credit, are doing great things in their lives. Not all of them are out there chopping one another up, and running up and down and killing themselves. But too many of our young men are slipping through the cracks.

"Too many of our young men are engaged in antisocial behaviour. Too many of our men are caught up in the swirl of drugs and violence in our country. The Bermuda Regiment ? in my opinion and in the opinion of all of my officers ? is probably the last organisation that can rescue a lot of these guys.

"And, whether people are going to agree with that or not, that is a fact. Most of the detractors I find, are people who have never served in our ranks, who've never had the benefit of serving among so many great men ? so many men of honour, dignity and pride.

"I would venture to say ? whether or not people agree with it ? that the majority of our troops, whether they wish to be here or not, thoroughly enjoy the experience they're getting. And getting paid to get, I might add."