Exercise Cambrian Patrol facts for kids
Exercise Cambrian Patrol is a big yearly event for soldiers from many countries. The British Army organizes it. Teams have to travel about 40 miles (65 km) in less than two days. They move through tough mountains and swampy areas in the middle of Wales. During this time, they also complete many different military tasks.
How It Started
The Cambrian Patrol started a long time ago, in August 1959. A British Army leader named Major General Lewis Pugh from Wales created it. His idea was to have soldiers march long distances over the Cambrian Mountains, starting from Tonfanau on the west coast of Wales. Over the years, this exercise has changed a lot. It now includes new challenges to help soldiers prepare for modern situations.
Who Takes Part?
This event is open to many different military groups. Soldiers from all three parts of the British armed forces can join: the British Army, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Air Force. Both full-time soldiers and part-time reserve soldiers, including those from university training groups, can participate.
Soldiers from other countries also come to take part. Teams from the United States, Pakistan, Mexico, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, and France are just some of the nations that join in this tough challenge.
The Challenge for Teams
The competition involves teams of eight people. They patrol across very difficult land. It's a test of many important skills. These include being a good leader, having self-control, showing courage, being physically strong, and having a lot of determination.
The exercise usually begins with teams arriving at a meeting point. Their equipment is checked carefully to make sure they have everything they need. If something is missing, it's replaced with extra weight, and the team loses points.
From there, the team leader gets their instructions. The rest of the team quickly sets up a hidden spot. They also get ready for battle and prepare to hear the orders. This often means making a small model of the area they will cover during their patrol. Many teams that start the patrol do not finish it. Those who do finish can earn one of four awards: a gold medal, a silver medal, a bronze medal, or a passing grade.
Cadet Forces Cambrian Patrol
There is also a special version of the Cambrian Patrol for younger people. It's called the "Cadet Cambrian Patrol." This event is for young people under 18 who are part of the Army Cadet Force. It aims to test cadets on what they learn in their training over two days. It tries to be like the main Exercise Cambrian Patrol, but in a way that is safe and suitable for cadets. The distance covered is much shorter, about 25 km. Teams from the Combined Cadet Force also join in this event.
