NEW DELHI: After making a surprise visit to the world’s highest battlefield in Siachen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded the Army contingent for winning the gold medal in the prestigious Cambrian Patrol held in the UK, beating more than 140 participants.
The team from 8 Garhwal Rifles won a gold medal in the competition held from October 17-26.
During his 20 minute-long chat show, ‘Mann Ki Baat’, aired last Sunday (November 2) on All India Radio, the Prime Minister made a mention of the Army’s achievement.
“You will be pleased to hear that our Army team has won a gold medal, beating 140 countries in the prestigious Cambrian Patrol held in Britain. I give my heartiest wishes to these jawans,” the Prime Minister had said. He also mentioned the Army jawans who are working in the harsh inhospitable terrain of Siachen to protect the sovereignty of the country.
Exercise Cambrian Patrol is an annual international military patrolling event that makes its participating units cover a 80-km course in less than 48 hours, while performing numerous types of military exercises, across the rugged terrain of Cambrian Mountains and swamp lands of Mid-Wales in the UK.
Cambrian Patrol was first started more than 40 years ago, by a group of Welsh Territorial Army soldiers, who designed the training event to feature long-distance marching across the Cambrian Mountains culminating in a shooting match.
The aim of the exercise is to test leadership, self-discipline, courage, physical endurance and determination of the participants.
The competition consists of teams of eight men patrolling across some of the most unforgiving terrains.
The tests are held over two days, with no sleep or rest. Some tests which are undertaken include - firing of personal weapons, hurdle-crossing, first aid and casualty evacuation, recognition of aircraft vehicles and equipment, artillery target indication, patrol techniques, handling prisoners of war, tactical river/stream crossing and ambush/anti ambush drills, among others.
Many of the teams that enter dropout. Those that do, earn one of four distinctions -- gold medal, silver medal, bronze medal or passing, a statement by the Army said.
An Army team from 4/9 Gorkha Rifles had won the gold medal in 2010.