Did you Know?

A similar problem with regard to terminology as found within the Royal Australian Artillery exists with the Royal Australian Engineers. Sapper is the rank of the private soldier within the Corps; all members of the Corps are sappers and the Corps as a whole is also referred to as the sappers. The term 'sapper' relates back to the very early days of engineers; to sap was to dig siege trenches, or tunnels, under the enemy's fortifications.


Further Information
Royal Australian Engineers Open in new window



Royal Australian Engineers

"What is the Sapper?"

"He is a man of all work of the army and the public, astronomer, geologist, surveyor, draughtsman, artist, architect, traveller, explorer, antiquary, mechanic, diver, soldier and sailor; ready to do anything or go anywhere; in short he is a SAPPER"

Major General George Connelly

The Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) Open in new window is the Army Corps responsible for combat engineering support (tasks supporting mobility, counter-mobility and survivability), construction of vertical and horizontal structures, engineering design, multimedia, emergency response and geomatic support within the ADF.

Sappers can be found in a number of different units:

  • The Combat Engineer Regiment
  • The Construction Regiment or Squadron
  • The Chief Engineer Works
  • The Topographical Survey Squadron
  • Incident Response Regiment

These units, or detachments, provide engineering support to all levels of Army and the ADF. Sappers' responsibilities are very broad and fall into four main categories:

  • Mobility Support - Combat mobility, Tactical Mobility and Explosive Ordnance Clearance.
  • Counter-Mobility Support - Construct Obstacles, Conduct Demolitions.
  • Survivability Support - Produce water, Combat Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Fire Hazards, Construct Physical Force Protection Measures, Support Deception.
  • Sustainability Support - Construct, repair and maintain infrastructure to allow the sustainability of a deployed force including airfields, roads, accommodation buildings, sanitation and electrical systems.
  • Geospatial Support - Acquire, manage, analyse and manipulate geospatial data, provide geospatial products and services.