New recruits at the Bermuda Regiment were in tears on Monday after just over a week in boot camp.

And despite being gassed as part of their training the recruits seemed to be enjoying their time.

Crowd Suppressant (CS) Gas is used in public order situations by the Regiment and the men are taught to understand how it acts as part of their training.

Lt. Michael Davis took four men at a time into a tent where CS Gas was burning. All the men are wearing gas masks and have just completed a quick sprint and 10 press-ups to make their breathing heavier.

Each man is asked to take off his mask and then Lt. Davis fires a string of questions as the recruit chokes and gasps in the gas.

After a few seconds they are allowed out of the tent with streaming eyes and nostrils and burning throats and skin. Recovery takes about 15 minutes.

Despite efforts to fight the effects of the gas all the recruits finally succumbed to fits of coughing and spluttering.

Capt. Larry Mussenden says actually discovering the effects of CS Gas on the system shows recruits how useful their gas masks are.

In a riot situation the Regiment would put on their masks and fire canisters of gas to disperse a crowd.

The recruits are also trained in shooting the gas canisters and rubber bullets from specially produced American guns, on the Warwick Camp short shooting range.

The recruits also found out how to protect themselves behind riot shields. Two men stand behind their six-feet tall shields while the rest of their platoon pelt them with stones and other missiles.

It was a good humoured camp aimed at creating a team spirit among the men, which is unsurpassed in any other organisation on the Island.

Capt. Mussenden said: "They do seem to be enjoying themselves a lot more because they are doing things now that they would not be able to do outside of camp.

"But they still have to learn the basics like marching and drill. And they went for a swim at 6 a.m. today.'' Capt. Mussenden encourages the men to roar as they charge towards the water at Warwick Long Bay but, he said: "The tone of their shouts changes when they hit the water!'' BEFORE AND AFTER GAS -- Pte. Troy Burgess is secure with his gas mask on (at left) but crumbles, coughing to the floor (at right) after taking part in a CS Gas trial at the Bermuda Regiment.