Northland soldier to face tough test

Kerikeri soldier Sapper Sam Jones, 20, will be among a contingent of New Zealand soldiers testing their skills in the arduous Cambrian Patrol exercise in Wales this month.

Two New Zealand Army teams will participate in the event which is billed as the “premier patrolling event of the British Army”, and viewed as among the most arduous patrolling events in the world.

Over an intense 48-hour period each team will be tested on variety of skills including weapon-handling, combat first aid, helicopter drills, reaction to chemical, biological and nuclear threats, physical fitness and patrol techniques.

Sapper Jones said training for the event had been physically and mentally tough with a focus on a number of skills.

“Now we are getting close and the training is almost done everyone is getting pretty amped to get there and participate,” Sapper Jones said.

Major Brent Smith, the contingent commander and team manager, said:

"The Cambrian patrol involves teams from all over the world. Physically it’s extremely demanding and will require a total team effort by all members deploying to make it through to the end. Both teams have put in a lot of effort during their preparation and are looking forward to the challenges and working alongside teams from other nations.”

The team leave New Zealand on October 23.