The Cambrian Patrol, an annual military exercise touted as the ‘Olympics of military patrolling,’ is set to kick off this week, running from October 6 to October 15, 2023.
Cambrian Patrol 2023
The event, hosted by Headquarters 160th (Welsh) Brigade, will witness the participation of over 60 teams from around the world, with Chetak Corp’s Gandiv division representing the Indian Army. Chetak Corp will be competing against 60-70 teams from across the world, as stated by the Southwestern Command of the Indian Army. The SWC of the Indian Army added, “Team Three Five triumphed in the grueling Cambrian Patrol competition 2023, showcasing their indomitable spirit and endurance.”
The Cambrian Patrol, established in 1960, is known for testing soldiers’ mettle in long-distance marches and various military manoeuvres. Teams of eight, comprising both men and women, will tackle a 65-km course in under 48 hours, battling through the rugged terrain of mid-Wales. Last year, the Indian Army’s Gorkha Rifles clinched a gold medal at the Cambrian Patrol exercise, surpassing 96 teams representing special forces and regiments from across the globe.
The Exercise is currently made up of eight phases, each of 48 hrs, over 10 days. Each patrol will cover approximately 60 kms (average climb and descent is over 1000m) carrying no more than 32 kgs per person. The Exercise is designed to be arduous, and all participants must be prepared both mentally and physically for the challenge ahead.
Aim
As per the British MoD, the exercise’s mission-focused and scenario-based nature aims to assess patrol performance based on the Battlecraft Syllabus (BCS) and Individual Training Requirement (ITR), as well as evaluating ‘robustness’ and leadership.
