A weeklong summer boot camp gave 58 participants a taste of military life at the V.I. National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion at the Estate Bethlehem military installation.

The program, which ran from Sunday through Friday, focused on physical training, soldier skills and Army values to prepare recruits for the Army’s Basic Combat Training. Recruiters and other guardsmen serve as facilitators, mentors and medical responders, according to the news release from the VING. The 58-person group, which included 16 Jr. ROTCX students, exceeded VING’s enrollment goal.

The National Guard Recruitment Sustainment Program is a comprehensive training cycle focused on preparing candidates who have no prior military service.

“This training is important because it prepares the recruits for Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training,” Command Sgt. Maj. Roy Vialet said. “This mentorship approach is a part of the program’s obligation to develop citizen soldiers. For many, it is a scary experience because of unknown variables. This camp aims to alleviate that stress.”

“The goal is to orient them prior to going to basic training to ensure we obtain a better passing rate,” said Sgt. 1st Class Yvonne Parris. As NCO of the program, she is tasked with managing the program’s execution. “It’s important to have Virgin Islanders go to training mentally and physically ready. Overall, mental resilience is the key.”

The camp is a tough, fast-paced simulation of the actual Army basic training recruits will experience, Parris said. It took approximately 15 to 20 Guardsmen to operate the VING camp, including cadre, food service management and medical health service support.

In the U. S. Army, it is important to pay attention to details and learn time management, Parris explained. During in-processing, cell phones were collected and privilege granted for a half hour at night, if standards were achieved each day.

“We will all look back on this in years to come with fond memories,” said Lt. Col. Brian O’Reilly, RRB commander.

The first afternoon saw the trainees complete the Army Physical Fitness Test at the St. Croix Educational Complex. During the weeklong program the average day was 15 to 18 hours, beginning at 3 a.m. with physical fitness training and ending after study hour at 10 p.m. During the week of training, the recruits learned how to perform drill and ceremony, operate the M16 rifle, administer first aid, and survive land navigation. Cots were neatly stacked on the CSM Wilbur O’Reilly Drill Hall in the armory, where the participants experienced military barracks life. Campers learned how to make up their beds by Army standards.

They received briefings on educational benefits and financial management and mandatory classes such as sexual harassment, ethics and military law.

As a highlight of achievement, they completed a four-mile road march with a 25-pound rucksack on their back. In addition, a VING- designed obstacle course tested their physical toughness, teamwork and esprit de corp.