Each Year around 150 Cadets gather in Wales to tackle one of the most intense experiences available to cadets. In 2019 18 teams of CCF and ACF cadets entered Exercise Cadet Cambrian Patrol 2019 and their participation ensured that most of the British Army’s Brigades were represented. The event replicates a similar event in the Regular Army and is seen as the hardest and most demanding of all Cadet events – Only the Top Contingents in the country earn a place to complete

“Exercise Cadet Cambrian Patrol tested a wide range of areas across the whole of the cadet syllabus,” said Major Mark Teesdale RE, Officer Commanding of the Cadet Training Team with 160th Infantry Brigade & Headquarters Wales in 2018. “The standard this year was higher than ever, and just making it to Cambrian means the cadets are the best in their Brigades. It’s one of the most intense exercises cadets can face and the experience will help to prepare them to overcome future challenges.”

Taking place on the Sennybridge Training Area, the diverse terrain north of the Brecon Beacons presents a unique challenge for the cadets. The exercise starts at around 4:30am on the Saturday morning with Regular Army Reserves providing a full hearty breakfast. Exercise Cadet Cambrian Patrol formally starts soon after at 6:00am, the teams being tasked with returning to their starting point at 6:00pm that evening.

Over the following 12 hours, teams cover in the region of 25KM on foot, encountering numerous stands on their respective routes that host tasks to test their skills in; map reading, navigation, first aid, teamwork, leadership and field craft. Each stand is manned by Regular or Reserve soldiers and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, who mark each completed activity.

After a night in the field, the cadets final task is to patrol to the firing range where they engage targets up to 300m away on the Sunday morning. On completion of the shooting activity each patrol returns to the Final RV where the scores are added up and awards presented – Gold, Silver and Bronze Standards achieved and the prestigious Section Commander and Team awards

In 2018 and 2019 the TWGGS team earned a Gold Award and the Best CCF Patrol Award!

Applications for this event are on an invitation basis