CAMBRIAN PATROL SKILLS TEST
The annual event will see the teams of eight soldiers challenged over two days in the Brecon Beacons and nearby Black Mountains.
The patrol will be held over a 48 hour period, 55 km (34 miles) patrol, carrying full personal kit (60 lbs.of it) facing skills tests, such as ambushes. The exercise, considered to be one of the world's toughest.
Navigating both by day and night, the patrols face many testing and specialist challenges, including observation, cold river crossings in full kit without boats, first-aid and defensive shooting under attack.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
5. Ex CP is a Mission and Task Orientated exercise. The fundamental criteria used to assess the performance of the patrol is by determining whether or not it completes the various tasks and achieves its Mission. This is assessed by awarding marks for:
a. Military skills (approx 70% of total marks).
b. Orders (approx 15% of total marks).
c. Debrief (approx 15% of total marks).
6. The other Military skills that may be assessed during Cambrian Patrol are:
a. Dismounted Close Combat Skills.
b. Obstacle crossing drills.
c. Battlefield Casualty Drills and Casevac procedures.
d. Recognition of aircraft, vehicles and equipment.
e. C-IED/Minefield Clearance drills.
f. Patrol Techniques.
g. Captured Persons (CEPRS) Handling.
h. Helicopter drills.
i. Media handling.
j. CBRN drills. (Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear)
k. SERE skills (Survival Evasion Resistance & Escape)
l. Radio communications skills.
m. Artillery Target Indication Procedures.
7. Additional skills to be assessed may be notified in the future. Units may find References A, B and C useful. Reference B can be supplied to units on request by CP Office, HQ 160 (W) Bde. STANDARDS
8. The level of award will depend on the patrol completing all aspects of the exercise, in particular the mission phase. Awards are: a. Gold: 75% or more of the points available. b. Silver: 65-74% of the points available. c. Bronze: 55-64% of the points available. d. Certificate: Completed the exercise in the time allowed and scored less than 55% of the points available. 9. Certificates are awarded to all those that complete the Cambrian Patrol. However, patrols or individuals who withdraw will not be awarded a certificate (patrols that fall below 5 members will be withdrawn for safety reasons).
c. Patrol Composition.
Each patrol is to have a non-participating Patrol Manager and two drivers. The drivers may be reserves. The composition of the patrol is to be:
(1) Patrol Comd: Offr/WO/SNCO.
(2) Patrol 2IC: JNCO.
(3) 6 x Ptes: This group may include no more than one x JNCO*.
*This composition does not apply to University OTCs. Any other unit whose establishment makes adherence to these criteria exceptionally difficult can apply in writing to the CP Office, HQ 160 (W) Bde for dispensation.
d. Eligibility. No individual is to enter the Patrol more than twice in any one rank (not including Patrol Managers).