Event to encourage women to learn about RBR opportunities – The Royal Gazette

Updated: January 30, 2023 1:25 p.m

Corporal Zjah-Quana Bean, who organized the Women In Service speech (photo supplied)

Women are invited to hear how the Royal Bermuda Regiment is providing opportunities for growth and empowerment at an open forum this week.

Soldiers and officers plan to dispel misconceptions and answer any questions about military life.

The Women In Service talk will be held on Wednesday, February 1, from 5.30pm in the Chairman’s Suite at Chubb Bermuda.

Organizer Lance Corporal Zjah-Quana Bean hopes the discussion – for women who are curious about the RBR and want more information about the dynamics at Warwick Camp – will encourage others to sign up.

“I feel that there could be more female representation within the Regiment,” she said.

LCpl Bean, 30, added: “A lot of women think because they’re female they can’t do what men do on the camp, which isn’t true because everyone can do anything up there, there’s equal opportunity.”

The one-hour event will include presentations from five women at different ranks to give guests a greater understanding of the Regiment.

Corporal Bean, a clerk at the RBR’s headquarters, said she had no expectations about who might attend.

“I’m more than happy to create a space for women to come and ask their questions without feeling intimidated,” she added.

Among the speakers is Color Sergeant Patricia Woolridge, commander of the RBR’s medical unit, who has served for 12 years and instructed recruits as she herself moved through the ranks.

Color Sergeant Patricia Woolridge, commander of the RBR’s medical unit (Photo supplied)

She said: “My talking points are going to be around the growth that comes from those positions of command and leadership, which are often challenging for women because women often don’t get the same respect that men get.”

Color Sergeant Woolridge, a senior business analyst at the Bermuda Monetary Authority in civilian life, continued: “For people who are not as confident and want that different experience to be able to see if they can lead or if they Regiment can influence.is a good place for it.

“You don’t have to be a confident person to become a leader, they teach you to be a leader.”

She added: “I think that’s one of the strong things about the Regiment – if you take the right advantage of the opportunities, you can see a lot of personal growth.”

Lieutenant Corrie Cross, a 23-year-old junior claims analyst at RenaissanceRe, will speak at the event about her progress to becoming an NCO as well as other training and travel opportunities offered by the RBR.

Lieutenant Corrie Cross, a 23-year-old junior claims analyst at RenaissanceRe (photo supplied)

She highlighted different roles in the Regiment such as clerical, medical and kitchen staff.

“It’s not just getting dirty, sleeping in the woods and shooting guns,” said Lt. Cross added. “There are many other elements and many other skills that the Regiment requires.”

For her, the soldier aspects are a source of pleasure.

Lieutenant Cross said: “I would say it’s a very empowering activity – knowing that you can take care of yourself to a certain extent; you understand how to set up a bivvy; you understand how to cook your food in the field; you know how to understand tactics.

“It’s information that I think we’ve socially accepted is exclusive to men, but I think women need to be more empowered to understand those skills and feel like they’re accessible to them.”

For more information, email Lance Corporal Bean at [email protected] or email [email protected] To learn more about the Royal Bermuda Regiment, visit bermudaregiment.bm.

* To apply to join the Regiment, visit www.bermudaregiment.bm or call 238-1045.