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26 EXERCISE CAMBRIAN PATROL 2021 EXERCISE CAMBRIAN PATROL 2021 At 0500 on the 10th of October 2021 an eight-man team from the 27th Infantry Battalion crossed the start line for Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2021. Over the course of the next forty eight hours, they were to be tested in a range of military skills over approximately seventy kilometres of the rugged and unforgiving terrain of the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains in Wales, carrying upwards of forty-five kilograms of kit and equipment. This was the culmination of over three months of intense and demanding training and would see the team tested both physically and mentally in qualities ranging from leadership and navigation, to section battle drills, with casualty treatment and evacuation. After a gruelling two days they were rewarded for their endeavours and achieved a gold medal standard. They were one of only three international teams to obtain this prestigious award. Exercise Cambrian Patrol is an annual international military exercise hosted by Headquarters 160th Welsh Brigade in the UK Armed Forces and first began in 1959 when a group of Welsh Territorial Army soldiers designed a weekend training event featuring a long-distance march over the Cambrian Mountains and culminated in a competitive rifle shoot on the Sennybridge Training Area. The exercise has been improved and adapted significantly over the years and incorporates By Lt Turlough Gallagher (Patrol Commander Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2021) Photos provided by Lt Turlough Gallagher "MARCH OR DIE" much more of an operational mindset with a focus on military scenarios all the while paying tribute to its roots of endurance both physically and mentally. The exercise is world renowned, often described as NATO's toughest patrolling test and attracts teams from across the globe to include Germany, USA, Canada and India with 2021 being no exception. Following the disruption caused by the COVID 19 pandemic and the subsequent cancellation in 2020 this year, a renewed enthusiasm was evident with over 96 teams volunteering for the patrol from a mix of regular, reserves and university officer training teams from the UK Armed Forces and 17 international patrols. Commander 160th (Welsh) Brigade and Exercise Director, Brigadier Andrew Dawes CBE said: 'I'm thrilled the exercise is back on track following an enforced absence in 2020 due to the pandemic. Now in its 62nd year, Cambrian Patrol continues to challenge patrols from across UK Defence and from around the world. The format remains focused on the battlecraft syllabus to an annual training test standard. One may think this sounds simple, but you would be quite wrong. The patrols will operate tactically to complete their assigned mission whilst dealing with the pressures of the scenario, opposing of indigenous forces, the weather, the environment and, of course themselves. Although it's not a competition the patrols are assessed and will strive to do their level best to return to base with a Gold, Silver, Bronze or Certificate of Merit.» The level of the award is dependent on the standard achieved by each of the teams while completing the different aspects of the exercise. A Gold Award is an accumulation of 75% or more of the points available and no less than 65% on any single assessed task. A Silver Award is an accumulation of 65-74% of the points available and no less than 55% on any single assessed task. A Bronze Award is an accumulation of 55-64% of the points available. A Certificate of Merit is assessed as a team completing the exercise in the time allocated and scoring less than 55% of the points available. On average over one third of teams do not complete the exercise with only five percent achieving a Gold Award. The team itself began training in July 2021 and was comprised of serving members from the 27th Infantry Battalion. The eight man patrol team consisted of Pte James McClarnen, Pte Kevin Hill, Pte Kevin Barry McKerr, Cpl Sean Paul McCabe, Cpl Gerard Rodgers, Sgt John McGuigan, Sgt Brian Loughran and Lt Turlough Gallagher with an administrative team of Cpl Alan Ferguson, Pte Mark Fitzachery, Pte Ryan Browne, Pte Conor Thornton and Pte Ryan Duffy to co-ordinate training and logistical requirements. The initial phases of training focused on building up of the Exercise Cambrian Patrol Gold Medal 2021

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