The Bermuda Regiment and Bermuda Fire Service have teamed up to promote firefighting as a career for soldiers finishing their service.

Regiment Commanding Officer Lt Col Michael Foster-Brown said the partnership would attract more volunteers to the Regiment by providing career opportunities for former soldiers.

The initiative will also send would-be firefighters already trained in the values of discipline, team spirit and community service.

The recruitment scheme was hatched after Col Foster-Brown and Chief Fire Officer Lloyd Burchall met to discuss forging closer links between the two services.

“There is already a large number of firefighters who are ex-soldiers,” said Fire Service spokesman Lt Leonard Davis. “A lot of them came in with skill sets we value, like discipline and understanding an organised structure.

“I know — I was one of them.”

CFO Burchall added: “They’re physically fit, they have come through the ranks, they have team spirit and a strong sense of community service.

“These are all attributes we need in our firefighters. Firefighting is not for everyone — but there will certainly be some in the Regiment who will be in tune with us and who can continue to make a valuable contribution to the community we all serve.”

If the initiative takes off, other uniformed services such as police and Customs may explore the concept.

“This should not be a deterrent to anyone else from applying, but the Fire Service recognises that former Regiment soldiers possess certain qualities that are extremely useful in the role of a firefighter,” CFO Burchall said.

In another employment-related step, soldiers leaving the Regiment have become the first to receive Service Testimonials along with their Discharge Certificates. The testimonials outline each soldier’s service careers and skills acquired.