CCF CAMBRIAN PATROL
catastrophic bleed before assaulting and destroying the enemy position , which was followed by the extraction of the casualties .
For the first time , the school qualified for the prestigious Cadet Cambrian Patrol in the Brecon Beacons . The UK ’ s premier cadet patrolling event , this is a gruelling two-day exercise designed to test cadets ’ physical and mental endurance .
The team , RSM Sebastian Bray , Sgt Samuel Ide , Sgt Jaiman Abson , Sgt Sophie Gildemeister , Sgt Balian Kiggell , WO1 Olly Hornshaw ( RN ), C / Sgt Sebastian Whittaker and me , Sgt Bruno Millward , qualified by finishing first in our Brigade Military Skills competition in March 2023 . Only the top two teams from each qualifying competition continued onto the Cambrian Patrol , totalling 22 teams on the patrol , out of 2300 units in the UK .
The competition involved traversing 16 miles ( 26km ) of undulating Welsh countryside and completing challenges such as a casualty evacuation ( CASEVAC ) and section attacks . During the CASEVAC stand , the team had to care for two casualties before coming under fire from small arms and mortars . We had to tend to the wounded , treating a heart attack and a
The cadets also had to use their knowledge to complete a set of questions while positioned in an observation post where they had to reconnoitre an enemy position to attempt to gain useful intelligence about the strength and capability of the enemy in the area .
After setting up a safe base to sleep in overnight , we had to create a model of the area we would be operating in the next day , before being delivered a set of orders by patrol commander Sebastian Bray . The team woke at 4:40am to carry out section attacks the following day . During these , we had to attack several enemy positions throughout the training area , pushing through and defeating the enemy . The team found great success in this through the good communication of each member and the organisation and calmness they exuded under pressure .
The Sevenoaks cadets achieved the Cambrian Gold standard , the highest award a team can receive . This was especially impressive as this marked the first time the school had qualified for the event . We are especially thankful to Capt Mavroleon , WO2 Henderson-Thynne , PI Lawrence , and Lt Davies for their support and assistance during training .
Sgt Bruno Millward , Lower Sixth
106 TRIPS , CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES