History

Created on 1 July 1999, the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG) established itself at Saint-Christol d’Albion, in the Vaucluse department, on the grounds of Air Base 200. It inherits the historical heritage and traditions of the eighteen Foreign Legion engineer formations that served in Indochina. From its inception, it has taken part in multiple operations, sometimes over long periods, such as KFOR in Kosovo, to which the regiment contributed from 1999 to 2008. In 2000–2001, it was deployed in Bosnia as part of SFOR, then in Côte d’Ivoire from 2005 to 2007 and again in 2011 (Operation LICORNE).

The regiment subsequently deployed during Operation BALISTE in Lebanon in 2006. The 2e REG also took part in multiple operations in Afghanistan (PAMIR and EPIDOTE) between 2011 and 2012. Since 2014, the regiment has been engaged in Operations SERVAL and then BARKHANE in Mali, and SANGARIS in the Central African Republic.

Mission

As the assault engineer unit of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (27e BIM), the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment carries out missions supporting mobility, counter-mobility, and emergency deployment. It is also capable of conducting missions in mountainous areas, requiring the specific skills suited to that environment. Each year, it contributes reinforcements to the combined-arms task forces (GTIA) of the 27e BIM deployed to theaters of operations.

In parallel, in addition to its commitments in mainland France, where it has taken part in Operation Sentinelle, the regiment continues to send its sub-units on short-duration missions to Martinique and French Guiana.