There?s no doubt that Lt. Col. William White had a baptism of fire in his new position as Commanding Officer (CO) of the Bermuda Regiment.

Just days after he took over the top job from Lt. Col. Edward Lamb, Senator David Burch launched an outspoken attack on the process that led to his appointment.

The firebrand Senator ? himself a former Regiment CO ? called for both the Governor and the Chairman of the Defence Board to be replaced, suggesting the choice of Lt. Col. White was ?unjust? to another serving officer.

Lt. Col. White maintained a dignified silence as the controversy unfolded, but speaking publicly about the matter for the first time it is clear he has taken it all on the chin ? and with a sense of humour.

Breaking into a smile, the affable 41-year-old says: ?David certainly didn?t have anything negative to say about me. There were certainly strong candidates interviewed and that in and of itself is all well and good for Bermuda and only bodes well for the Regiment. The criticism?s not necessarily levelled at me and although my name has been drawn into, it the public?s now well aware of who the new Commanding Officer is!?

Indeed he makes it clear that the political storm did not mean much to him.

He?s more interested in concentrating on the task at hand, which includes an upgrade of the Regiment?s camp and equipment.

He points out that as Minister for Works and Engineering Sen. Burch is still his ?landlord? and has responsibility for the capital improvements to Warwick Camp that are in the pipeline.

?We will continue to work closely together and he and I come from the same perspective when it comes to the interests of the Regiment,? he adds.

The improvement programme will be on a rolling basis, he says and no ?dollar value? has been put on it as there are a number of different financial options on the table. Part of the effort will include taking on equipment no longer needed by the other services ? which may mean buses usually seen on the Island?s roads painted pink and blue will end up decked out in camouflage paint at Warwick Camp.

The Regiment is also, he says ?beavering away? at the recommendations that came out of a ?Fitness for Role? review carried out by British Army officials last November. Although the report praised aspects of the Regiment, it was critical on issues such as training, the standard of equipment, and infrastructure at Warwick Camp.

?We?re taking the recommendations forward with a couple of papers for consideration by the Defence Board, Government House and the Minister for recommendations for improvements to the physical environment at Warwick Camp,? he says.

The salary structure within the Regiment will be also be addressed, says Lt. Col. White, as this is perceived as not matching performance and having fallen behind the other uniformed services on the Island.

In addition, ?a good look? will be taken at training in the light of the Fitness For Role review. ?I?m encouraging a full re-evaluation of our training, looking at what we are doing and bringing it in line with ?best practice?. For that we look overseas to the UK, US and Jamaica where the majority of our courses are being run.?

The focus, he says is on ?keeping the training as dynamic as training can possibly be?.

He is keen to praise his staff for their work in gathering the necessary information to support his efforts, and stresses: ?This is not necessarily the new broom sweeping clean but just the opportunity for me personally to take a fresh look at everything we?re doing.?

A chartered accountant by profession, he was commissioned as an officer in 1994. Having served as Aide-de-Camp to Governors Lord David Waddington and Thorold Masefield he later fulfilled the roles of Adjutant and Training Officer. He is married to Peta and has three daughters aged 17, 15, and tenth months.

Speaking just prior to flying to Warminster, England, for a two-week Commanding Officers Designate course focusing on issues such as administration, training and leadership, it is clear he is brimming with enthusiasm for his role.

However, asked if he?d always set his sights on the top job, his reply is tinged with regret: ?No, I didn?t ? not as a long-term goal. There?s one aspect about the CO?s post which is unique to Bermuda, which is that being identified as the next candidate for that position you can see the end of your military career as there?s nowhere else to go. That?s unfortunate and I?m not looking forward to that day. I really enjoy what I?m doing and really enjoy the challenge of the top post of CO. But that?s a long way off.?

What does he think of the at times vociferous voices against conscription such as the recent offensive launched by the group ?Bermudians Against the Draft??

?The Bermuda Regiment is the Regiment of the Bermudian people and to a large extent it?s their insurance policy. Whether or not they pay tax payer?s dollars, Bermudian males are expected to put a period of service into this insurance policy. One day or another a hurricane will come along ? although hopefully not a public order incident ? and they?ll be cashing the policy in and the Bermuda Regiment will come out and perform the roles it?s been given,? he says.

Asked about the letters receives alleging bullying and bad behaviour and persistent rumours of poor morale, he says: ?The Regiment is a very positive experience for Bermudian males. It certainly exposes them to a very broad cross section of their peer group...and gives them what I firmly believe are some essential life skills.

?There are always naysayers and within the Regiment perspective there are ebbs and flows of that particular discussion and generally it tends to reach a crescendo just before we are called upon to come out and demonstrate what we are here for again.?

Describing persistent critics of the Regiment as ?a vocal minority?, he adds: ?There?s an old saying that there?s no atheist in a lifeboat.?

And he praised senior personnel in the Regiment ?who are serving in some cases long past their three year two month commitment,? adding: ?I applaud their employers and families who allow them to give so much time. They all do that on the basis that they believe that they are making a positive difference.?