Exercise Cambrian Patrol, organised by the 160th Infantry Brigade, is the largest and hardest patrol test in the world. More than 1000 men and women from the British Army descend on the formidable Brecon Beacons for the 48-hour, 40-mile long patrol, joined by teams from over 20 allied countries and the RAF. Cambrian Patrol has always been Welsh through and through, set up by a Welshman, Major General Louis Pugh DSO in 1959 and held in the south of Wales. It was designed by Welsh territorial soldiers with the task to access the UK against its counterparts, as well as forging new partnerships between nations and allies through the challenge of the competition.
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| With 48 hours to trek 40 miles and complete a variety of tasks, not all the teams complete the patrol |
In 2018, we saw the international exercise run from the 19th to the 21st of October with 137 teams (of 8 men and women each) entering the patrol competition, even joined by smaller nations such as Macedonia, Belarus and Cyprus. Obviously, the magnitude and attention given to the exercise must indicate some differences from a regular patrol. And indeed there are noticeable ones, but what are they?
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| Pakistani Soldiers being awarded gold medals for completing the patrol |
Of course, you have your usual yomping through wet Welsh weather with heavy bergens on, with your rifle and ammunition, navigating through dense forest and unforgiving moorland. What separates this is the unpredictability and realism of it. This is done by combining many different types of exercises into one, whilst centring it around getting from A to B, something very similar to a real battle. Just to provide some examples, last year some teams encountered challenges such as dealing with IEDs, civilian and casualty evacuations, reconnaissance and CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) threats. Last year gas was dropped by a drone onto a Canadian patrol unexpectedly, as well as a Pakistani patrol even encountering a hostage situation, where they had to react and diffuse the situation appropriately, whilst being cold, wet and tired. These mental and physical unexpected testings are what attracts nations to enter. Not only does it measure countries readiness to react to situations, but also highlights weaknesses in training, equipment and tactics, as well as their strengths.
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| A Chzech soldier and a British soldier taking during the CNRN phase of Ex Cambrian Patrol |
The teams are not only assessed on the speed they can get to the finish but there is an equal focus on the professionalism, determination and effectiveness in which the teams deal with the unexpected. Judged by an invigilator assigned to each patrol, all the nations do their best for this prestigious honour, with each team awarded a Gold, Silver, Bronze or Pass depending on their performance (that is if they actually finish within 48 hours).
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| The Excercise includes many trials for soldiers, such as simulated hostage situations or IED threats |
With this welcomed popularity of the Exercise that has immensely grown the size of it over the last 15 years, the British Army is expecting Ex Cambrian Patrol to become more popular and international than ever in 2019, rendering it definitely something to mark in the British Army calendar. And it shows how the training and exercises the British Armed Forces host are recognised as some of the best in the world. Like the Royal Navy’s FOST training, Exercise Cambrian Patrol is a clear example of the respect our military still commands.
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