Women from the Bermuda Rifle & Drill Team took a trip to the United States to make preparations for their Bermuda Day Parade demonstration.

The drill team sent 16 members to New Jersey on November 12 to find materials, measurements and ideas for their parade uniforms.

Sergeant Debbie Symons said she wanted to let the team experience the hard work required so that they can look their best for the May 24 celebrations.

Nichole Wainwright, from Hamilton Parish, said that the week of errands made her downtime feel all the more worthwhile.

She added: “Now I understand it’s not as easy as it looks, but I can now appreciate all the running around Sergeant Symons has to do.”

Ms Wainwright said that she organised bonding exercises for the team in during their downtime.

She added that the level of coordination needed for her part helped to sharpen her leadership skills. Ms Wainwright said: “I have now prepared myself to take some of the heavy load off of Sergeant Symons to ease her up in preparation for the parade.

“I totally understand and appreciate all of her hard and dedicated work.”

Lora Davis said that she was forced to join the group a day late due to her commitments as a teacher at Dellwood Middle School.

But she added that the trip was a close bonding experience for her with the rest of her team members.

Ms Davis said: “I feel us ladies have bounded closer and we are now more and more of a sisterhood group.”

Ms Davis, from Warwick, explained that trips such as these helped team-mates grow closer and operate as a tighter unit on the day of the parade.

She added that she planned to get herself more in shape so that she could give a better performance at the parade.

Sheena Daniels, who joined the BRDT in March, explained that the trip required a lot of travelling.

She admitted that a lot of time was dedicated to finding small components for the uniform.

But Ms Daniels added: “It’s the small little items that are important to make us look perfect.”

She also said: “The running around was something I enjoyed and now has drawn me to be more involved with such a positive group with positive women.”

Ms Daniels, from Sandys, said that her role on the trip was to keep track of every team member during travels.

She explained that her role directly enforced the team’s motto: “No Women Left Behind”.

Ms Daniels added that the BRDT was the first military group she had ever joined.

She also said that she greatly enjoyed the camaraderie and recommended any interested women join.

Ms Daniels said: “This is a phenomenal group which I advise any women, whether married or single, to join.

“It allows you to get some ‘me time’ away from your every day life schedule.”