Royal Bermuda Regiment recruits had the opportunity to enhance their life skills, including mental resilience, during a recently concluded two-week encampment.

Two women and 15 men completed foundational training at Warwick Camp, which introduced them to aspects of military life such as weapons handling and foot drills, the RBR said on Sunday.

“One of the things that came up recurrently during the camp was that a lot of them were looking for mental resilience. That was high on the list,” Platoon Commander Second-Lieutenant Daniel Wideman said.

Physical fitness was also high on the list.

“Physical fitness — we have a younger generation nowadays that spends a lot of time in front of a screen, their phones — so they came to the realisation that they would like to improve their fitness,” he explained.

“It’s good to see that these younger men and women are looking to get that in their lives.

“There is the idea that with a healthy body and a healthy mind you can be in a happier place. I think the military can help with that aspect because definitely mental resilience is going to be there, the physical fitness comes along, and you’ve also got discipline, which the military can provide,” the platoon commander said.

“I think if you can get those three main blocks, you’re on your way to a healthier lifestyle,” he added.

The new soldiers were taken out of their “comfort zone” during their overnight field experience. At the time, the island experienced heavy rain.

“It definitely took them out of their comfort zone. For all but three of them, it would have been the first time they experienced anything like that. It was really fill-your-boots kind of weather. It was raining so hard at times,” the platoon commander said.

“They pulled together, they pulled through, there was some very nice teamwork involved and some encouragement to get the work done,” he added.

Private Enshenico Davis, 19, from Devonshire, enlisted with a desire to help people. He hopes to become a member of the RBR Coastguard.

“It has been a great experience. It has been physically challenging, in different ways,” he said.

“One area where I’ve excelled is pushing myself to do bigger things.

“I’ve usually had a problem with procrastination, but I’ve been holding myself to a regime when it comes to personal admin, then also taking a bit of a different role when it comes to helping the other recruits,” he added.

Private Davis, who is a business administration student at the Bermuda College and who works at Supermart, said he enjoyed, “the camaraderie and being able to come together with a group of people that have the same goal, and growing together”.

Private Winter DeMello, a certified caregiver and mother of one, joined the regiment to overcome challenges and demonstrate resilience for her child.

“I’ve been through a lot in my life. From the age of 2, I was in foster care. I recently went through another traumatic event. I felt scared, and I felt like I couldn’t defend myself in certain situations,” she said.

“I was feeling tired, like I had no fight for myself, no strength for myself, unable to stand up for myself.

“For me, it’s extremely important that I show my son I’m strong and I’m not going to allow what happened to me in my past to affect him.”

The 30-year-old from Sandys said she developed confidence during her tough foundation training, when fellow soldiers became “like family.”

Private DeMello said she looks forward to further development in her military career.

“This is just a two-week camp. Obviously, I will serve three years, and I’m truly hoping for more of a push for me.

“The two weeks has been great, but I know I can do more,” she added.

• For information or to join the Royal Bermuda Regiment, visit rbr.bm or call 238-1045