A yearly ritual that has changed greatly since the end of conscription goes ahead for the Royal Bermuda Regiment as recruits head into Warwick Camp for training tomorrow.

Gone are the days of the “parade of soldiers” coming through the front gates on South Road, according to Major Duncan Simons, the officer commanding B Company.

He said about 20 new soldiers were expected between 11am and noon to undergo lateral flow testing for Covid-19 on arrival and be formed into squads.

Soldiers will not start marching on the square or handling their weapons until Tuesday.

Major Simons added that an important early feature of the beginning of recruit camp would entail some soul searching among recruits.

“It’s about first impressions and what they might hope to achieve in their two weeks – why they wanted to join.”

The RBR has been volunteer-based since conscription came to an end in 2018.