New recruits of the Royal Bermuda Regiment have urged other people who might be thinking about enlistment to give it a go.

An RBR spokeswoman said that after nearly two weeks of intensive training, including drills, weapons handling and teamwork exercises, the rookie soldiers celebrated their success and encouraged others to step forward.

Private Romell Bourne, 37, said completing the course felt like an achievement he once thought was out of reach.

The mental health nurse, from Devonshire, added: “One of the things I definitely learnt was time management because that is a major thing in the army; and discipline, lots of discipline.”

He said: “During my time in camp, I was really surprised by the staff.

“Everyone was approachable, welcoming and willing to mentor us. They showed us where we went wrong and helped us make corrections.

“That was really heartwarming, especially compared to what you see on TV, where it’s all shouting.

“You still get shouted at, but it’s constructive — it’s to help you get things right.”

Encouraging others to enlist, he added: “Give it a go. Don’t doubt yourself, even if you have fears that you won’t make it. You’d be surprised at what you can do.

“Take it day by day, and it will become easier.

“You’ll have the staff to mentor and support you, and it will shape you into a better person. It has real benefits beyond the regiment, even in your civilian life.”

Private Sophia Card, 18, from Pembroke, felt a great sense of accomplishment when she completed the recruit camp last week.

The Front Yard server emphasised the importance of teamwork.

“It’s not easy to go through things alone, so it’s great to meet new people and work as a team,” she said.

Private Card urged anyone who is considering joining the regiment: “Definitely do it; it’s a great experience.

“You meet a lot of new people and gain a lot of new skills.”

Private Malik Richards, 26, an assistant planner with the Department of Planning, was amazed at what recruits could achieve in such a short space of time.

He said: “The biggest surprise was how quickly everybody grasped everything that was taught.

“We really didn’t have a lot of time to revise or catch up, so it was impressive to see how well everyone picked things up.”

In a message to anyone on the fence about joining, Private Richards added: “If you’re thinking about it, it means you already want to do it, so just do it.”