In 1902 Foott transferred to the Royal Australian Engineers. After a year of training in England in 1908, he became Chief Engineer in Victoria in 1909. He was promoted to major on 1 August 1909, served as Director of Works from 1910 to 1911 and then as Director of Engineers from 1911–12. In 1912–13 he attended the Staff College, Camberley in England, and was still on duty in the England on the staff of Southern Command when the war broke out.