Dockyard and Ferry Reach focus of Regiment exercises

More than 300 Bermuda Regiment soldiers will take over key points across the island next weekend as troops build up to their annual overseas exercise, scheduled this year to take place in the US.

Soldiers will occupy key points – mostly in Dockyard in the west and Ferry Reach in the east – as part of confirmatory training to ensure they are able to make the most of the two-week US training camp.

Training Officer Major Martin Wyer said: “It is cost-effective to get as much done here as we can so we can get the most out of our annual overseas training.

“We already do as much as we can on-Island, but we are constrained by the physical limitations and size of Bermuda.”

The exercise – April Advance – is based on a scenario that, as well as conducting internal security procedures, will also see soldiers practicing their public order skills only weeks before they leave for the US Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

While in the US, our soldiers will take part in two weeks of intensive training using some of the most hi-tech military equipment available in an exercise dubbed Island Warrior.

Maj Wyer said: “It’s the culmination of all the training we have done in the Regiment in this training year – April Advance is the last Regimental exercise to put that into practice”.

“It’s an internal security-based exercise designed to ensure that we can put our intensive training into practice to protect key assets.”

The exercise – which takes place this Friday, 5 April to Saturday, 6 April – will use several areas around Dockyard and Ferry Reach

Maj Wyer said: “The public should expect a lot of troop movements via vehicle, foot, and on the waterways via the Boat Troop.”

Troops from the Junior Non-Commissioned Officers Cadre (JNCO) are scheduled to play agitators in a role designed to test responses by the troops guarding key areas.  The Junior Leader’s will also be involved acting as simulated civilian population to enhance the realism of the training - with the Training Officer making it clear that they aren’t going to be in any danger from the Exercise activities.  

Maj Wyer said: “It will all be in areas where it’s very clear where we are and the public should not be alarmed.  The Bermuda Police Service is aware of our training and we also thank WEDCo for their assistance in allowing us to use some of their facilities”.

“There may be blank ammunition fired and there may be some mock demonstrations, but it will all be done in a very controlled way and there will be absolutely no danger to the public.”

He added: “The Regiment operates in line with UK and Canadian standards, some of the best in the world, so it’s vital we regularly carry out exercises like this.

“The Regiment has a variety of roles, from hurricane and disaster relief to ceremonial duties, as well as a public order obligation’”.

“We train rigorously for the worst to help make sure the worst never happens and we take our responsibilities very seriously.”

The Bermuda Regiment is looking for volunteers for a variety of roles. A Regiment career offers recruits opportunities to travel, acquire skills useful in civilian life, test themselves to their limits and competitive rates of pay. For more information, call 238-1045 or visit www.bermudaregiment.bm .