It is inevitable that Recruit Camp won't be attended by all who are supposed to be there.

That's where the Regiment Police come in. There are about 14 of them, including one female, Corporal Joell, and their job is to round up those who fail to show - this year about 15 didn't - and will go to their job to get them if they have to...as one Royal Gazette reporter found out last week.

"We went out yesterday and picked up a fella from his job and he came along," said RP Colour Sgt. Allen of another case.

"Most of them come along quietly. We speak to their boss first, we don't just go in and say 'okay, you have to come with us'."

Going to a person's house is another option and a few years ago a well known footballer had the Regiment Police show up at the ground where his team was playing one Sunday and took him away.

"Parents will cover for him - 'oh, my son is not here' - but all the while he is in his room chillin," said Colour Sgt. Allen.

And if a soldier misses boot camp he will have to be deferred until the following year.

"A soldier needs to do a two-week boot camp, that's where he learns everything, and if he misses it the standing operating procedure is he will do it next time," explained Captain David Curly, Officer Commanding Training Company.

"The Regiment has been around for about 38 years and they can't fight the system. They can hide for a little while but when it comes down to it they end up doing their service.

'A little bit of resistance at the front gets knocked out of them and all of a sudden they've done their three years. I will see the same fella on the street ten years later and he will say 'Sir, how the hell are you, remember me'?"

The 'Sir' becomes a part of the new recruit's vocabulary very quickly.

"I was expected more, but it's been great," said Private Dill when asked how he found the experience.

Missing home at all? "No Sir, just missing my daughter, Sir," he replied, forgetting that he wasn't talking to one of his superiors.

Another new soldier in his Platoon isn't impressed and can't wait to get out.

"The Bermuda Regiment is not what it's all cracked up to be, know what I'm saying," he said bluntly. "I know it's the law but I wouldn't suggest anybody who is not willing to do military stuff to sign up themselves. I'm still involuntary but I have to do what people say.

"I don't consider that discipline, I consider that a whole lot of nonsense, that somebody tells you what to do and you have to do it against your will. I don't feel that's right.

"I do what I have to do and don't argue but once my three years are over they ain't seeing me no more, that's for sure."

Private Savery of the same Platoon is making the most of it.

"It's not as hard as I thought it would be," he says. "As long as we do as we're told and get it out of the way, they treat us well.

"Here, you have to make the most of it. They lay it out so that you find it hard but you enjoy yourself. Once you get the routine down you're okay."

Quarter Master Herman Eve has been around the Regiment since 1970, five years after it was formed. The Quarter Master is responsible for all matters dealing with the 'Q' administration of the Regiment such as accommodation, clothing and equipment, rations, weapons, instruments, vehicles, fuel and lighting.

He also oversees the functions in the kitchen, making sure more than 100 hungry men are fed three times a day.

"As far as food is concerned, you have to know what you can actually feed out of each of the meals, not only for the Privates, but also for the Officers' and Sergeants messes," said Quarter Master Eve.

"I'm not finding it difficult, although it is my first camp as the Quarter Master. I'm enjoying the challenge."

Regiment food has long had a reputation of being good food. Few come out complaining about the food and QM Eve would like to keep it that way.

"I have to insure that the soldiers get sufficient to eat, but not to overfeed them. Fortunately we have a few top chefs within the cooking section and most of the guys in the dining hall, except for Colour Sgt. Symonds, are new and learning the job.

The soldiers go through about 60 loaves of bread every two days, but the 'bread man stops in every day', QM Eve revealed.

"The 60 loaves of bread is between the three messes, so it's important I keep my eye on things. Next week will be a carbon copy of what we feed them this week."

The Regiment also meets the needs of vegetarians, making sure they can stick to their diets.

"You have to balance the meals with juice and some form of a vegetable, start and a meat," explained QM Eve.

"We go out on a limb for the vegetarians who we have to get special meals for. We're catering to them quite nicely and they don't seem to have any complaints at all. There are nine vegetarians this year and one vegan."