The idyllic Welsh landscape belied the brutal 40 miles in store for soldiers on this year’s Exercise Cambrian Patrol.
Cambrian Patrol 2025, Cyprus National Guard preparing a model ready to receive a set of orders.
Cambrian Patrol 2025, training staff looking over maps.
Cambrian Patrol 2025, Chilean Army patrolling.
Cambrian Patrol 2025, soldiers from the 4th Battalion of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment plotting bearings using map and compass and locating them via drone feeds and surveillance cameras that is being operated.
Cambrian Patrol 2025, 1 Royal Logistic Corps are going the Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear phase.
Cambrian Patrol 2025, 8 training battalion REME soldier conducting a water crossing.
Cambrian Patrol 2025, Turkmenistan soldier during operating at the ‘Battle Field Casualty’ stand.
Cambrian Patrol 2025, F Company Scots Guards soldiers patrolling on Sennybridge training area.
Cambrian Patrol 2025, Royal Australia Regiment Soldier during the Quick Attack phase.
Cambrian Patrol 2025, soldiers from the 4th Battalion of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment.
Cambrian Patrol 2025, Royal Australia Regiment soldiers during the Quick Attack phase.
Just on the cusp of the forestry near Glynneath, where more than 1,000 troops received their orders and went through their battle prep, flows some of Wales’ most beautiful waterfalls.
One of those is Henrhyd Falls and its waters soon reached bursting point when Storm Amy appeared during the first phase of the event, NATO's toughest patrol test.
The torrential weather lasted long into the opening weekend with the East Midlands University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) caught in the middle of it.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve experienced horizontal rain.”
“I think that’s the first time I’ve experienced horizontal rain,” said Officer Cadet Zara Pollock, whose team achieved an impressive bronze medal.
A total of 109 teams took on Exercise Cambrian Patrol this year, with 20 gold medals awarded; 54 silver; 22 bronze; eight completion certificates, and five patrols who did not finish.
Lieutenant Robert Blackman, patrol commander for 9 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, based near Chippenham, led his team to a gold medal.
“It’s very hard work and ultimately it’s a team event, there’s no doubt about that,” said Robert, who is from Essex.
“It’s very hard work and ultimately it’s a team event, there’s no doubt about that.”
“The battlefield casualty scenario was made tough because the counter explosive ordnance task was also thrown into it.
“What was good about the section attack, amid the trench warfare system, is that it took place at night with lume (luminescence) going up and pyrotechnics, which really got the adrenaline going.
“That helped us focus as it was near the end when exhaustion kicks in.
“It’s immensely satisfying getting to the end."
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (QDG) combined with soldiers from the 7th Infantry Brigade of the Austrian Armed Forces.
The QDG have strong historical links to the country as The Welsh Cavalry’s regimental cap badge, a Hapsburg double-headed eagle, was gifted by the Austro-Hungarian Emperor, Franz Josef II, in 1896.
Corporal Cellan Williams, from Carmarthenshire, said: “We have similar job roles in terms of reconnaissance, so that ethos of getting on and dealing with any terrain and the conditions in front of you served us well.
“The CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) task was something you had to adapt quickly to as a combined patrol and get it right.
“That shared understanding of what it takes to get the job done, of working well together, is key for wherever we are in the world and working with our allies.
“I’ve been in Mali, Poland and Kosovo, working with different nations all the time, strengthening our core understanding and developing those relationships, as illustrated on this event with our Austrian friends.”
“2025 marked the 66th year of this event and it was as tough, wet and testing as it ever was.”
The team won a silver medal.
Brigadier Mark Davis CBE, Commander 160th (Welsh) Brigade, which runs the annual event, applauded all those who took part and commended the hundreds of staff who make it happen.
“2025 marked the 66th year of this event and it was as tough, wet and testing as it ever was,” he said.
“As always it is the stories that resonate: the Scots Guards team that went from Buckingham Palace forecourt on the Friday to winning a silver on the Wednesday; the Northumbria UOTC earned the only gold of weekend phases; and the camaraderie of the joint Austrian and QDG team.
“Next year we are going to focus on drawing more from the conflict in Ukraine and thoroughly test the infiltration and patrolling in between the tasks.
“Lastly, I want to send a huge thank you to the 350 people who supported the event and made it such a success.”
The top-scoring patrol this year was the Nepali Army.
