Educating Private Ryan

Earlier this month, the Government introduced a scheme to enable soldiers in the Bermuda Regiment to receive special grants to further their education at the Bermuda College. Last week, the Shadow Minister for Race Relations and Economic Empowerment, Jamahl Simmons, suggested that the programme should be expanded to allow soldiers to receives subsidies for overseas education too.

The Government's plan and the UBP's proposed extension are wrong-headed. Anyone who needs a subsidy to enable them to further their education should be eligible for one, not just those who are in the Regiment. It's in Bermuda's interest to enable as many of its citizens to get an education as possible.

Moreover, it's inefficient to use taxpayers' money to subsidise the education of those who could afford to pay for it themselves. The scheme would also seem to discriminate against those who are unable to serve in the Regiment, perhaps for medical reasons, or who choose to serve in other equally worthy organisations (such as the Fire Service) instead.

Mr. Simmons' suggestion that soldiers should have access to low-interest loans to enable them to buy homes or start a business is equally misguided. If increasing home ownership and making it easier to start a business are desirable goals, why single out soldiers for special help in achieving them?

Comments

[lost in flatts on 28.04.06 at 06:20]

I was going to type little diatribe about how I don't want to do the regiment for several reasons, but through bizarre coincidence my situation and timing is almost identical to that of Denis, and I'm with him on every word.

Just wanted to add a quick perspective, someone above on this mentioned US fraternities, and having gone through the 'pledge' process and seen what it does to people, I do believe it's a very good analogy. It's about 10 weeks of giving your life over to someone else, where the whole point is to be horrible enough to a group of impressionable 18 year olds that they'll all bond together in hating the pledgemaster, so that they're a nice tight little class to repeat next year. And the people that get further up in the fraternity are also those that are the most into sticking it to the next class.

That said, it is a model that is incredibly effective. I did things that mentally and physically I never thought i'd be able to do, all because of the bond you do feel with your 'brothers'. And I'm definitely stronger for that.

But should I have to do it all again when I'm 30 years old, moving back to Bermuda with a wife and kids and trying to balance my damn mortgage? No absolutely not. And I won't. Now if only I could convince the friendly people at regiment of that...

[Onion on 28.04.06 at 09:40]

Just a quick word.

The Regiment is different from initiating for a sports team or a frat. I have done the former and I am familiar with the latter. It is not about trying to humiliate recruits for a joke.

[Adjustah on 28.04.06 at 10:25]

Calvin,

Well said. It is the last true bastion of true social integration in Bermuda, no matter what anyone says, there is always that. That alone is worth something.

Adjustah, Ex-32S (Ret.)

[Denis Pitcher on 28.04.06 at 10:39]

I think the point Lost in Flatts and I are trying to make is one of simple comparison.

Certainly Regiment is different in terms of initation from other types of organizations, just as a sports team initation is different from a frat one.

The overall purpose of the exercise, no matter what type of initation is to teach the individual to put the group before himself. To understand teamwork at a fundamental level.

I fail to see how you could disagree with this, especially when Calvin even pointed out an example of a statistically representative group of society worked and learned together despite their many differences and backgrounds.

Some of us have already learned this valueable lesson and would prefer to contribute to that bigger team we call 'Bermuda' in different ways.

For others who already have a family and children, the prospect of dedicating time to regiment over your family may very well be a major deciding factor for why you and your family don't return to the island after having achieved the education and experience abroad that makes you a valuable addition to our society.

[Denis Pitcher on 28.04.06 at 10:41]

Getting back to education, according to the 2006/07 budget:

- $12 million is allocated to 'Grant to Regimental Messes'

- $17 million is allocated to 'Bda. College Operating Grant'

According to the Bermuda College website, there are 1005 students registered in credit courses.

- That means nearly 17k is spent per student.

Compare that to regiment, who according to wikipedia has a strenth of approx 530 men.

- That means nearly 23k is spent per army member.

