Tag Archives: Engineer

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Who Should Serve as TF Engineers in an IBCT?

A Critical Position for Success in the Decisive Action Training Environment

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The Infantry Brigade Combat team is, by definition, a light organization.  Never is that more apparent to its soldiers than on the lead edge of the battlefield, defending against an Arianin armored thrust. This is the point, in time and space, where soldiers rue the fact that “light” fighters, are also “light” on engineers and their heavy equipment.  Whether the defense at the battalion-level fails or holds usually boils down to one person, the Task Force Engineer (TF ENG).

Soldiers assigned to the 36th Engineer Brigade breech a wire obstacle, November 26, 2019 during rotation 20-02 at JRTC.
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Maintenance in the Brigade Engineer Battalion

NTC Lessons on Maintaining at Pace

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Success throughout any National Training Center (NTC) rotation often directly reflects the rotational units’ emphasis placed on maintenance operations prior to and during the training event. Maintenance operations are often the primary shortcoming of Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs) at Fort Irwin. The following article provides observations, best practices, and potential solutions for Echo Forward Support Company (FSC) maintenance operations, Engineer specific problem sets, and Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Reconnaissance Platoons’ challenges within the Brigade Engineer Battalions (BEB) of ABCTs during Force on Force operations in a Decisive Action Training Environment against a near-peer threat.

These pioneers provide expert surveillance and reconnaissance putting in over 130 flight hours. These Soldiers have an incredibly important mission for the 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion and the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
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NTC Update (MAR 20)

Engineer Success in the Defense Rapid Preparation, Execution, and Transition

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Although the defense is an opportunity to inflict tremendous casualties and damage to enemy forces, many Army units and leaders view the defense with suspicion. Leaders often choose to spend the vast majority of training time on offensive tasks rather than defensive fundamentals. With appropriate planning and preparation for defensive operations, units can halt the enemy’s momentum, regenerate their own combat power, and then regain the initiative for offensive operations. According to ADP 3-90, this is the primary purpose of the defense[1]. When properly utilized, Engineers shape the battlefield, enhancing maneuver units ability to stop the enemy’s advance and destroy them in an engagement area (EA). If units overcome the following common friction points observed during National Training Center (NTC) rotations they can aggressively train and prepare to repel a fierce enemy attack – at NTC or wherever America needs them.

Soldiers from A Co, 116 Brigade Engineer Battalion, position their M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle during a live-fire training exercise at the National Training Center (NTC) in Fort Irwin, Calif., June 12, 2019. (Photo by: Cpl. Alisha Grezlik, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
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NTC Update (NOV 19)

Engineer Company Observations & Best Practices

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Engineer Companies represent some of the most diverse, in demand, formations in a Brigade Combat Team in a DATE scenario. Capable of providing mobility, counter-mobility, or survivability assets these formations uniquely shape a BCTs ability to maneuver against a determined enemy. Effectively integrating these highly specialized units into the scheme of maneuver requires sound SOPs, thoughtful consideration during planning, meticulous tracking during preparation, and integrated support from other maneuver units in the midst of execution. Whether you are a Company or BCT Commander, understanding how to properly integrate engineer support into your operations is paramount to success. 

A Soldier breaches a steel door with an exothermic cutting torch during training in the Republic of Korea. The torch is just one of many tools engineers use to breach obstacles.The Soldier is with 3rd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Scott Kuhn)
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Essayons!

#BranchSeries - Engineer

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Why the Engineer Corps?

The U.S. Army Engineer Regimental motto is Essayons! It is French for, “Let us try”. This isn’t a sympathetic, half-hearted try. It’s a statement of confidence as almost if to say, where others failed, we will succeed. I wanted to be an Engineer because I wanted to succeed where others hadn’t yet. I wanted a diverse mission set that required me to be physically fit and mentally sharp. The Engineer Corps offered it all.