Troops from the Royal Bermuda Regiment are sharpening their public order response skills during a major overseas training exercise in Kent, England.
More than 100 soldiers arrived at Lydd Camp on May 18 for Exercise Active Shield 26, the Regiment’s annual overseas camp, where they are taking part in mock riot scenarios designed to strengthen the battalion’s response capabilities during civil unrest situations.
The Bermuda contingent has been joined by members of the Cayman Islands Regiment, with training support provided by the British Army’s The Royal Lancers.
Soldiers are training in crowd control formations, manoeuvres and response tactics while interacting with role players simulating members of the public in escalating situations.
Warrant Officer Class 2 Julian Simmons said the exercise is intended to ensure the Regiment’s public order capabilities remain current and compliant with modern standards for potential international security deployments.
Training scenarios will also include petrol bomb simulations aimed at exposing troops to high-pressure environments outside their comfort zones.
The two-week overseas exercise will later move to Catterick in Yorkshire, where soldiers will complete live firing exercises, defence engagement activities and specialist training.
Captain Andrew Wallace described the opportunity to train at the Lydd facility as a privilege and said the exercise also strengthens ties between British Overseas Territories through continued collaboration with the Cayman Islands Regiment.
