Indian Army settles for silver during Exercise Cambrian Patrol

Bengaluru, Nov 12: Indian Army's 3/4 Gorkha Rifles settled for silver medal during the prestigious Exercise Cambrian Patrol held at the United Kingdom recently.

Interestingly, last year the Indian Army's team of 8 Garhwal Rifles clinched the Gold Medal during last year's Exercise Cambrian Patrol. There were over 140 teams from all over the world in 2014.

In 2010, Indian Army's team of 4/9 Gorkha Rifles had won the gold medal in the same event.

While the Indian Army is yet to officially announce the outcome of results, the Ministry of Defence (UK) has already put out details of this year's challenge.

The 8 Azad Kashmir Regiment of Pakistan Army is among the seven teams who won this year's gold medal.

Indian Army is among 29 teams that were chosen for the silver medals, while 39 teams, including the Nepalese Army, settled for bronze medals. A total of 41 patrols could not complete the exercise.

More than a third of teams fail to complete their mission

The patrols represented Regular and Reserve units in the British Army, as well international teams from across the world, took part. More than a third of teams did not complete the arduous route across the Welsh Black Mountains where the soldiers' full range of military skills was assessed in order to gain the necessary points.

"Those patrols who have done well should be rightly proud of their efforts and achievements in this, from certificate finish upwards. The patrols who failed to finish can learn the lessons from this year and come back more determined," said Exercise director, Brigadier Martyn Gamble, Commander 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales.

He said every year the organizers strive to make the exercise as realistic as possible.

"All the personnel involved in making this happen deserve credit for ensuring the high standards and reputation of Cambrian Patrol is maintained and enhanced. The consistency of the awards this year is testament to that," he said.

Know more about Exercise Cambrian Patrol

Cambrian Patrol is an annual international military patrolling exercise that makes its participating units cover a 50-mile (80 km) course in less than 48 hrs while performing numerous types of military exercises placed throughout the rugged Cambrian Mountains and swamp lands of mid-Wales, UK.

Cambrian Patrol was first set up more than 40 years ago, by a group of Welsh Territorial Army soldiers who designed the training event to feature long distance marching over the Cambrian Mountains culminating in firing.

The aim of the exercise is to test leadership, self-discipline, courage, physical endurance and determination.
The competition consists of teams of eight men patrolling across some of the most unforgiving terrain. The tests are over two days with no sleep or rest.

Among the test are; firing of personal weapons, obstacle crossing, first-aid and casualty evacuation, recognition of aircraft vehicles and equipment, artillery target indication, patrol techniques, helicopter drills, communications skills, handling prisoners of war, tactical river/stream crossing, ambush/anti-ambush drills, recce techniques, tunnel crossing, navigation skills and rock climbing.

OneIndia News