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Royal Bermuda Regiment Troops Face Intense Public Order Test in UK Exercise

The response capabilities of Royal Bermuda Regiment (RBR) soldiers were tested with an intense final exercise that brought four days of public order training to a high-pressure conclusion.

Soldiers were presented with a mocked-up protest scenario in which a group of hardcore rioters broke away from the majority of demonstrators, throwing projectiles ranging from eggs and trash cans to simulated grenades and petrol bombs.

The exercise at Lydd Camp in Kent, UK, pushed troops well beyond their comfort zones as they were called upon to work together and utilise skills and drills sharpened over the preceding days to de-escalate the situation and disperse the crowd.

Mock rioters were played by members of The Royal Lancers, who are supporting the RBR over the course of Exercise Active Shield 26.

RBR Warrant Officer Class 2 Timothy Furr, the exercise conducting officer, said: “The final exercise presented an opportunity for us to test capabilities at a battalion level. For the first few days of training in the UK, the troops worked as three separate platoons, we then brought them together to assess how they can operate as one unit that is required to move strategically under a company commander and work together to achieve the objective.

 “The scenario really demonstrated to them the level of intensity that can be reached in the event of public disorder, which is a great lesson to learn and a real test of their limits.
 
“There is no doubt that the training has increased the troops’ competence and confidence, thanks in large part to the use of Lydd Camp’s facilities – the scale and set-up of which cannot be found in Bermuda – and working with The Royal Lancers.”
 
In their platoons, soldiers were required to protect, hold and control areas of ground, while crossroads, junctions and barricades created additional challenges for crowd management.
 
Having worked on petrol bomb drills in training, they were well prepared when targeted to tackle the flames that licked at the legs of their coveralls and at their protective shields.
Lance Corporal Ronesha James-Dill, a 23-year-old from Pembroke who works in accounts, sales and purchasing for Viking in civilian life, was a team commander.
 
She said: “One of the most challenging aspects of the exercise was maintaining composure in the heat of the moment. When you’re faced with an angry crowd, it can be easy to lose focus, which can mean that soldiers drift from their trained drills or make poor decisions. When we maintain control of ourselves, we’re better able to control the situation – I think we handled that well.
 
“While we hope there is not an event that would require us to be called upon to restore public order, it’s good to know that we have the capability. At the same time, the training-built resilience among us and showed what can be achieved when we work together.”
 
Alongside about 100 RBR troops are eight members of the Cayman Islands Regiment, training with the Bermuda contingent.
 
Among them is Lance Corporal Bennard Ebanks, a 28-year-old bus depot officer,  who said: “This was a challenging exercise but very enjoyable.
 
“It’s great for us to be able to join the RBR for training in the UK. Using purpose built facilities and working with soldiers who have such experience behind them is an opportunity we’re always eager to take.
 
“This boosts our interoperability with another British Overseas Territory and is a great chance for our soldiers to develop as well as to see where they could go and take the Regiment.”
 
The RBR received a visit from Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, the battalion’s Colonel-in-Chief, who looked on as the final exercise started.
 
Soldiers have since travelled to Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire for the second phase of their training, which includes a firing range package and internal security training.

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