1st Combat Engineer Regiment (Australia)
Encyclopedia
The 1st Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER) is a combat engineer regiment
of the Australian Army
. Based in the Northern Territory
and attached to 1st Brigade, it is a Regular Army unit of the Royal Australian Engineers
and is tasked with providing mobility and counter mobility support.
.
The regiment moved from Sydney in late 1999 to Darwin. 2 Troop, 1 Field Squadron was deployed to East Timor during this time as part of INTERFET. In April 2000, 1 Troop, 1 Field Squadron replaced 2 Troop and began its six month deployment in support of 6 RAR. During this time the pro-Indonesian Militia re grouped, re-armed and returned to harass the peace keeping operations. 1 Troop conducted road repairs, water purification, and constructed strong points throughout the Australian AO. In October 2000, 1 Troop was relieved by 3 Troop, 2nd Field Squadron.
In late 2002, 73 personnel were used to form a Battalion Engineer Group to attach to 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
for a deployment to East Timor as part of the United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor
(UNMISET). Among the duties performed by the engineers, above aiding 5th/7th Battalion, included the provision of humanitarian aid, construction of infrastructure for the East Timorese law enforcement agencies, and provision of supplementary infantry patrols.
From April to August 2003, elements from 1 CER were deployed as part of Operation Relex
II. The sappers alternated between land-based training and periods embarked on Royal Australian Navy
vessels assigned to Relex, where they aided Navy personnel in boarding and searching Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel
s (SIEVs), boat handling, and other duties. During this deployment, personnel from 1 CER were involved in boarding and detaining SIEV 13, and the subsequent transfer of those aboard to the Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre.
Also in 2003, 1 CER was granted approval to use the Sand Goanna (Varanus Panoptes) as a mascot.
From late 2006 to mid-2007, a third of 1 CER was deployed to Tarin Kowt
, Afghanistan, as the 1st Reconstruction Task Force, the Australian contribution to a Dutch-led Provincial Reconstruction Team
. During this deployment, the remainder of 1 CER carried out a heavy training schedule.
In late 2008, personnel from 1st Field Squadron and 23rd Support Squadron were sent to Afghanistan on an eight-month deployment as part of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, during which Corporal Michael Anthony Cole was awarded the Order of Australia Medal. The rest of the regiment was involved in training and trials of the PackBot
military robot (the Scout and Explorer variants) for Australian use.
In July 2009, 1 CER and 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment served as the opposing force
during Exercise Talisman Sabre
2009.
In October 2009, the 1st Field Squadron Group provided Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Support in response to the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck off Western Sumatra on 30 September 2009.
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. Based in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
and attached to 1st Brigade, it is a Regular Army unit of the Royal Australian Engineers
Royal Australian Engineers
The Royal Australian Engineers is a corps of the Australian Army . The RAE is ranked fourth in seniority of the corps of the Australian Army, behind the Staff Cadets, Armoured and Artillery Corps...
and is tasked with providing mobility and counter mobility support.
Structure
- 1st Combat Engineer Regiment
- 1st Field Squadron
- 9th Field Squadron
- 23rd Support Squadron
- Operational Support Squadron
History
1 CER was raised on 1 March 1993 around the 1st Field Squadron RAE, itself raised in July 1980 at Victoria Barracks, SydneyVictoria Barracks, Sydney
Victoria Barracks is an Australian Army base in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Victoria Barracks is located in the suburb of Paddington, between Oxford Street and Moore Park Road...
.
The regiment moved from Sydney in late 1999 to Darwin. 2 Troop, 1 Field Squadron was deployed to East Timor during this time as part of INTERFET. In April 2000, 1 Troop, 1 Field Squadron replaced 2 Troop and began its six month deployment in support of 6 RAR. During this time the pro-Indonesian Militia re grouped, re-armed and returned to harass the peace keeping operations. 1 Troop conducted road repairs, water purification, and constructed strong points throughout the Australian AO. In October 2000, 1 Troop was relieved by 3 Troop, 2nd Field Squadron.
In late 2002, 73 personnel were used to form a Battalion Engineer Group to attach to 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
The 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment was a mechanised infantry battalion of the Australian Army. The battalion was based at Robertson Barracks in Palmerston, Northern Territory and formed part of the 1st Brigade. It was formed in 1973 by linking both the 5th and 7th Battalions of the...
for a deployment to East Timor as part of the United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor
United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor
The United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor was established on 20 May 2002, the same day which East Timor became an internationally recognized independent state and the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor came to an end.Military and police forces from contributing...
(UNMISET). Among the duties performed by the engineers, above aiding 5th/7th Battalion, included the provision of humanitarian aid, construction of infrastructure for the East Timorese law enforcement agencies, and provision of supplementary infantry patrols.
From April to August 2003, elements from 1 CER were deployed as part of Operation Relex
Operation Relex
Operation Relex is the name given to the Australian Defence Force border protection operation in the country's northern approaches conducted between 2001 and 2006. The operation was instigated following the Tampa affair in September 2001 and its focus was on illegal immigration...
II. The sappers alternated between land-based training and periods embarked on Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
vessels assigned to Relex, where they aided Navy personnel in boarding and searching Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel
Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel
Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel is the operational term used by the Australian Defence Force and Australian Coastwatch for maritime vessels which appear to be attempting to reach Australia clandestinely without authorisation...
s (SIEVs), boat handling, and other duties. During this deployment, personnel from 1 CER were involved in boarding and detaining SIEV 13, and the subsequent transfer of those aboard to the Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre.
Also in 2003, 1 CER was granted approval to use the Sand Goanna (Varanus Panoptes) as a mascot.
From late 2006 to mid-2007, a third of 1 CER was deployed to Tarin Kowt
Tarin Kowt
Tarinkot or Tarin Kowt is the capital of Orūzgān province in southern Afghanistan in Tarin Kowt District. It is a town of about 10,000 people, with some 200 small shops in the city's bazaar...
, Afghanistan, as the 1st Reconstruction Task Force, the Australian contribution to a Dutch-led Provincial Reconstruction Team
Provincial reconstruction team
A Provincial Reconstruction Team is a unit introduced by the United States government, consisting of military officers, diplomats, and reconstruction subject matter experts, working to support reconstruction efforts in unstable states. PRTs were first established in Afghanistan in late 2001 or...
. During this deployment, the remainder of 1 CER carried out a heavy training schedule.
In late 2008, personnel from 1st Field Squadron and 23rd Support Squadron were sent to Afghanistan on an eight-month deployment as part of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, during which Corporal Michael Anthony Cole was awarded the Order of Australia Medal. The rest of the regiment was involved in training and trials of the PackBot
PackBot
PackBot is a series of military robots by iRobot. More than 2000 PackBots are currently on station in Iraq and Afghanistan, with hundreds more on the way.-Current PackBot 510 variants:...
military robot (the Scout and Explorer variants) for Australian use.
In July 2009, 1 CER and 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment served as the opposing force
Opposing force
An opposing force or enemy force is a military unit tasked with representing an enemy, usually for training purposes in war game scenarios...
during Exercise Talisman Sabre
Exercise Talisman Sabre
Exercise Talisman Saber is a biennial joint Australia-United States military exercise...
2009.
In October 2009, the 1st Field Squadron Group provided Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Support in response to the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck off Western Sumatra on 30 September 2009.