This year’s Exercise Cambrian Patrol will take place from Friday, October 3, to Sunday, October 12.
The event is organised and run by 160th (Welsh) Brigade, based in Brecon, the British Army’s headquarters in Wales.
Exercise Cambrian Patrol has run every year since 1959. Military partners around the world respect it as NATO's toughest patrolling test.
This year 122 teams will take part. These include 56 regular Army teams, 12 reserve teams, 18 university teams, and 34 international teams. There are also two mixed teams with both British and international soldiers.
Patrols will form up at an Assembly Area near Glynneath following a kit inspection at Maindy Barracks in Cardiff. Soldiers then face the undulating, rugged terrain of the Bannau Bycheiniog (Brecon Beacons).
The soldiers get their orders and prepare for battle. They then set off on a route that takes them through a mock war scenario. This finishes at Sennybridge about 48 hours later.
More than 1,000 soldiers take part in the exercise. Another 350 staff help to run it across eight different phases. The soldiers face realistic missions including walking up to 40 miles, dealing with enemy attacks and other challenges.
The exercise is unique and world-class. It is the largest military test of its kind. Some foreign entrants having to claim the right to take part in the UK by winning through their own domestic competition.
For example, the Australian Army runs a skills competition called the Duke of Gloucester Cup. The winning team gets to represent Australia in Cambrian Patrol.
Many other nations also adopt this principle.
Major (Maj) Darren Pridmore, Officer Commanding Exercise Cambrian Patrol, said: “The focus of the event is to test the core skills troops need to operate effectively on the battlefield.
“Soldiers need to be physically robust, protect themselves from the environment and be prepared to deal with a variety of threats. They also need to be able to communicate to help their team outwit their adversaries.”
160th (Welsh) Brigade at Brecon Barracks organises all eight phases of the exercise. They follow training guidelines from senior Army commanders.
The exercise uses eight-person teams. These teams move across difficult ground and carry out military tasks that test key Army skills.
Team leaders get their orders first. Then they plan their route across some of the toughest terrain in the UK.
Along the route, patrols face many challenges. These include medical emergencies, moving through minefields, gathering intelligence, and dealing with various threats. They must also attack enemy positions and handle prisoners.
At the end, patrols write a report about what happened. They answer questions at a debrief session. This helps judges decide if they win a gold, silver or bronze medal, or a completion coin.
Maj Pridmore said: “We have kept the longstanding spirit and traditions of Cambrian Patrol alive, whilst ensuring it remains relevant and realistic to the changes to conflict we have witnessed in the world.
“There will be an increased presence of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), in addition to other new or emerging training technologies and equipment, subsequently enhancing operational capability and supporting innovation and experimentation.
“Highlights this year will be the opportunity for patrols to integrate with UAS to assist in the completion of some tasks, as well as negotiating how they move across ground against the backdrop of a heightened enemy UAS threat, as well as exposure to an array of enemy vehicles.
“Much of this has been achieved in collaboration with Defence industry and contractors, who now form an increasingly key component to ensuring the exercise retains its world-class calibre.
Fundamental to the success of this event has also been the support of the people and landowners of Wales, who have allowed the Army to host this iconic exercise for more than six decades."
“Exercise Cambrian Patrol sees both NATO and non-NATO interest in the exercise expanding, with 34 international patrols participating, as well as joint patrols once again featuring.
“The international dimension is key for both raising the standards and the performance of patrols, which is important in sharing best practice, as well as acting as good preparation for the realities of multinational operations and deployments across the world.”
Brigadier Mark Davis CBE, Commander 160th (Welsh) Brigade and head of the Army in Wales, said: “Cambrian Patrol is rightly regarded as one of the toughest patrolling tests in the world.
“We have worked hard to make sure the event maintains its physical rigour and realism, as well as ensuring a relevancy from the conflicts we see in the world today.
“We manage the risks of those isolated patrols who are operating on truly challenging terrain and subject to our unpredictable Welsh weather.
“The international dimension to the patrol also merits highlighting.
The fact we have 34 teams from allies and partners across the globe is testament to the British Army’s reputation for soldiering and our global network."
“Furthermore, each international patrol is hosted by a British team and those connections last long after the final phases of the event are packed away.
“Exercise Cambrian Patrol is uniquely Welsh and here in Brecon we are delighted to represent the Army in Wales and show off our proud history to all those who take part.
“Our industry partners in Wales and across the country would be a fundamental part of our war effort if needed and I am delighted at how closely they work with us to make the event what it is.
“We also help them by developing our Capability Suite, which is becoming our own pop-up, mini-Welsh defence and security equipment show during Cambrian Patrol and which allows them to demonstrate their innovative ideas to us and our many visitors from the UK and around the world.
This exercise is designed to be exceptionally tough and one that stress tests the basic military skills needed to win the fight.
“This exercise is designed to be exceptionally tough and one that stress tests the basic military skills needed to win the fight.
“Its reputation is recognised globally and serves to bring our friends together and allows each patrol to earn the right to take away the Completion Coin, a Bronze, Silver or Gold medal – each being an achievement which soldiers will always be proud of.
“There is a Welsh phrase rooted in ancient Arthurian legend: ‘Caled hyd y diwedd’, which translates as, ‘Arduous until the end’.
“That feels a very appropriate mantra for each patrol.
“Good luck to all who take part.”