With the money spent on regiment alone, we could fund approx 700 more students with a college education.

Considering numbers from the 2000 census, there were 3542 people (both male and female) between the ages of 15-19 who would likely now be attending university. Thats a 4 year age group which is the typical term required to attain a degree in University.

Assuming 3500 people a year funding to cover a 4 year span:

The $29 million / 3500, by sheer spending alone amounts to over $8000 a year of subsudies that could be entitled to each and every youth for education. Thats not even including the wide range of scholarships, grants and subsudies already available.

Throw in the $11 million spent on cricket, it amounts to over $11000 a year per student

Hell, the $1.5 million spent on the Premiers home alone would have given over $400 in subsudies per student

We could easily partner with a foreign university to build our own residence abroad for Bermudian youth and set up an exchange program that allowed their students to come to Bermuda for co-op terms working with our international business community or something similar while they assisted in educating our youth.

I won't accept the excuse that we cannot afford to educate our youth. I am of the position that we cannot afford not to! Especially if we want to see more Bermudians in international business.

We just need to stop wasting money!

[silencedogood on 28.04.06 at 11:14]

Sure it would be great to extend this to all Bermudians, now please explain the economics of paying for this benefit for all Bermudians without introducing (or should I say extending the existing) an income tax regime.

Posted by Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 27.04.06 at 20:17

I think greater efficiency in capital projects would be a great start. Tuition in the U.S. ranges from as low as $4,000 per year to as high as $32,000 (maybe higher by now). It's even cheaper in Canada.

The $62 million which was overbudget at Berkeley could have paid for the entire college tuition of between 484 - 3,875 bermudian kids for 4 years. It could fund even more if partial scholarships were awarded or if funding was awarded on a sliding income-based scale.

This is just on one project! I shudder to think where else money is wasted.

I'm not interested in rearguing the berkely school disaster or pointing fingers, but funding such programs is totally possible if the government has its act together. If the government really wants to promote black and/or bermudian businesses it should invest in education--it's more successful and a damn site cheaper.

Scholarships might entice kids to come back too since they don't have to repay a huge debt and save for a house. A condition could be that they return to the island and if not have to repay the scholarship.

It also has a knock on effect of producing more qualified bermudians to fill jobs leading to fewer expats, and hopefully better relations with them, a better image for the local workforce, etc., etc., etc.

There are a million ways to do this, but I don't think funding is a problem.

[silencedogood on 28.04.06 at 11:15]

Denis--sorry didn't see you had spoken to this, but great minds think alike I guess! ;)

[Bill Cook on 28.04.06 at 11:54]

Reading all of the above regarding the importance of education it becomes clear that those most in need are in fact governments.

It seems that when it comes to getting things done it always costs government more than it does the private sector and the waste factor is extreme.

With our out of control red hot expansion of IB and bulging coffers with the tax generated we throw money around with gay abandon as fiscal responsibility is non existent.

There has to be a way of combining existing infrastucture within the regiment to combine education while fullfilling regimental duties esp for those who volunteer with that in mind as with technichal college regarding trade skills, after all you have the undivided attention of many who it may be difficult to get otherwise.

[Denis Pitcher on 28.04.06 at 12:12]

Silencedogood,

No worries, great minds certainly do think alike. I'm glad to see others are on the same page.

Bill,

This is why we need to push for government to be more open in most circumstances. They should privatize and outsource more. They should open up the bidding processes as well as their results to be more public so that it is ensured to be fair.

Government has too much money, they're making more, and they're still borrowing even more. On top of all that they're raising taxes for the most part.

Where in the world does that make any sense?

Only in Bermuda.

