Soldiers from the Royal Bermuda Regiment honed their patrolling and weapons handling skills when troops came together at Warwick Camp last weekend.

An RBR spokeswoman said the training, which took place from Friday to Sunday, marked a return to scheduled drills after a summer stand-down for most members.

Lieutenant Samuel Hewitt, A Company’s Second-in-Command, explained: “The weekend was a joint effort between A and B companies and we started by going back to low level, basic training with a focus on urban operations, patrolling and our mandatory weapons handling tests, which keeps us operationally intact.

“We wanted to develop the synergy between the companies; although we have had two separate directives for each of the companies, we’re looking to work together more so that we are all on the same level, particularly when it comes to the basics such as public order and key point security.”

Lieutenant Hewitt, from Sandys, who is head of operation for cash and cheques at HSBC in civilian life, said the training camp, which also covered night patrolling and vehicle checkpoints, included “getting out first thing in the morning, dusting off cobwebs, working together, doing a beach run”.

He added that “something as simple as that brings everyone together”.

B Company Private Cierra Holdipp, 36, from Devonshire, said: “We became a unit, a team as one; we’re not just made up of different companies, we are a whole.

“People are gaining insight into other companies, having fun and enjoying themselves, it’s nice meeting other people.”

Private Yeshai Burgess, 18, who completed RBR recruitment camp this year, said it was easy to make friends in the regiment.

The Devonshire resident, who is studying actuarial science at Bermuda College, added: “Everybody is very similarly minded, everybody has visions to achieve the same goals, so it’s nice to find that camaraderie in between the times when we’re working.”

Private Burgess also said: “I could be quite disorganised in my personal life and I’m trying to get that back on track.

“The regiment has definitely helped with that.”

Private Tyzhae DeSilva, 19, from Somerset, spent time over the summer working with the RBR Coastguard and hopes to join the unit on a more permanent basis.

He said: “It feels great to be back with the team, wearing the uniform again, and getting hands-on experience with the equipment as we sharpen our skills.”

• All Bermuda residents aged between 18 and 52 can visit bermudaregiment.bm/join-us to register for the Royal Bermuda Regiment. Call 707-0353 or e-mail jgmvanderpool@gov.bm for more information