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The Australian Army’s order of battle has been reinforced with the inclusion of a new unit based in Western Australia.
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The 13th Engineer Regiment (13 ER) is the latest unit of the Australian Army, officially raised during an Establishment Ceremony held at the 13th Brigade’s base at Irwin Barracks, Western Australia on Tuesday, 5 July 2022.
The new regiment, based on the current 13 Field Squadron, is expected to include a new squadron and an evolved focus on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
Thirteen ER will also be tasked with providing geospatial, combat and force support engineering capabilities, in a bid to support joint manoeuvre and survivability.
“The 13th Brigade is continuing to be a testbed for military innovation and transformation for greater Army,” 13th Brigade Commander, Brigadier Brett Chaloner, said.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Western Australians to join the Army, learn new skills and become part of a proud national institution.”
The raising of 13 ER comes less than 12 months after the Army’s re-raising of the WA-based 10th Light Horse Regiment.
“Western Australia is at the forefront of the Australian Army’s modernisation program to be Future Ready," BRIG Chaloner added.
The establishment of a new unit within the Australian Army follows the completion of combat arms officer training as part of Exercise Gauntlet Strike — an officer training course held at Puckapunyal Military Area, designed to test the leadership capabilities of junior combat arms officers.
The exercise involved 268 Army personnel, with 154 junior officers participating in the week-long challenge.
The officers were tasked with completing a range of activities as part of a combat team, fighting against an opposition force.
Exercise Gauntlet Strike was the culmination of the Regimental Officer Basic Course for the Royal Australian Armoured Corps and for the Mechanised Regimental Officer Course — aimed at bolstering manoeuvring skills in Army’s armoured personnel carriers.
The participants are now qualified junior officers in their battalion or regiment, which form part of one of Army’s combat brigades.
[Related: Junior officers complete Exercise Gauntlet Strike]
