Survival of the fittest: British Army competes in gruelling Nato recon competition
Three British Army teams have been competing against Nato's finest in Estonia in what the host nation calls the toughest reconnaissance challenge on the planet.
It's the Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge 2024, where just completing the event is a huge achievement.
Each year, competitors face a brutal test of endurance, attempting to cover nearly 100 miles over three days while running the gauntlet of a series of painful and random challenges.
Second Lieutenant Julia Siimberg of the Estonian Defence League explained: "It's the toughest challenge. It doesn't just test their fitness, it tests their minds."
The Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge is named after a significant figure in Estonian defence history, as Johan Pitka commanded the navy in the Estonian War of Independence in 1919.
Countries from across Nato took part in this year's event including France, the United States and Finland.
Estonia has won it for the last 10 years.
Twenty-two teams of four soldiers took part this year, with three teams representing the British Army – one from 5 Rifles and two from 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards.
Only two British teams are thought to have completed this competition since it began in 2013.
The first task of the challenge was for the team members to free each other after being captured and then open fire with Russian weapons at a shooting range.
Next it was demolition job, where they had just a few minutes to build an explosive device, set it off and get to safety.
And the tasks kept on coming, with the next one being a water crossing, and another saw teams having to memorise the order of items placed on shelves. Once they have run around several times, they then have to recreate it.
Estonian glory – again
In addition to the tests, much of the challenge involves road marching.
Ten kilometres later, the feet were starting to feel it, so it was time for a quick break before the next test.
Another of the tests involved the teams being split in two, emphasising the recon element of the competition.
From the top of a tower, they had to find a series of pictures, identify what they were and then radio back the intelligence to the other team members who collated the answers.
And then there was more marching. A gruelling obstacle course awaited all of the teams, but not everyone made it this far.
Unfortunately, all three of the British Army teams were forced to drop out of the competition, although they said they were determined to come back stronger.
Of the 22 teams that started, only 14 completed the challenge – with the Estonians taking gold, silver and bronze.
So next year's challenge for the rest of Nato will be to see whether any of their teams can take the crown from the Estonians.
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