Regiment C.O. Lt. Col. Patrick Outerbridge confirmed the Island's part-time army is beating the drum in a bid to call women to the colours.

He said: "We want to see if there are any young ladies out there willing to come in.'' But he added: "We'll need to get about 15 or 16 to make it worthwhile setting up a separate camp for them.'' Lt. Col. Outerbridge said there were opportunities for women throughout the Regiment -- including working as medics, signallers and even as assault pioneers.

But he ruled out women taking a front-line role as combat infantry.

Looking for a few `GI Janes' But he added he hoped to see women advance through the ranks to NCOs and officer rank.

And Lt. Col. Outerbridge said: "They would be trained in weapons handling so they can get a good overview of what goes on across the board in the Regiment.'' He added in the 1980s women made up almost two sections of the Regiment, and there have been women officers and Company Sergeant Majors in the past.

But he said that there were currently only around 10 `GI Janes' currently serving.

Most are in the Regiment band, with others working as clerks at the Warwick Regimental HQ and in the motor transport section.

Lt. Col. Outerbridge said that women -- unlike men -- are not conscripted for army duty.

But he added: "Throughout the year we will get the occasional young lady who will call up and inquire about joining.

"And we're hoping we will be able to attract sufficient interest to start a training course.'' Lt. Col. Outerbridge said the training programme for women would be substantially the same as the one the men go through.

He explained: "Everything would be much the same -- the discipline would be exactly the same, although some of the courses, like combat runs, might be a bit shorter. Other than that, they would get exactly the same treatment.'' The recruiting drive was launched on Monday with an ad in The Royal Gazette featuring a line-up of gun-toting ladies in camouflage combat gear.

The ad asks for women with "stamina, guts and determination'' to consider a part-time career in the Regiment.

Application forms can be obtained from Bermuda Regiment HQ, South Shore Road, Warwick and the deadline for completed forms is October 30.