STUDENTS from Denbigh have had to give battlefield first aid while navigating the hills of Wales amid strong winds during a prestigious army cadet exercise.
More than 140 cadets gathered on Epynt Muntain, part of the UK's third largest military training area, Sennybridge, in Powys, for what the Army Cadet Force describes as "one of the most intense experiences available to cadets".
Exercise Cadet Cambrian Patrol puts soldiers-to-be through rigorous tests covering the cadet syllabus, including navigating, shooting and first aid.
The exercise was held on the weekend April 27-28, when a yellow wind warning was issued by the Met Office as Storm Hannah battered Wales.
Eight cadets from St Brigid's School years 11 and 12 took part, putting months of training into practice.
They had to trek 25 kilometres over the mountains, starting at 4.30am on the Saturday, reaching heights between 250-400 metres above sea level, navigating through a series of checkpoints while carrying all their kit and completing tasks along the way.
The Denbigh cadets with their silver medals after the exercise.
Major Mark Teesdale, officer commanding of the Cadet Training Team, said: “Exercise Cadet Cambrian Patrol tested a wide range of areas across the whole of the cadet syllabus.
"The standard this year was higher than ever, and just making it to Cambrian means the cadets are the best in their Brigades. It’s one of the most intense exercises cadets can face and the experience will help to prepare them to overcome future challenges.”
One of the tasks the cadets had to complete involved field craft, the tactical skill and methods of moving through terrain without being noticed. They wore laser quest jackets and had to identify pop-up targets and treat a multiple casualty situation and find hidden objects.
They slept in tents and carried out a competitive shoot on the final task before returning to camp at 6pm on Sunday.
A spokesperson for St Brigid's said the students achieved the school's best result in the exercise "for a very long time".
They said: "Well done to cadet flight sergeant Philip Wood, the team leader and Kyle cadet lance corporal Dela Cruz who scored maximum points in the shoot, and to cadet colour sergeants James Hone and Scott Williams, and cadet sergeants Tom Kingsland and Llyon Morgan-Read, and cadet lance corporals Aaron Carrier and Lewis Clayton.
"They all achieved Silver Medal standard overall, our best result for a very long time."
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