Exercise Cambrian Patrol is the premier patrolling event of the British Army and held in Wales and hosted by Headquarters 160th (Welsh) Brigade.
The exercise took place this year from the 7th to the 16th of October. The aim of Exercise Cambrian Patrol is to provide a challenging world class patrol exercise in order to enhance Operational Capability. It is a demanding 60-70km+ exercise with numerous marked stands. This year there were only eight Golds awarded of which six were to Brigade of Gurkhas (BG) personnel, one to 3 RIFLES (who took part in the Brigade of Gurkhas Training Cadre) and one to the New Zealand Army.
Of the 94 teams that took part the general results were:
- 8 – Golds
- 35 – Silver
- 25 – Bronze
- 11 – Certificates
- 15 – DNF
Brigade of Gurkhas Results for 2022
- Gold – The First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles – 8/8 BG members
- Gold – The Second Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles – 8/8 BG members
- Gold – Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment 13AASR 15 Squadron – 8/8 BG members
- Gold – Gurkha Staff and Personnel Support – 8/8 BG members
- Gold – Gurkha Company (Sittang) – 8/8 BG members
- Gold – Gurkha Wing (Mandalay) – 8/8 BG members
- Silver – 10 Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment – 8/8 BG members
- Silver – Gurkha Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Support Battalion – 8/8 BG members
- Silver – Gurkha Company (Tavoleto) – 8/8 BG members
Non-BG Units with Gurkhas in team
- Silver – 1 Signals Regiment – 6/8 BG members
- Silver – 22 Signals Regiment – 4/8 BG members
- Silver – Initial Training Regiment Pirbright – 2/8 BG members
- Bronze – 30 Signals Regiment – 4/8 BG members
Non-BG Units who attended BG Brigade Training Team Training Package
- Gold – 1 RIFLES Team 1 – 0/8 BG members
- Silver – 3 RIFLES Team 2 – 0/8 BG members
Each patrol must have a support team comprising a non-participating patrol manager of at least the rank of Senior Non-Commissioned Officer and a driver.
- Patrol Commander: Junior Non-Commissioned Officer / Senior Non-Commissioned Officer / Warrant Officer / Officer (OR4-OF2)
- Patrol Second in Command: JNCO (OR3-4)
- Six Private soldiers: (OR1-2), this group may include one JNCO (OR3-4).
Assessment commences at the drop-off point and continues throughout until completion of the exercise. The military skills that may be assessed are:
- Dismounted Close Combat Skills
- Orders Procedure
- Battlefield Casualty Drills
- Countering the Explosive Ordnance Threat
- Counter – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Drills
- Recognition of aircraft, vehicles, weapons, mines and other equipment
- Operational Law and Ethical Behaviour
- Obstacle Crossing Drills
- Media Handling
- Artillery Target and Emergency Close Air Support Procedures
- Patrol Reporting and Radio Communications Skills
- Observation
- Leadership
- Tactical conduct
- Physical and mental robustness
The level of award at the end of the exercise depends on the patrol completing all aspects of the exercise.
- Gold: 75% or more of the points available and no less than 65% on any single assessed task.
- Silver: 65-74% of the points available and no less than 55% on any single assessed task.
- Bronze: 55-64% of the points available.
- Certificate: Completed the exercise and scored less than 55% of the points available.
Of note, in their first year entering the competition, a team from Gurkha Staff and Oersonnel Support (GSPS) secured a Gold medal.
