More than 20 young people are learning, working and having fun together in the Royal Bermuda Regiment’s summer camp for its Junior Leaders.
The two-week programme operates both as a culmination of training efforts for those who have been in the organisation for some time and as a launch pad for others who recently joined.
Teenagers spent their first seven days based at Warwick Camp, where activities included drill, fieldcraft and skill-at-arms lessons, as well as early-morning fitness sessions.
A Junior Leaders in the Community exercise involved a trip to Dockyard for fun golf.
Captain Gavin Rayner, the Commandant of the youth programme, said: “I’m a believer that the military in general doesn’t teach discipline – you get discipline from home – we enhance it.
“We are pulling out of them more self-discipline, for example to stand still when they’re doing drill or muster. We’re getting them to clean and organise their barrack rooms for a lot of different reasons, one of which is hygiene but also so that when they go home they can make up their beds and keep their rooms tidy.”
He added: “The proof is not what we see here in camp, the proof is what the parents see and how the young people act when they get home.”
Private Santiago Almeida, a former Clearwater Middle School pupil who will soon attend Dellwood Middle School, joined Junior Leaders earlier this year.
He said: “I wanted to get fit and it also looked fun.”
Pte Almeida, of St David’s, added: “It prepares you for life: working with friends, getting to know new people, learning how to listen more – I need to still work on that.
“Overall it just helps you with multiple skills.”
Lance Corporal Johnnarin Harris, of Sandys, has been a Junior Leader for two years and believes highlights of camp include “the shooting, the living in the field, the food and the sun”.
Thinking about some of the benefits of the youth programme, the 16-year-old said: “We get survival skills, discipline, and leadership skills.”
He added: “It’s helping me with my cardio fitness. I want to improve it because I want to be a boxer.”
Lance Corporal Noa-Cymone Caisey, 16, of Pembroke, said the Junior Leaders experience develops team-building and social skills.
She pointed out: “We’re not allowed to be on our phones, so we have to socialise.”
Private Shadyn DeCosta, 15, of Warwick, said: “I joined Junior Leaders because I wanted to be a soldier.
“I like the uniforms, the military things.
“I enjoy the leadership roles and the people.”
Private Shannon Crockwell, who will attend The Berkeley Institute from September, said that as one of the less-experienced Junior Leaders, he spent time last week learning the basics of weapon handling.
The 13-year-old, of Paget, added: “I joined because it was a little bit fun, plus I get to interact with some friends.”
Members of the group honed their skills on the firing range on Saturday, when other activities were also provided for those who chose not to shoot.
Camps on Paget Island and at Ferry Reach are making up the second week of the block before a planned open house event back at the barracks this weekend, when parents can learn about the young people’s experiences.
The Junior Leaders programme will resume after schools return in September and anyone interested in joining or who would like to find out more can visit rbr.bm/junior-leaders.
Capt Rayner said all that is needed of young recruits is enthusiasm and a willingness to take on information.
He added: “We want them to understand that this is a youth organisation but with a military flavour, so there are elements of discipline and regimental life that we are going to instill.”
- For more information about the Royal Bermuda Regiment Junior Leaders, visit rbr.bm or call 238-1045.
