Page 26 - LBV 2017

INTER-COMPANY TRAINING & VISITS
Ex CAMBRIAN PATROL 2016
The Cambrian Patrol is an arduous 55 km patrol across the Cambrian Mountains of South Wales, interspersed with some challenging military scenarios designed to test both infantry skills, mental agility and stamina. Considered to be the premier patrolling event of the British Army.
With the advantage of many volunteers, a week in Brecon and several weekends of training, CUOTC were able to field a strong team for Exercise CAMBRIAN PARTOL 2016. After having our kit checked and delivering a set
of recce orders, we stepped off at 1300. We quickly overtook several other teams within
the first few hours of walking and made good progress up to our Final Rendezvous (FRV) for a close target recce. With the setting sun working in our favour, we conducted the recce and our FRV team began work on the patrol report. Then, we moved off towards our next RV which required some difficult navigation from OCdt Leach, our lead scout.
We received some updated
intelligence on our future objectives
and moved uphill to our next
tasking: captured persons. On this
stand JUO Croucher came into
his own, organising the searching
and recording of intelligence on
the captured local fighters. This allowed me to step back and manage the scenario and for 2Lt
Setting up harbour
Cambrian team training; climbing Pen Y Fan
Gordon (our “chatty man”) to continue gathering intelligence from other actors in the area.
We then had a long trek in the dark to our next RV point which we knew would be the
river crossing. Here, morale was depleting as temperatures and energy levels dropped. We stopped briefly to attempt to continue with our patrol report but little progress was made as
we were tired and the weather conditions were harsh. We moved on to the river crossing. As
the mist cleared we changed into our Gore-Tex and ensured the rest of our kit was waterproofed before dragging it across the frosty ground and into the icy water. On arriving at the far bank we fought with our kit to get up the muddy slope and into defensive positions to wait for the rest of the patrol. We then quickly changed and moved off, spirits high as the hard walking and the river crossing were behind us.
Order of March:
OCdt Leach: Lead scout JUO Musker: I/C
OCdt Pan: Radio operator 2Lt Tse: Medic
2Lt Gordon: Rifleman + patrol report JUO Croucher: 2I/C
JUO Heward: Rifleman
OCdt Mclean: Gunner
Team Managers:
Maj Wilson CSgt Harris
...morale was depleting as temperatures and energy levels dropped
24 THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER