The Bermuda Regiment could be manned entirely by volunteer soldiers within five years if a successful recruitment drive is maintained.

Regiment Commanding Officer Lt Col Michael Foster-Brown — a British Army regular officer seconded to Bermuda and who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq during his 20-year military career — said that the number of volunteers signing up had risen dramatically in the past 12 months.

Forty volunteers successfully completed this year’s Recruit Camp — and the force was working hard to double the number of volunteers each year.

The Regiment needs to recruit around 135 new soldiers each year in order to maintain its minimum fighting strength of 400 personnel. Volunteers and conscripts sign up for three years.

Although it has yet to give a timeline, Government has pledged to abolish conscription, raising concerns that Regiment ranks could become so depleted it would no longer be viable.

A group of nine former commanding officers have launched a campaign to keep conscription, arguing that “Bermuda cannot afford to gamble that relying entirely on volunteers to fill the ranks of the Regiment will succeed”.

But, yesterday, Lt Col Foster-Brown said that the Regiment was battling to attract even more volunteers this year, and that a long-term target of 135 was obtainable.

“Government’s policy is to transfer the Regiment to a volunteer force and we’re working hard to make that happen,” he said adding that new initiatives such as a $500 sign-up reward and more diverse and fulfilling training sessions introduced last year were designed to boost the attractiveness of a Regiment career.

“We have already had some early success last year when the number of volunteers completing recruit camp went from ten to 40 — that was a considerable progress. We want to double the number of volunteers each year and so far we’re ahead of our target.

“It’s certainly going to be a challenge because we only have around 600 to 700 young men and women turning 18 each year, the age at which they are eligible to volunteer from, but we’re going to give it our best shot.

“Volunteers have always been the Regiment’s preference over conscripts and — in line with Government policy and with their support — we’re going to push really hard to make it an all volunteer force.”

Lt Col Foster-Brown said the Regiment was now preparing to launch another recruitment drive ahead of next January’s Recruit Camp. He said that further incentives were being devised to encourage young men and women to consider signing up. The Regiment will be holding an open house at Warwick Camp on Saturday, September 20.