While other soldiers prepared for deployment to Exercise Talisman Sabre, engineers from 6th Engineer Support Regiment were already hard at work constructing an underground bunker.
In these warfighting exercises, engineers are often in the field early, building foundations ahead of the fight.
Located at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, the structure - dug, reinforced and camouflaged - served as a secure command post for Combined Task Force Hamel headquarters to respond and counter simulated exercise scenarios.
The bunker, which took 52 engineers about 15 days to construct, featured reinforced walls, blast-resistant entry points, a multi-room layout and integrated communications infrastructure.
Engineer construction troop commander Lieutenant Zion De Groot said underground bunkers were still a relevant capability.
"Building a structure like this underground serves as force protection to military personnel far from contested areas, as a barrier to fires effects," Lieutenant De Groot said.
"The concept of underground bunkers to shelter military personnel is not new and we're still learning lessons from previous systems, all the way back to World War 1.
"When building, we had to balance the requirement for field fortification and structural integrity."