[jake on 28.04.06 at 12:16]

"I know people won't like it, but Regiment in my own personal view will set me back. I am certainly not against doing it as I believe I owe it to my country if it is the duty of what others have done and there is a benefit to our community, even if I can't see it. Honestly however, I don't want to do it and don't see any benefit given the stage I am at today. Especially considering I'm going to be quite a bit older and more mature then the group of 18 year olds being drawn in who will likely be quite immature in comparison." Denis Pitcher

Denis,

All I can say is that this is not about you. Our country uses the Regiment to fulfil certain roles. You are judging the maturity of people you have not even met. I personally am impressed by the guy who turns up and does his bit. He may not have the same experiences you have, but in many cases he learns and displays a remarkable ability to grow. At 19, many men will lead their peers (and people like you who have greater education and experience) and will teach you things that you could not know. This is good for you, as it lets you in on a little secret: you can learn from everyone.

I hope your desire to contribute to Bermuda politically is informed by living amongst some of those people you would so quickly lead, in circumstances where it is you reporting to them.

I would say it is good practice that most politicians would benefit from.

[Onion on 28.04.06 at 12:42]

Denis,

Firstly, in the context of this thread it is erroneous and misleading to compare the government grant to regimental messes to the operating grant to Bda College . My understanding is that the tuition grant to the Regiment was only about $100,000.

Secondly, you continue to leave out one essential component when you speak about the Regiment. That component is "service to country". You continue to simply look at what each person "can get out" of government or an organisation but you seem to attach little weight to what each person can do to serve. The regiment is not just a charity handing out candy. It is an organisation that provides an essential service to the island. The tiny $100k is a small token to reward them for their service.

I agree that the regiment needs some changes, but to argue that money directed at regiment is better spent just sending off kids to college is not compelling for me, nor is it practical. What about those who are not academically inclined? (The regiment also has a relationship with NTB for people wanting to be tradesmen and skilled labourers.)

"The overall purpose of the exercise, no matter what type of initation is to teach the individual to put the group before himself. To understand teamwork at a fundamental level.

I fail to see how you could disagree with this,"

I never said I disagreed with this. The fact is that the regiment is even more team oriented than a frat or a sports team where one or two stars can sometimes carry a team. Initiation on a sports team and a frat may be a means to achieve some sort of bonding. However, I don't recall seeing binge drinking, walking around Hamilton naked or doing strange things to a sheep on my training program when I was a recruit.

(I'm not saying it wasn't done, it just wasn't on the training program:-)

[Denis Pitcher on 28.04.06 at 13:30]

Onion,

I certainly don't need details on what you did to a sheep, I didn't have those experiences.

Much of what I experienced in terms of initation through sports was doing most of the hard work.

We got the water, we setup the field, we took it down, we brought out the equipment, we were run, we were worked and we were diciplined. If we showed up late, we'd have to race the length of the field and back carrying a large tire high over our head, the last one had to do it twice and if the tire dipped, you had to start over. Thats just a small example of the initation I'm talking about.

It was gruelling stuff that taught us good dicipline. It has nothing to do with sheep.

I'm not saying we shut down regiment, I'm just saying there are alternatives to conscription and each individual should have the option to serve their country in different ways.

Most of my remarks on education were to bring light to the idea that all young Bermudians should be entitled to funding for education, not just those in regiment.

I am all for providing other benefits to those in regiment. I just feel very strongly that we need to put education at the forefront of importance if we expect to get ahead as a society.

Regiment falls as a far lower priority on the totem poll in my opinion.

[Onion on 28.04.06 at 14:24]

"Onion,

I certainly don't need details on what you did to a sheep, I didn't have those experiences."

Hey Pitcher, I said I was familiar with frat initiation. I never said I participated.

[jake on 28.04.06 at 14:57]

Denis,

While I admire your support for education in Bermuda, I think your belief in it borders on the religious.

Bermudian students who have had the benefit of a Government supported education in many cases treat it as an obligation - not an opportunity. Why, if higher education were served on a similar silver platter, would their behaviour be any different?

I also fail to see how the Regiment competes with this objective, although it is an often quoted comparisson. As Onion shows, you forget those who don't want it. They are often the ones who take advantage of the Regiment the most.

