Trained in amphibious assault, the brigade saw its role change several times, from combat engineers to front line infantry.

[3] It would continue supporting Allied units as they pushed Axis forces out of North Africa during the Tunisia Campaign.

For fifty days, during Operation Shingle, soldiers of the brigade held 7 miles (11 km) of the front line and earned the distinction by the German army as "The Little Seahorse Division".

[3] The unit subsequently participated in the invasion of southern France in 1944, code named Operation Dragoon, conducting its fifth and final amphibious assault of the war.

[5] On 15 February 1945, the unit was redesignated as the 36th Engineer Combat Group,[5] and following World War II it reorganized at Fort Lewis, Washington.

[3][6] It served in the Korean theater from 1950 until 1954, earning nine campaign streamers while supporting other army units in numerous engineering and construction projects, including rebuilding the Han river bridge just outside Seoul.

[7] Projects that the group and its subordinate battalions completed included POW facilities, allied bases, and minefield clearing.

[9] During the 1991 Gulf War, the 36th Engineer Group (Construction) fought in support of the 24th Infantry Division's rapid attack to the Euphrates.

[5][6] and reassigned to Fort Cavazos, Texas as the United States Army's first modular engineer brigade headquarters.

It is part of Task Force Rugged, and among its duties are training Afghan citizens in skilled labor and other nationbuilding operations.