A young Bermudian has become the first Regiment officer cadet to graduate from a new eight-week commissioning course at the UK’s prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Mark Prior returned to the Island last week after an intensive training programme that saw him fully immerse himself in army life, learning everything from weapons handling to drills and military tactics.

He praised the experience as tough but enjoyable, and believes he gained valuable skills to help him serve the Island and his fellow Bermudians.

“It was exciting knowing it was a new course but challenging,” said Mr Prior, who is about to turn 23. “The regular commissioning course is 44 weeks long — we did it in eight. I was the only international cadet.

“The first two weeks were basic soldiering — they whipped us into shape. You’d sleep, almost breathe when they told you. It was long days — from 5.30am until midnight with no breaks. It was really hard, you didn’t have time to yourself. You found yourself falling asleep standing up.

“There were a lot of inspections, everything had to be immaculate. We had a few tricks like keeping an unused bar of soap and toothbrush but the platoon commander noticed and wanted it to be used but clean. It got us into good habits.

“The instructors weren’t shouting orders like in the movies, they were firm but fair. They were the best trainers — they’ve all served in Afghanistan at least twice. They thrashed us at first, transitioned into instructors and then became mentors.”

The commissioning course, which piloted last summer, aims to instil in officer cadets the core values of the military — discipline, courage, selfless commitment, respect for others, loyalty and integrity.

The intensive programme is a fast-track version of officer training that would normally take a year or more. Mr Prior, who went to West Pembroke Primary and CedarBridge Academy before moving to Canada for a while, joined the Regiment as a conscript less than 18 months before heading to Sandhurst.

Challenges he faced included two and three-day exercises to test cadets’ knowledge, ending with a seven-day test and confirmation exercise.

Mr Prior praised the valuable skills he learned and he intends to utilise them here in Bermuda.

“I’m a very driven and positive person and that’s important as a platoon commander,” he said. “I hope I can raise the bar a little.

“I’m going to bring some new ideas, maybe some new ways of doing things — the Sandhurst way, when applicable.

“I know what it’s like as a conscript to not want to be there but I can show there are opportunities in Regiment — I’m doing it, I’m enjoying it.

“I want to help new recruits enjoy it and find what they’re good at. The soldiers will see I’m still one of them, I was in their shoes.

“I didn’t want to be in Regiment at first but halfway through boot camp I realised I was enjoying it. My Lance Corporal, Kenton Trott, was great.”

Sandhurst has been described as “Hogwarts with guns” thanks to its resemblance to a foreboding private school with its ageing, classical columns and portico, chapel, dining hall and sports fields, and emphasis on education and tradition.

The academy, in Camberley, Surrey, about 30 minutes from London, is revered and feared — the best of the best are trained here.

A rich history of heroes can be traced to its halls — the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst formed in 1947 from two older institutions, the Royal Military Academy and Royal Military College, both founded more than 200 years ago. Britain’s Prince William and Prince Harry also trained here.

Mr Prior said the hardest part about being there was the tough training to prepare cadets for active service.

“They expect you to be tired, to be hungry, it’s what you would find in a war zone,” he said. “They expect you to overcome that. It teaches you to work together.

“They would make us put someone on a stretcher and carry them through barbed wire and water, after we’d already run for eight or 10 miles. But you feel good even though you’re knackered.

“I struggled the most with navigation — Bermudians don’t need to read maps, we know where we are. But I got better and passed the test.”

Mr Prior, a reporter with ZBM TV News, said a real highlight of his experience was the attendance at his passing out parade of respected Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach.

“He inspected us, that’s a huge deal,” he said. “He mentioned in his closing speech that he was glad to see a representative from Bermuda.

“I was worried I wouldn’t have anyone to be at my passing out but my Lance Corporal in the Bermuda Regiment, Gary Furtado, and his wife Vairi came, as did a representative from Bermuda Government’s London office, Christopher Joell-Deshield.

“Major Martin Wyer from the Regiment came to the airport to welcome me back.”

Mr Prior, who arrived home last Sunday, will become a Second Lieutenant in the Regiment after being sworn in by Governor George Fergusson.

Regiment commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Michael Foster-Brown praised the cadet’s success and dedication.

“We are delighted that officer cadet Prior was able to represent Bermuda and the Regiment and successfully pass the new intensive eight-week course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst,” he said.

“His success shows what can be achieved through hard work and dedication and bodes well for the future of the Regiment.

“It also serves as an endorsement of the quality of candidates the Regiment attracts and the on-Island pre-training he has received.

“We hope he will be the first of many that will make the transition to becoming an officer on this new and arduous course.”