Personally though, I find your approach to be more of a whinge than anything. Not unusual in the Bermuda of today, but still annoying.

Phil, as someone who has published his intention to participate in the vote when he gets status I think you have fallen into the same category. The majority of men in this country have gone through this process and to me if you want the rights of citizenship, you should shoulder the responsibility just like that guy on the wall.

To say that you are educated, experienced and don't need discipline misses the point entirely. Equally off mark is the suggestion that your contribution could be made elsewhere. Sure it can, but this country asks the men to be liable to play a role in a service. As long as we have conscription you should be a part of it too (and I support the continuation of conscription).

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 28.04.06 at 15:16]

Dennis,

I think Jake makes some very good points and the fact that you have aspiration for frontline politics should mea that you need to get to know as much about Bermuda, your country as you can. In order to truly represent an electorate you need to know as much about that electorate as you can, you need to get out of your comfort zone and discuss your ideas and concerns with persons with whom you would not usually converse.

You will be very surprised a what you can learn from the 18 and 19 year olds you will serve with.

You say the Regiment cannot do anything for you maybe you should view it in the words of JFK, "Ask not what your country can do you but what you can do for your country." Serving in the Regiment is service to country,

What I enjoyed about my service in the Regiment (like you I was older, 25, when I began my service, which was deferred due to the fact that I was a fulltime student when I was called) was that you get to meet people of all colours and classes and the differences each person is left at the gate because within your platoon you must work as one in order to do well. It is probably the one place in Bermuda where race and social status is a none issue.

[silencedogood on 28.04.06 at 15:24]

This may be slightly off-topic, but the discussion got me wonderning.

I believe the US has a fast-track immigration process where people serving in the armed forces get preferential treatment. I think the French had a similar plan with the foriegn legion.

Thinking out loud, I wonder what the outcome would result if Bermuda extended full rights to those who joined the regiment which might be limited to S.O.B.'s (spouse of bermudians), or to expats (with or without length of residency requirements)?

I doubt very much this would ever be put into action in regards to expats and that many expats presently here would want to do that even if it were, but who knows. It could work for SOB's though.

[Onion on 28.04.06 at 15:27]

I think it's exactly what the S.O.B's need.

[Denis Pitcher on 28.04.06 at 16:38]

Guilden,

I'm already looking to do something for my country by getting involved in making a difference. I don't need to, I consider myself educated enough that if Bermuda goes in the toilet I can follow the international business where it goes. Others, including my family, friends and colleagues may not be so lucky.

If I get pulled into regiment then I might as well just do exactly as you suggest and chalk it up to having done my service and start thinking only of myself and forget all about wasting any time in politics trying to help others get ahead too. Frankly I stand to make alot more money with that attitude because honest politicians don't make much.

Here's a perfect example of why I question the regiment, it's purpose and cause.

Today I went to look out the window of my office to see if it was raining. I happened to see a minister's GP car parked out front. At that very moment, up to it walked a man dressed in full regiment garb carrying a package. He placed it in the front seat, got in the drivers seat and drove off.

What I question is:

A. Is that not our (the taxpayer's) car?
B. Is that not our (the taxpayer's) gas in that car?
C. Is that not a soldier in service of our country?
D. Do we (the taxpayer) not pay for his time, whether he's full or part time?

Ultimately: Why is a regiment soldier driving around and picking up packages in a minister's car?

Is this what I shall be tasked to do? Running errands for some minister? Is that my official duty of service to our country?

[Cynic on 28.04.06 at 16:50]

Denis,

I usually appreciate reading your posts and take you as an extremely knowledegeable and educated young man, who wants to get involved in making Bermuda a better place. And I fully support you in this.

However, I believe with regard to the regiment you are more interested in what you personally can gain or not gain from it from a financial or career perspective. You are not thinking country first, nor of your peers. You yourself are educated, some are not. You have options, others don't.

