A soldier who was fired after having to do extra work for the Bermuda Regiment as punishment for not showing up during Hurricane Fabian has been offered a new job.

The soldier's new employers told Lt. Col. Edward Lamb they were "appalled" by his former employer John Madeiros' attitude, and added they understood what the army did for Bermuda and Bermuda's young men.

The soldier had travelled to the Azores to visit his sick mother when Hurricane Fabian hit the Island and so did not show up when the Bermuda Regiment was called out.

Despite his reason, not showing up is an offence punishable by law and the soldier was sentenced to six days of extra work at the Regiment from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. However, Mr. Madeiros, who runs a small contracting company, said his business was hurting because of the loss of staff. "I want the Regiment to know I'm firing this guy because of them," he told The Royal Gazette at the time. "He didn't kill anybody, the punishment is ridiculous. They need to make him have his punishment on his time, not mine."

Lt. Col. Lamb said Mr. Madeiros was being "drastic" and added a more productive solution would have been for the employer to have gone to the Commanding Officer in the hope of striking a compromise instead of firing the recruit. However, on Monday Lt. Col. Lamb said he had been contacted by another company who was "appalled" by the employer's behaviour and wished to offer the soldier a job. The soldier accepted the offer, he said. He was unable to supply the name of the company, however, as the new employers had not wanted to make the offer as a publicity gesture.

"Most employers are very supportive," he said. "This is a testament to that fact."