Page 9 - The Light Blue Volunteer Journal 2021

Ex Cambrian Patrol 2021
The Cambrian Patrol team 2021- selected following 2 weeks of intense training in Pirbright- consisted of JUOs Hannon, Allen, Proudfoot and Fordham, OCdts Corner, Bagnall and Gedney and 2lt Walton-Knight. None of the eight had taken part in the event before, so the whole experience was new and exciting- as well as completely terrifying and nerve-racking!
At 0001 on Friday 15th October, the team, accompanied by Colour Stafford (who was probably more exhausted at the end of the weekend from having to look after the team) left Cambridge ARC for Brecon, a landscape completely different to familiar- and flat- Cambridge. Following a 0515 start time for kit checks and orders, we set off on the 60km challenge, which started
as it would continue: with a long, steep uphill. Alongside the physical effort, Cambrian tests a range of skills from crossing a reservoir at 3 am with full kit to conducting a full CBRN recce
using equipment none of us had seen before, as well as a section attack, clearing a mine to deal with a mass casualty scenario, and artillery targeting. Thanks to the training in Pirbright,
we were well prepared, but the patrol was nonetheless both physically and mentally demanding, and all the team members gave it their all, undoubtedly pushing their limits and finding new depths, including what happens when you push past the point of needing to sleep (hallucinations and writing a recce report whilst asleep were both unexpected but entertaining results). These huge efforts- and an impressive Brecon shuffle to the finish- were rewarded with a Bronze medal; well done to everyone involved, and thank you to all the staff who supported us.
2Lt Walton-Knight