 Soldiers on the move through the wet hills of Wales during Cambrian Patrol. Soldiers from the UK and overseas battled the cold, high winds, rain and extreme fatigue last week when they took part in Exercise Cambrian Patrol which has the reputation of being the toughest patrolling challenge the British Army has to offer.
The annual event in Wales is a highlight of the Army’s training calendar and attracts teams from across the world.
This year’s event was attended by more than 90 teams from the British Regular and Territorial Army plus army teams from Italy, France, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands and also, for the first time, teams from India and Pakistan. All were pitting their wits, strength and endurance against some of the toughest terrain on offer in the rugged Welsh countryside.
Exercise Cambrian Patrol was first staged in 1959 as a long distance marching competition over the Cambrian Mountains of Mid Wales, and has been continuously updated to meet modern day challenges.
Eight man teams have to march a distance of 55 kilometres, carrying full personal kit and additional equipment weighing up to 60lbs, on a two-day patrolling mission within a realistic scenario against advancing enemy patrols.
Navigating by day and night and linking up with friendly agents en-route, they face many testing and specialist challenges, including observation and reconnaissance of enemy forces, cold river crossings in full kit without access to boats and defensive shooting under attack.
Teams that successfully completed the exercise were awarded a gold, silver or bronze medal, or certificate of merit, depending on the number of points they earned throughout their patrol.
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