I entered the regiment at 23. I had finished university. The regiment never forced me to compromise my educational or career goals. You spend 2 weeks a year, and 1 night a week, and sometimes 1 weekend every 3 months. Yes its an inconvenience, yes it has its irritating moments. However, it is not going to deter you from becoming CEO, or VP or whatever your ambitions are. The time required up there will not hamper you. You go one thursday a week from 6:30 til 10ish...sometimes 11ish. If they know you are taking an exam then all you have to do is let them know your situation and most are very accommodating, provided you handle it in the correct manner. I have never heard of soldiers being disregarded pertaining to their educational pursuits. They are also accommodating regarding the 2 week overseas camps. If your job is that that requires you to be here during a busy period etc, then they will let you do your two weeks in Bermuda as long as you have a letter from your employer explaining it as such.

There are many contacts I have made both professional and personal, ones that I would never have made had I ran from the service (which i tried to do).

I think in your situation you obviously just don't want to serve - pointblank. But don't think that it will hamper your education or career...it might actually enhance it.

[observor on 28.04.06 at 17:04]

Denis,

When Jennifer became the Premier (and presumably when Burch became her chief of staff) a full-time regiment soldier assumed the role of chauffeur (previously provided by a civil servant).

Not quite sure why this took place ...

[Denis Pitcher on 28.04.06 at 17:09]

Cynic,

I think you've missed my point throughout the thread. I want to be involved in politics now, before our island gets worse.

Juggling any political commitment with a full time job and no money is incredibly difficult, I hope to do what I can. Not even knowing the election dates doesn't help much. It's anywhere in the next 2 years basically.

I have no difficulties serving my country and taking part in regiment. I do however have difficulties with not having the option to serve my country in other ways that I feel would be more beneficial to my country.

I am hoping to align myself to run in the next election if at any way possible. Whether under the PLP, UBP or independent banner I havn't yet decided. But I do feel if I were to run I could make a difference.

Trying to campaign while juggling a full time job as well as regiment would be completely unrealistic. Hell doing it with a full time job is already pretty much unrealistic but I have hope I could succeed if I dedicate myself.

My argument to people here is that if serving in regiment is more important then any difference I can make in politics, then why should I even bother overall?

I'm happy to do my service if so, just I consider that if it is so validating in terms of a "service to my country" then I should start convincing myself that I've done my part and forget all about doing anything further on the side. Simply commit myself fully to regiment and my career and forget all about my feeling of obligation to do more for our country.

I'm watching many, many companies make plans to migrate jobs off island and shrink their presense here. It is my position that by the time the next election rolls around, there may well be nothing left worth saving.

[Onion on 01.05.06 at 15:45]

Denis,

"I'm happy to do my service if so, just I consider that if it is so validating in terms of a "service to my country" then I should start convincing myself that I've done my part and forget all about doing anything further on the side. Simply commit myself fully to regiment and my career and forget all about my feeling of obligation to do more for our country."

You don't make any sense. If there is one thing that is consistent about your writing it is that you tend to take a very narrow sliver of information and make bold statements with it. You haven't even served in the army and you are arguing with at least five people on the blog who have. Serving in Regiment does not deny you the ability to serve in other ways. Serving in Regiment does not prevent you from having a career.

The example you gave above was the duty driver for the premier, not just a minister. He is a sergeant. There is not a country in the world that does not have a driver on call for the leader of that country. I know that there are some schools of thought that probably think that the premier should catch the bus to show his connection with the masses.

I know this driver personally and I can tell you that he makes multiple deliveries per day every day in addition to driving the premier. Perhaps tax payers should get FEDEX or DHL to make these deliveries. I can guarantee you that you will pay more for FEDEX per day than what you pay him. He also has a multitude of tasks to complete at warwick camp as well. Even though he is full-time, he does more than his paycheck reflects. Once again, you say things without knowing what you are talking about.

I would strongly advise you to do a little more homework before you make some of the statements you have made. If you are going into politics you do not want your past statements coming back to haunt you.