Military
The early days
Curtis enlisted into the Australian Army on the 12th June, 2006, at the age of 18. His focus immediately turned to Combat Engineering, the roles main aim is to “Provide mobility whilst denying the enemy mobility”. Duties range from building structures and converting seawater into drinking water for both the Army and the local populous, to destroying bridges and clearing mines and booby traps.
In May 2007 Curtis was posted to the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment in Darwin.
​
Humanitarian Missions
In late 2008 Curtis deployed to East Timor for eight months to be part of Operation Astute. Here his team built bridges, a water tank for an orphanage, and a medical centre for a remote, local village. During this deployment Curtis was put on a Junior Leadership Course - the first promotion course a soldier can undertake. Curtis did so well in the program he was named Student of Merit (top of the class).
Upon returning from East Timor a large earthquake hit Padang, Indonesia. The cities infrastructure was severely damaged and again 1st Combat Engineer Regiment was called to action, by providing engineering support on the ground, where it was desperately needed.
Combat Missions
Curtis received a call from his Sargent asking if he would like a deployment to Afghanistan, to which he didn't hesitate and said yes. Beginning his training in late 2011 for the deployment, He was selected to conduct combat first-aid training to become the unofficial medic for his 4 man team.​
Exactly six years after enlisting in the Australian Army, and following intensive preparations and training, Curtis was deployed with 90 other Combat Engineers to the Middle East for his first taste of action in a declared war-zone. Curtis and his team’s job was to search for improvised explosive devices or IEDs and to search the way for the rest of the forces following. This role is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
Fateful day in August
On the 23rd of August, 2012, young Sapper Curtis McGrath’s life changed forever. The decorated Sapper was three months into a tour of insurgent-rife areas of Afghanistan when he stepped on an IED. The then 24-year-old tragically lost both his legs in the blast.
Curtis remembers much of that day and the brave efforts of his comrades, actions that undeniably saved his life.
And only twenty minutes after the losing his legs, Curtis had set his sights on the future and again representing his country. Astoundingly, rumour has it he said, "You'll see me in the Paralympics"...
​
