Soldiers tackled mock petrol bombs and aggressive crowds as Exercise Active Shield 26 tested public order response skills at Lydd Camp

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.

Images and media release supplied by the Royal Bermuda Regiment.

Nonprofit Alliance of Bermuda Third Sector Spotlight: Amber’s Wings

By Heidi Michelsen, Executive Director, Amber’s Wings 

In Bermuda, we often talk about what we want for young people – confidence, resilience, and the ability to navigate life and find their place in the world. For many, though, those outcomes don’t come easily. 

Some young people struggle in traditional environments. Others don’t have access to consistent support or the kind of conditions that help them build confidence. Often, it’s not a lack of potential – it’s a lack of opportunity to develop the skills that underpin long-term success. 

At Amber’s Wings, that’s where the work starts. Our mission is to enhance the wellbeing and quality of life of individuals through the transformative power of animals. 

Many of the young people we work with are navigating anxiety, grief, trauma or social and emotional challenges that make it harder to engage and feel confident in school and other structured settings. 

This is something we’re seeing more clearly across Bermuda. There is growing recognition of the impact that adverse childhood experiences can have on long-term outcomes, and the 2022 National Adolescent Mental Health Survey found that one in three young people reported diagnosable symptoms of depression. It underscores the need for earlier support, delivered in a way that works for young people – on their terms. 

Amber’s Wings’ approach is grounded in a simple idea: every young person has strengths – what we call their “inner gold”. Our role is to create the conditions where those strengths can surface and grow. 

And that happens through equine-assisted learning (EAL) – a model that is hands-on, relational and rooted in the present moment. Horses respond instinctively. They don’t react to what’s said so much as how someone shows up. For young people, that creates a different kind of feedback loop – immediate, honest and often easier to take in than a classroom or conversation. 

It’s not clinical therapy, and it’s not a traditional classroom setting. It sits somewhere else. 

It’s a space where young people can build self-awareness, learn to regulate their emotions, and develop confidence in a way that feels real. Not instructed, but experienced. 

And that distinction is important. 

Because the skills being developed here – confidence, communication, emotional awareness and the ability to manage pressure – shape how young people move through the world. They influence how they engage at school, in relationships and eventually in the workplace. 

Over the past year, Amber’s Wings has worked with approximately 60 young people across its programs, through a mix of one-to-one sessions, group workshops and immersive experiences. Demand for this kind of support continues to grow, with capacity now exceeding available places. 

For the young people who come to Amber’s Wings, the impact is clear. Participants are most commonly referred for low impulse control, high anxiety and low self-esteem. Pre- and post-program screening shows measurable improvements in anxiety, emotional regulation and confidence, with stronger engagement at school and improved focus in learning. 

For some, it’s the first time they’ve felt successful in a way that actually sticks. 

That shift – however small it might seem at the start – changes how they see themselves. And once that shifts, other things tend to follow. 

Of course, no single organisation can do this alone. Amber’s Wings works alongside government, schools, families and community partners, with young people often referred through educators and service providers, so support is more consistent and connected.  

Because the reality is this: outcomes for young people are shaped by more than academics. 

Access to support, exposure to different experiences, early intervention and the opportunity to build core life skills all play a role. When those things are missing, the impact is felt over time – not just by individuals, but across the community. 

At its core, Amber’s Wings is about creating space for young people to recognise what is already there – and to build the confidence and skills to use it. 

And when enough young people find their stride, it strengthens the future of Bermuda. 

Amber Bridges, in memory of whom Amber’s Wings is dedicated