Page 8 - LBV 2024

CUOTC
Cambrian
Patrol 2024
At 0130 on the morning of Friday the 14th of October, the CUOTC Cambrian team was dropped off near the small town of Crickhowell, Powys, and began their journey on the 65thCambrian Patrol competition. They had undergone a week of training and selection in Sennybridge during mid-September, with the selected team completing a further four days of training prior to the start of the competition. The team was composed as follows:
• SUO Barraud (Patrol Commander) • JUO Calenti (Patrol 2 I/C)
• OCdt Banks (Nav)
• OCdt Luck (CPERs)
• OCdt Dugmore (EOD)
• OCdt Payne (Medic)
• OCdt Etheridge (CBRN)
• OCdt Arbenser (Arty Tgt)
From the Battle Group assembly area,
where the team was assessed for their kit, vehicle recognition, model building, and orders process, the team was moved via pickup trucks to the initial drop off point from where they would move across the difficult terrain of the Welsh black mountains for the first phase of
the operation. Loaded with around 35kg of kit each, the patrol moved across expansive hills and moorland towards the first serial, which involved assisting a local commander with a CBRN
threat. From there the team advanced
to a wet gap crossing at the Pontsticill Reservoir during the chill darkness of evening. Once across, a situation update meant the patrol had to make haste to
a helicopter crash and provide medical support to the scene, which used actors to create a very realistic scenario. This was followed by a road move to Sennybridge area, where the patrol arrived at the battlegroup lying-up point just before 0600, with a step-off time in the morning at 0740. This provided an opportunity to drop the heavy bergens and (for most) to catch a quick 30 minutes’ sleep.
With admin complete, and now
being on Sennybridge training area, an updated set of orders meant the tactical picture had changed and the patrol was
operating in a much more dangerous environment. The morning consisted
of a drone-assisted observation post, clearance of a path through a minefield in assisting an NGO, before arriving
at a small town around midday which was coming under indirect fire from opposition forces. This serial tested the patrol’s ability to work with angered members of the public, identify vehicles, bring down accurate artillery, and compose a patrol report – all while under indirect fire. Once complete, a 20km
TAB brought the section to a night-time section attack across the Sennybridge hills, where a live machine gun firing
over the heads of the patrol to increase the simulation value. 2 positions were taken alongside one prisoner of war. At around 0200 on Sunday morning the patrol finally arrived at the debrief, where they were tested on their attention and memory regarding everything they had seen on the patrol, down to names of individuals. For some, this was also a serious test of the ability to stay awake after 48 hours of patrolling. Under the impression that the patrol had been complete the team moved to the pickup location but were ambushed by a press reporter in a final test of mental resilience and ability to react, especially as the team had never had any media training. The team were finally back in camp at 0600 that morning.
At the rewards ceremony, the team were awarded the coin medal for
their performance in the competition, although they were the first team to finish Cambrian Patrol 2024 despite being far from the first to start – a great achievement in itself. Given the nature
of the event, the team performed very well in a competition where teams of both regular and reserve forces are often driven to withdraw.
SUO Hugo Barraud
8 THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER