The Corps of Royal Engineers - Ubique Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt (Everywhere, Where Right and Glory lead)
The motto of the Royal Engineers (RE) is 'Ubique' meaning 'everywhere'; physically and conceptually the Sappers, our nickname, are hardwired into joint effects in all arenas. Sappers are employed throughout the area of operations, from reconnaissance to facilitating the port of disembarkation. They are proud to be ubiquitous.
The founding principles of the Royal Engineers are: Live, Move, Fight. These words show the hierarchy of need on operations and the Sappers support these needs at the tactical, operational and strategic level supporting the military mission but also other campaign effects, such as reconstruction and development.
Live. The RE play a key role in helping the Army survive. They provide Force Protection from the enemy, construct camps and provide utilities such as power and water across the area of operations.
Move. Engineer support is critical to maintaining friendly freedom of manoeuvre on the battlefield and denying the same to the enemy. They work at the strategic level in ports and airfields, the operational level by maintaining lines of communications such as roads and at the tactical level providing gap crossing and obstacle breaching capability.
Fight. Sappers provide intimate, close and specialised support on the battlefield. They support combat troops in the assault and in defence as well as providing 'soft effect' through influence and Host Nation capacity building.
To achieve these effects the RE follow the mantra of Design, Resource, Construct. Whether it be a platoon defensive position or a camp the size of a small town the application of fundamental engineering principles is the key to success.
Essential to the RE capability is the utility of sappers; each is Triple-Traded as Soldier, Combat Engineer and Tradesman. The variety of roles and tasks expected of the RE requires a mix of generalist and specialist capabilities. While every soldier can fight, and have done so in every conflict, each is trained combat engineer as well as individually holding one of a huge range of specialist artisan skills from surveying to bricklaying and from geographic technician to electrician. On top of all of this many Royal Engineers hold additional specialisations in areas such as the commandos, parachutists, military divers or in EOD.
Sappers' multiple skills make them employable across the mosaic of conflict. Valuable assets, everywhere.