Soldiers in the Royal Bermuda Regiment learnt how to tackle rioters during training that included defence tactics and de-escalation methods.

Troops were kitted out in protective clothing and armed with shields and batons for the exercise.

An RBR spokesman said: “The lessons were designed to provide exposure to training that is both fun and challenging, while achieving the aim of meeting the regiment’s internal security mission.

“One of our main roles is to provide support if, for any reason, a riot was to break out on the island and the police needed assistance to contain it and restore public order.

“We covered topics such as crowd dynamics and psychology, identification of different types of people within a crowd, and how some socio-economic conditions can push individuals past their tolerance limits, which could make a peaceful protest turn ugly.”

As well as the theory, soldiers at a foundational level learnt public-order drills and protection methods.

More experienced troops who participated in revision training were involved in mock riot scenarios to test their skills.

Private Justus Anderson, a 26-year-old member of the RBR Coast Guard, took part in the training and was grateful for the experience and to learn among colleagues.

“I’m the type of person that is open to different experiences and learning different skills and techniques, which the regiment provides,” he said.

“The instructors were well versed and able to break it down for us, so that made it enjoyable.”

Private Anderson added: “It’s important, as a regiment, to be able to come together and work together as a unit.

“There were people in our sessions I had never met before, so it’s nice to interact and also see some familiar faces.”

The RBR has delivered its public-order training package to organisations in other countries. It ran courses in 2023 for members of the eastern Caribbean’s Regional Security System and as part of the US Southern Command-sponsored Tradewinds exercise.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Shaun Williams, a chief instructor on the recent course at Warwick Camp, explained: “We are able to deliver advanced training, which includes things like dealing with petrol bombs.

“The lessons we can provide are in demand, especially since we’re teaching to different countries.

“We’re trying to help bring all the Caribbean community together when it comes to this type of training.”

The RBR’s next recruit training package will run from February 11 to 23. Legal residents of Bermuda aged 18 to 52 can sign up.

An enlistment night will be held on February 1 at 6pm, which is the deadline for beginning the joining process.

• For more information, visit bermudaregiment.bm or call 238-1045