School of Military Engineering - Army

30/10/2026

STEELE CUP 2026 WINNERS - 1CER

And that’s a wrap on STEELE CUP 2026, to the victor go the spoils.

Special mention to:
130 ENG BDE (US) - Engineering Tactics Wing coin for Combat Mindset
3CER - CPL Kennedy - Combat Engineering Wing Top Shot (RP3A)
2ER (NZ) - CPL Schafer - Trainee Rehab Wing coin for Casualty Care and Management

Watch this space for more content from this year’s competition.

29/10/2026

28/10/2026

STEELE CUP 2026 | COMBAT ENGINEERING COMPETITION

STEELE CUP is under way this week. The competition, hosted by the School of Military Engineering, is the country’s premier section-level combat engineering competition, putting soldiers’ technical skills, teamwork and endurance to the test.

Throughout the competition, sections are challenged across the full spectrum of combat engineering effects, including mobility, counter-mobility, survivability and general engineering support, testing their ability to deliver these effects under pressure.

This year we are pleased to be hosting teams from:
1 CER - 1st Combat Engineer Regiment
2 CER - 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment
3 CER - 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment
6 ESR - 6th Engineer Support Regiment
5 ER - 5th Engineer Regiment - Australian Army
3 FD SQN
2 ER (NZ) - Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers
130 ENG BDE (USA)

Follow our page for more on STEELE CUP 2026.

21/10/2026

🇦🇺 THROWBACK THURSDAY - EXERCISE HARI’I HAMUTUK 2020 🇹🇱

This week, we’re looking back to October 2020, when Australian Army Sappers from the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment were supporting Exercise Hari’i Hamutuk in Timor-Leste.

Working alongside Timor-Leste’s defence forces, Australian engineers contributed to infrastructure improvements, including the installation of solar power systems and upgrades to military facilities.

The exercise provided an opportunity to share technical skills, strengthen regional partnerships and demonstrate the versatility of military engineering beyond the battlefield.

From combat engineering to construction and infrastructure support, these activities reflect the diverse capabilities of the Royal Australian Engineers and the skills developed here at the School of Military Engineering.

For more about the exercise follow this link:

https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2020-10-22/engineers-share-skills-during-exercise

Follow our page for more stories highlighting the history and achievements of the Royal Australian Engineers.

Facilities at three military bases in Timor-Leste have been upgraded during Exercise Hari’i Hamutuk 2020.

19/10/2026

3 Troop recently conducted Demolitions training as part of their Initial Employment Training at the School of Military Engineering.

Throughout the training, soldiers developed their understanding of explosives, demolition techniques and the safety procedures required when working with explosive stores.

The training provided an opportunity to apply technical knowledge in a practical environment, building the skills, confidence and discipline required of a Combat Engineer.

12/10/2026

3 Troop – CBRN Training

3 Troop has been getting hands-on with Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) training, developing the skills required to operate effectively in contaminated and hazardous environments.

Training put the Sappers through the fundamentals of CBRN defence, including the use of protective equipment, detection and identification procedures, decontamination and operating while wearing protective clothing and equipment.

Working in CBRN equipment adds another layer of difficulty to even simple tasks, testing communication, teamwork and attention to detail while reinforcing the procedures that keep soldiers and their teams protected.

Another important capability added to the toolbox as 3 Troop continues through their Initial Employment Training at the School of Military Engineering.

07/10/2026

On 8 October 1917, Australian Sappers were operating around the devastated Belgian city of Ypres, supporting Allied operations during the Third Battle of Ypres.

Among them were members of the 5th Field Company, Australian Engineers, who were billeted in dugouts built into the historic ramparts of Ypres. On the opposite side of the embankment, German artillery regularly struck the city’s old stone defences.

Nearby, Australian Engineers had constructed a bridge across the moat surrounding Ypres. Its purpose was simple but vital — reduce congestion on the main roads leading out of the city and keep men and materiel moving towards the front.

The challenges faced by the Sappers of 1917 may look very different to those faced today, but the purpose remains familiar: maintaining mobility and enabling the force to continue the mission.

More than a century later, the School of Military Engineering continues to train Sappers in the skills required to provide that support wherever it is needed.

05/10/2026

Training continues for 3 Troop, with the Sappers putting in the work through Physical Employment Standards Assessment (PESA) training and combat conditioning training.

Designed around the physical demands of employment within Army, PESA training challenges soldiers to apply strength, endurance and resilience to tasks that reflect the requirements of their role.

Alongside this, combat conditioning is building the physical robustness needed to perform effectively when fatigued, under load and in demanding field environments.

For 3 Troop, it’s another important part of developing into capable and resilient Sappers - building the fitness to complement the technical and military engineering skills developed throughout IET.

Follow the School of Military Engineering to keep up to date with our Sappers as they continue their journey through IET.

01/10/2026

This Throwback Thursday we’re looking back to 29 September 1918, when Australian forces were committed to the assault on the formidable Hindenburg Line on the Western Front.

As Australian and Allied troops advanced, Sappers faced a familiar problem - keeping the force moving.

Near Bellicourt, France, Australian Engineers worked to repair a corduroy track that had been repeatedly destroyed by mines as German forces withdrew.

This work formed part of the enormous engineering effort required to support operations across the devastated landscape of the Western Front. Roads, tracks and bridges had to be repaired or constructed to allow troops, artillery, supplies and vehicles to continue moving forward.

More than a century later, mobility remains a fundamental role of the Sapper.

Follow the School of Military Engineering for more from the history of the Corps and the Sappers of today.

22/09/2026

The sappers of 1TP on Exercise Bardia joined ROBC as they closed out Exercise Kokoda early last month.

This joining of exercises proved a great opportunity for our young sappers and officers to work together on the tasks they learned throughout their courses.

They were also joined by a Public Affairs team who got some excellent imagery of their work.

Ubique