Australian Australian Sapper – 2015 1 sapper 2015 Australian Sapper is the annual magazine of the Royal Australian Engineers, published by authority of the Head of Corps. Copyright Text and images in this publication are sourced from the Department of Defence and are copyright of the Commonwealth of Australia unless otherwise credited. Enquiries regarding the use of material in this publication should be directed to the Editor. Contributors are urged to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in their articles; the Editorial Board accepts no responsibility for errors of fact. The views expressed in this publication are the contributors’ and not necessarily those of the Royal Australian Engineers, the Australian Army or the Department of Defence. ISSN: 1449-4140 Editorial board Editor-in-Chief: Brigadier Wayne Budd AM, CSC Editor: Major Craig Clunas Graphic Design: Mr George Petrovski Contact the editor: [email protected] Cover. Sapper Luke Matthews of 3 CER, works to clear debris with a skid steer loader in the aftermath of Tropical Cylone Marcia as part of the Emergency Support Force (ESF) operating in the remote community Contents Message from the Head of Corps Royal Australian Engineers ....................................................... 4 Message from the Corps Sergeant Major Royal Australian Engineers ............................................. 6 The Royal Australian Engineers Foundation ................................................................................... 7 Force Engineer Branch .................................................................................................................. 8 Modernising Manoeuvre Support capability ................................................................................. 10 ....................................................................... 12 Directorate of Soldier Career Management - Army ...................................................................... 13 RAE Trades and Training .............................................................................................................. 14 School of Military Engineering ...................................................................................................... 16 Construction Troop - Armament and Construction Wing ALTC .................................................... 21 Operations .................................................................................................................................. 22 Exercises .................................................................................................................................... 26 Sapper SITREP 1st Combat Engineer Regiment ................................................................................................... 30 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment .................................................................................................. 33 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment ................................................................................................... 34 5th Engineer Regiment 36 6th Engineer Support Regiment .................................................................................................. 38 8th Engineer Regiment ................................................................................................................ 40 11th Engineer Regiment .............................................................................................................. 41 19th Chief Engineer Works .......................................................................................................... 42 22nd Engineer Regiment ............................................................................................................ 46 1st Topographic Support Squadron ............................................................................................. 48 3rd Field Squadron ...................................................................................................................... 50 Special Operations Engineer Regiment ........................................................................................ 52 Personnel matters ....................................................................................................................... 54 The Corps’ Museum .................................................................................................................... 56 Engineers at Gallipoli – 1915 ........................................................................................................ 58 From mud models to ROC maps ................................................................................................. 67 Modernisation of Army’s geospatial and multimedia capabilities ................................................... 68 The Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency ................................................................................. 70 High-risk search for relevance ..................................................................................................... 72 ............................................................................................................. 74 UNTAG reunion .......................................................................................................................... 76 Return to Gallipoli ........................................................................................................................ 78 4 Australian Sapper – 2015 Message from the Head of Corps Royal Australian Engineers BRIG Wayne Budd AM, CSC I am delighted to be able to write to you an annual Corps dinner. The reasons for our again in 2015. Much has happened this Corps traditions can be quite small but each year and the tempo of activities remains has a part in the esprit de corps that sets our high. In my engagements in Canberra great Corps apart from others. I continue to hear others talk about the When I look to the activity of units this year, Corps work and their admiration for what I see the continuing cycle of very good you achieve. Well done to everyone. training events upon which we build our skill. 2015 has been a year for considering our There is nothing more important than good heritage. The 100th anniversary of the training to understand our role in support Gallipoli landings was large in the publics of the Army when we need to deploy on awareness. Many of you may have seen our operations. Alas, our global operational ‘60 Minutes’ program special on the 1st Field commitments have not decreased, despite Company Engineers who, as I would contend some hopes for a more stable worldly from the available research material, lead environment. This makes our training and the troops ashore on the morning of 25 April readiness all the more important in being 1915. Ms Catherine Job, an experienced able to meet emerging operational needs. journalist, had an uncle in 1st Field Company The future development of Corps capabilities Engineers that morning - Sapper Cleve remains aligned with strategic level actions. Paige. Sapper Paige died that morning Delivering Army’s Initiatives is the term we are now using to describe the work of Company Engineers buried in the Shrapnel building on Beersheba. This work is about Valley cemetery on the Gallipoli Peninsula. In trying to understand what happened to her uncle, Catherine did an enormous and implementing a joint approach to some amount of research and has produced a capability. Further Army developments are substantial new amount of understanding locked in the cycle of the new Defence White about the sappers at and in the lead up Paper, the accompanying Force Structure to Gallipoli. In fact her work has revealed Review and the implementation of the Force the existence of more than 30 personal Disposition Review outcomes. You should diaries still held by families of members of understand that the appointment of our new the 1st Field Company Engineers. I thank Defence Minister, a new Chief of Army and Catherine for her passion and work and Government budget considerations will impact welcome her to the extended Corps family. the timing for release of all this eagerly awaited strategic guidance. In June this year I had the honour of accompanying a large group of old Sappers Despite the wait for some guidance, we have been busy with our own unit movements. trip was timed to coincide with the 100th Following 2 CER’s movement in to new lines anniversary of the completion of Watson last year, the move of the School of Military Pier by our sappers on 18 June 1915. The Engineering to Holsworthy was completed in completion of this pier by the men of 2nd April this year. The new ‘Home of the Corps’ Filed Company Engineers and probably has fantastic facilities which will enhance others under the command of Lieutenant Stan our delivery of training. While it was sad to Watson, provided the catalyst for a dugout leave the old Casula site, I am sure as you dinner which sparked a Corps tradition for visit the new School you will appreciate the Australian Sapper – 2015 5 investment made by Government in our capability. The new Museum is a must visit activity. 9 Field Squadron also moved back to Darwin from Edinburgh, collocating 1 CER as a Regiment again. Additionally, with the Sod Turning ceremony for the relocation of 17th Const Squadron conducted on 10 December in Amberley, a very long overdue facility renewal and relocation will await the Army. He served as a Representative the squadron in about 12 months time. Colonel