Engineer Battalion

Engineering appears in various forms and names throughout the centuries-old struggle of the Macedonian people for freedom. These traditions have been continuing and cherishing up to the present days.

The Engineers Battalion of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia proudly and with dignity follows the path of the Macedonian warriors and continues and nurtures the traditions of the Engineer Brigade of the Headquarters of the National Liberation Army of Macedonia. This celebrated unit of the National Liberation Army of Macedonia, whose works are visible today, made a huge contribution during the end of World War II and in the post-war construction of the ravaged country.

The Engineers Brigade was formed on November 13, 1944. This day, with Decision No.07-345/3 issued on 01.07.2014 by the President of the Republic of Macedonia and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces was designated as the Day of the Engineers Battalion that nurtures and continues the traditions of the Engineers Brigade of the Headquarters of the Macedonian National Liberation Army.

It is absolutely necessary to emphasize the facts of the latest period of the unit’s history. The Engineers Battalion of ARM started to function on April 1st, 1992 as an Engineers Regiment. The first Macedonian soldier-conscript, an engineer of ARM, was admitted to the Engineers Battalion on April 15th, 1992. After the transformation of ARM units the Engineers Regiment officially began functioning as an Engineers Battalion.

• From April 2, 2012 – Engineers Battalion as part of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Joint Operations Command.
• From 14.12.2005 to 02.04.2012 – Engineers Battalion within the Logistics Support Command;
• From 15.07.2002 to 14.12.2005 – Engineers Regiment;
• From 01.04.1992  to 15.07.2002  – 1^stEngineers Regiment;

When on April 15th, 1992, the first recruits arrived in the barracks of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, those assigned to Engineers, had modest teaching aids available. They needed funds to carry out tasks, adequate material and technical means, mechanization and training assets.

The former army on the Macedonian territories took away all the funds the newly formed 1^st Engineers Regiment needed. Only one dozer ‘TG-170’ remained in the engineer’s machinery and that one was in a failed state. Fortunately, the entire engineering equipment of the then territorial defense remained, equipment for overcoming waterborne obstacles (boats with outboard engines), chainsaws and pioneer equipment. There was something else, about 80 officers of the engineer branch have returned to or were already in the Republic of Macedonia from the former state and army.

In 1992, the first donation was received. That was one FAP motor vehicle, the self-propelled obtained from ‘Autoprogress’ – Tetovo. Due to the scarce material possibilities, it was in 1996 when two engineer dozer machines were purchased from own funds. The equipping of the unit continued in the following years with the purchase of four motor vehicles self-propelled, roller, compressor station, digger, loader, grader and hauled train for the transport of engineering machinery. Later, two engineer machines, a motor grader and a roller, and another hauled train for transport engineer machines were purchased. The unit was also equipped with pioneering equipment, equipment for working with mines and explosives, and with a mining machine for anti-infantry mines ‘Digger 2’. In 2015 it was also equipped with a piling machine ‘SOLAR JOY-2’.

The first engineering task in the Army of the Republic of Macedonia was carried out in barracks ‘Gjorce Petrov’ in Skopje. A demining group was established and it successfully demined the barracks that had been mined by the former army.

Over the years, many other engineering tasks were completed. Among more important are the following:

• Construction of road infrastructure for the needs of ARM border units, and later for the needs of Border Police,
• Engineering security and engineering support to ARM units during the Kosovo crisis and military conflict in the Republic of Macedonia,
• Demarcation of the state border and setting of boundary marks,
• Regulation of divers’ training area on the coast of Ohrid Lake,
• Arrangement of training grounds for ARM units,
• Performing engineering works for the transformation of TA ‘Krivolak’ into a regional training center,
• Arrangement of warehouses for tangible assets in ‘Chelopeci’, ‘Kukol’ and ‘Maucher’,
• Repair of the road to the Stationary Communication Node (SCN) ‘Vodno’,  SCN ‘Plachkovica’ and SCN ‘Solunska Glava’,
• Dealing with floods consequences in the municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia,
• Participation in humanitarian action for dealing with floods in the Republic of Serbia together with other ARM units,
• Cleaning of roads from snow drifts on separate ARM facilities and for the needs of the municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia,
• Cleaning of rivers and river beds in the Republic of Macedonia,
• Arrangement of the Prespa Lake and Dojran Lake coasts,
• Fuel transport for the needs of the municipalities and ‘Agency for Protection and Rescue’ in accordance with the Government Action Plan for cleaning of rivers and river beds in the Republic of Macedonia,
• Arrangement of  military camps in St. Naum and Dojran,
• Performing engineering works for the needs of the municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia,
• Engagement of haulage trains for transport meeting the needs of  ARM units and for the needs of the municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia,
• Construction of a security fence on the southern and northern border of the state at the beginning of the migration crisis to protect against illegal crossings,
• Engagement of forces and funds at the southern border of the Republic of Macedonia for support and assistance of the Ministry of Interior in dealing with the migration crisis.

Engineers Battalion has two declared units:

• Road platoon within the multinational brigade of Southeastern Europe (SEEBRIG);
• Pioneering platoon of the medium infantry battalion group (MIBG).

Engineers Battalion strengthens its reputation and authority within the inter-armies cooperation and military exercises held in the country and abroad.

Participation in exercises held in the Republic of Macedonia:

• „Dragoon Guardian 17“, TA „Krivolak“.
• „Cornerstone 2000-3“, TA „Krivolak“;
• „ The best co-operative activity 1998 “, TA „Krivolak“;
• „Savior 1997“, TA „Krivolak“;
• Serial of exercises „Macedonian Flesh“, TA „Krivolak“.

Participation in exercises held abroad:

• „Saber Guardian 17“ in Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.
• „Saber Junction 17“ in Hohenfield Training Area, Germany;
• „Adriatic Engagement“ 2005 in Albania;
• „Adriatic Phiblex 2004-2“ in Slunj, Croatia;
• „Adriatic Shield 2004-6“ in Shibenik, Croatia;
• „Cornerstone 2003“  in Konstanza, Romania;
• „Cornerstone 2002“ in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Servicemen of Engineers Battalion participated in the ‘Iraqi Freedom’, ‘ISAF’, ‘Resolute Support’ and ‘Althea’ missions.

Special pride of Engineers Battalion servicemen is the awarding of a meritorious order issued by the Supreme Commander and President of the Republic of Macedonia for outstanding contribution and support for preserving the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Macedonia and strengthening the national security, and especially in dealing with the refugee crisis, awarded on 18.08.2016 on ‘Army Day of the Republic of Macedonia’. The great incitement is that the same year, at the ‘Day of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade – April 2nd’, 1st  Engineers Company as part of  Engineers Battalion was selected and declared the best company in the brigade for its special contribution and achieved results in training and work.

Through the execution of engineering works in the Republic of Macedonia, participation in missions and international exercises, Engineers Battalion, from its existence until now, has been building the image for itself and rightfully its logo is ‘Always Forward’. It is also valued and respected ​​within ARM, the population in the Republic of Macedonia and the NATO member countries and Macedonian partner countries. The beginnings were modest, but with the development and modernization, the high professionalism, skills and knowledge of Engineers Battalion servicemen, a reputation consistent with respect was built.