Values and Standards

Introduction
Much is expected from soldiers of the Royal Bermuda Regiment.  They are required to participate in demanding but rewarding training, exercises and operations and are required to obey orders and to live and work under challenging conditions.  They must rely on each other to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and self-discipline at all times. Mutual trust is paramount.

This two-way obligation forms a covenant between the Regiment and its soldiers. Both share a common bond of identity, loyalty and responsibility for each other which is unwritten but unbreakable, and which has sustained us throughout our history.

The values and standards that are set out below are those that experience has shown are instrumental in allowing us to fulfil our operational roles.  The key is to build and maintain that trust which is so essential to the establishment of absolute confidence between members of a team, at whatever level.  These values and standards will enable the Regiment to continue to serve our Country in the future, as we have done in the past.

The Royal Bermuda Regiment exists to serve our Country and its interests. We have an excellent reputation based on our high standards of professionalism, behaviour, and self-discipline.

The challenges faced are physically and mentally demanding, extremely unpredictable, and potentially dangerous. In the end soldiers depend on teamwork for success, which comes from demanding training, strong leadership, comradeship and trust. Such trust can only exist on the basis of shared values, the maintenance of high standards, and the personal commitment of every soldier to the task, the team, your Regiment and our Country.

The values and standards for soldiers of the Royal Bermuda Regiment are laid out below.  They are also found in Standing Order 62.

Values
The six values of the Royal Bermuda Regiment are:

  • Courage
    Courage creates the strength on which fighting spirit depends. You must have the physical courage to carry on with your task regardless of potential danger and discomfort, and the moral courage always to do what you know is right.
  • Discipline
    The Regiment must be a disciplined force if it is to be effective.  You must therefore obey all lawful orders given to you.  The best form of discipline, which the Regiment expects from you, is self-discipline.  Only self-discipline will earn you the respect and trust of your comrades, and equip you to cope with the difficult, individual decisions you will have to make during your service.  Good discipline means that soldiers obey their orders under the worst conditions and do so with imagination and resourcefulness.
  • Respect for Others
    You will sometimes have to live and work under extremely difficult conditions.  In such circumstances, it is particularly important that you show the greatest respect, tolerance and compassion for others because comradeship and leadership depend on it.  Respect for others is based on self-respect and operational need, and depends on selfless commitment and integrity.
  • Integrity
    Soldiers must have complete trust in the integrity of each of their comrades.  Integrity involves utmost honesty, reliability and unselfishness.  It is an essential requirement of both leadership and comradeship.  Unless you maintain your integrity, others will not trust you and teamwork will suffer.  Integrity sometimes requires you to show moral courage, because your decisions may not always be popular, but it will always earn you respect.
  • Loyalty
    Our Country and your Regiment rely on your commitment and support.  You must therefore, be loyal to your commanders, your comrades and your duty.  If you are not, you will weaken the unit and its ability to perform its roles.
  • Selfless Commitment
    Personal commitment is the foundation of military service. You must be prepared to serve whenever and wherever you are required, and to do your best at all times. This means you must put the needs of the mission, and of your team, ahead of your own interests.

Standards

As a soldier in The Royal Bermuda Regiment you must:

  1. Abide by the civil law, wherever you are serving; 
  2. Abide by military law, which includes some additional offences such as insubordination and absence without leave, which are needed to maintain discipline;
  3. Avoid any activity which undermines your professional ability, or puts others at risk.  In particular, the misuse of drugs and abuse of alcohol; and,
  4. Avoid any behaviour that damages trust and respect between you and others in your team and unit, such as deceit or social misconduct.  In particular, you must not commit any form of harassment, bullying or discrimination, whether on grounds of race, age, marital status, gender, religion, sexual orientation or any other behaviour that could undermine good order and military discipline.

Soldiers who have been convicted of a civil offence may be prohibited from serving in specialist units.

Ultimately, you must always measure your conduct against the following test:

“Have your actions or behaviour adversely impacted or are they likely to impact on the efficiency or operational effectiveness of the Regiment?”

Those in positions of authority, at whatever level, have a duty of care towards their subordinates, looking after their interests, and ensuring that they fully understand what is expected of them.  This duty of care extends to ensuring that individuals who raise concerns have their complaints dealt with in a thorough and timely manner.

The challenges you will face on operations and in training will test you and your team.  That is why your commitment to the Values and Standards of the Regiment is essential.