Military musicians take part for the first time and gain a silver medal.
Expanded number of phases makes it largest event in 67-year history
Head of the Armed Forces presented medals during Sennybridge visit
Ten patrols were awarded the elite gold medal on this year’s Exercise Cambrian Patrol.\
Patrol commander from 3rd Battalion The Rifles leads her troops on day two of the exercise in the Brecon Beacons, Wales.
Directing Staff from the Royal Engineers deliver a safety brief to soldiers from The Royal Dragoon Guards ahead of their river crossing.
A soldier form The Royal Dragoon Guards crosses the river during Exercise Cambrian Patrol
US soldiers from Westpoint Military Academy Black and Gold team make their way through the foggy weather of the Brecon Beacons
The Band of The Brigade of Gurkhas were the first musicians to take part in the exercise, gaining a silver medal
Belgium soldiers from Battalion Chasseurs à Cheval / Jagers te Paard patrol up the hill leaving Celini Village
Patrol commander from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment delivers his orders brief over the model pit
A total of 140 teams were due to take up their positions at the assembly area near Beulah in Mid Wales and an extra two phases were locked in to accommodate the expanded list of entries.
This meant that 2026 represented the largest event of its kind in the 67-year history of the event – widely regarded as the toughest test of basic military skills anywhere in NATO.
This challenge remains a great leveller where performance is the only currency that matters
Brigadier Mark Davis CBE, head of the Army in Wales and Commander 160th (Welsh) Brigade, said: “This year's Exercise Cambrian Patrol reflected the realities of modern conflict.”
“Teams had to contend with a battlefield where they were constantly being observed, detected and tracked. The strongest teams combined exceptional fieldcraft, judgement and teamwork to defeat the sensors looking for them in the hills.
A record number of phases
“This challenge remains a great leveller where performance is the only currency that matters.”
Several teams did not make it to the assembly area while 14 teams failed to complete the arduous 48-hour mission to map their way around 60km of undulating terrain, amid a series of military tasks.
More than 1,000 troops took part, including 35 international armies, with around 350 staff ensuring each phase ran smoothly.
Brigadier Davis, the exercise director, said: "The hills of Wales have a habit of revealing the difference between competence and excellence and this event remains an exemplar of the British Army’s engagement with international armies around the world.
“One of the highlights for me was presenting a gold medal to the Kosovo Security Force.
“Having served in Kosovo early in my career, seeing them stand among the very best teams on Cambrian Patrol was both a proud and memorable moment.
Our soldiers need to be the best they can be if we are to be the strongest we can be and to deter our adversary
A stand-out feature of this year was the visit of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, presented medals at one of the presentation ceremonies in Sennybridge.
“Those involved come here to test themselves, their skills, their leadership and their practical ability to solve problems in a tactical environment,” said the head of the Armed Forces.
“Our soldiers need to be the best they can be if we are to be the strongest we can be and to deter our adversary.
“So that requires us to test ourselves in difficult and challenging environments and Cambrian Patrol is the premier and probably most challenging exercise in the world.”
Brigadier Davis said: “The Chief of the Defence Staff’s visit underlined the importance of Cambrian Patrol to Defence.
“His message on resilience resonated strongly because resilience is built through preparation, trust and partnership long before a crisis emerges.
The ultimate patrols test
“For more than 60 years armies have come to Wales to train, compete and learn together.
"Those relationships matter because if we are ever called upon to operate together, trust has already been established long before the first crisis appears.”
This year saw The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas gain a very impressive silver medal – the first time musicians have taken part in the event.
There were 10 gold medals, 69 silver, 20 bronze, four completion coins and 14 patrols who did not finish.
The ten patrols who gained the top award of a gold medal were:
The United States Military Academy West Point; Kosovo Security Force; 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment; 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles; Belgium; Nepal; 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles; Gurkha Company (Tavoleto) Waterloo Lines; Gurkha Staff and Personnel Support; India.
