Royal Bermuda Regiment soldiers have completed their first training on the rifle range.

And Sergeant Patricia Alexander, who runs 7 Platoon as well as being a qualified range conducting officer, said: “Their shooting is pretty good — better than I expected. But a lot of them are really excited about the shooting and that helps a lot.”

Sergeant Alexander, aged 29, from Warwick and an analyst with the Bermuda Monetary Authority, said the RBR’s new SA-80 rifles, standard British Army issue in Bermuda with high-tech sights and donated by the UK Ministry of Defence free of charge, had helped improve accuracy on the range compared to the previous RBR stock of ageing Mini Rugers. She explained: “The SA-80 is an easier weapon to shoot due to the sights and that seems to help with the results.”

New recruits took to the ranges last weekend after intensive training on breaking down and reassembling the rifles — all with a strict emphasis on safety.

Sergeant Alexander added: “All of my Corporals are safety staff and they oversee the ranges. It’s very much a matter of safety first.”

She was speaking as trainee soldiers entered their final week of this year’s two week Recruit Camp.

Sergeant Alexander said: “They are all doing well — they’re putting in their best effort, working hard and working together.

“Now it’s just a matter of continuing to dig deep because it only gets tougher.”