Young men were sent a harsh warning yesterday to either give back to their Country by signing up for the Regiment next week - or face being picked up by Regimental Police and shamed.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister was joined by Regiment Comanding Officer Lt. Col. Edward Lamb in a bid to encourage men to register for their National Service on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Minister said if they failed to turn out, they could be picked up at their place of work, at a football match, in a bar or even on the street.

And he said their names will be listed in the Press as those who did not attend attestation at Warwick Camp.

Mr. Lister said: "Enlistment time often gives rise to the old questions about why we need a Regiment.

"The Government remains steadfast in its conviction that the Regiment is essential to ensure the safety and security of public safety in Bermuda.

"The Commissioner of Police has confirmed to me that he needs to be able to call on the Regiment for assistance in times of crisis.

"September 11 proved this, hurricanes prove it, and even the remote possibility of civil disorder proves it."

Mr. Lister said he wanted to encourage everyone whose name has been listed in the Press in recent days to go to Warwick Camp to enlist on either of the two nights next week.

And he said the Defence Amendment Act 2002, which had been passed this summer, had closed a loophole in the enlistment process, taking away what was seen as an easy way out.

"By not turning up to register and not fulfilling their legal duty, young men have previously simply chosen to avoid service," the Minister added.

"No longer. With the amendments to the Defence Act, a person who fails to show up and register on November 12 or 13, is now liable to be enlisted in absentia."

He said this meant that if someone did not turn up to register, he could still be enlisted, on the directive of the Governor, and therefore would be subject to military control.

"What this means to the call-up avoider is that the Regimental Police can come knocking on a young man's door, visit his place of work, pick him up at a football game, even if he's playing, in a bar, or on a street corner.

"The Commanding Officer is quite prepared to do this. The message here is that in order to avoid the Regimental Police having to take such strong measures, young men should realise that turning up on the 12th and 13th is not only the right thing to do, but also the least painful."

The Minister said the joint services exercises held last month, based on a fictitious terrorist incident at the airport, underscored why Bermuda needed an increase in recruitment.

He said although the Regiment was successful in calling out 95 percent of available troops, the numbers on the ground were not as great as needed, and Mr. Lister said he was determined to bring the Regiment up to strength.

Lt. Col. Lamb said he was looking to recruit a maximum of 230 new soldiers, and a minimum of 180.

But he said he was unsure how many names had appeared in the Press.

However, the list of names also included a number of students who were studying away from home at present, and they will not be expected to turn out for enrolment next week.

Lt. Col. Lamb said: "The intention of this press release is to give a warning - to remind them of the legislation and to implore them to come ... to avoid the other alternative, which will be for the Regimental Police to come knocking on your door. That's the least desirable option."

And he said those people that did not show up on time next week will have their names put in the Press in a bid to shame them and to inform them that they have been enlisted in their absence.