# Combat engineer

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Combat_engineer
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Combat_engineer.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_engineer
> Source revision: 1348797120
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

It has been suggested that Construction troops be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since April 2026.

Soldier who performs military engineering

Royal Engineers preparing site for a bridge in Afghanistan.

A **combat engineer** (also called **pioneer** or *[sapper](/source/Sapper)*) is a type of soldier who performs [military engineering](/source/Military_engineering) tasks in support of land forces combat operations. Combat engineers perform a variety of military engineering, [tunnel](/source/Tunnel_warfare) and [mine](/source/Land_mine) warfare tasks, as well as [construction](/source/Construction) and [demolition](/source/Demolition) duties in and out of combat zones.[1][2]

Combat engineers facilitate the mobility of friendly forces while impeding that of the enemy. They also work to assure the survivability of friendly forces, building fighting positions, [fortifications](/source/Fortification), and [roads](/source/Road). They conduct [demolition](/source/Demolition) missions and clear minefields manually or through use of [specialized vehicles](/source/Military_engineering_vehicle). Common combat engineer missions include construction and breaching of trenches, tank traps and other obstacles and [fortifications](/source/Fortification); obstacle emplacement and [bunker](/source/Bunker) construction; route clearance and reconnaissance; [bridge](/source/Bridge) and [road](/source/Road) construction or destruction; emplacement and clearance of [land mines](/source/Land_mine); and combined arms breaching. Typically, combat engineers are also trained in infantry tactics and, when required, serve as provisional infantry.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

## Combat engineer organization

[Buffalo MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle)](/source/Buffalo_(mine_protected_vehicle)), a common vehicle used to uncover [improvised explosive devices](/source/Improvised_explosive_device) (IEDs) by combat engineer units.

Combat engineers play a key role in all armed forces of the world. They are invariably found closely integrated into the force structure of divisions, combat brigades, and smaller fighting units.

### Combat support formations

In many countries, combat engineers provide [combat support](/source/Combat_support) members of a broader military engineering corps or branch. Other nations have distinct combat engineering corps or branches; they are separate from other types of military engineers. The Danish military engineers' corps, for example, is almost entirely organized into one regiment of combat engineers, simply named [Ingeniørregimentet](/source/Ingeni%C3%B8rregimentet) ("The Engineering Regiment").

### Combat arms formations

Combat engineer battalions are usually a part of a [brigade combat team](/source/Brigade_combat_team). During the [War in Afghanistan](/source/War_in_Afghanistan) and the 2003–2011 [Iraq War](/source/Iraq_War), the U.S. Army tasked its combat engineers with [route clearance](/source/Route_clearance) missions designed to counter rising threats of [improvised explosive devices](/source/Improvised_explosive_device) (IEDs). To increase the effectiveness of these units, EOD and mechanic teams were typically embedded with the combat engineer platoon. Due to rising IED threats, the U.S. Army sends some combat engineers to complete Explosive Ordnance Clearance Agent training.[9]

### Special operations units

Individual combat engineers are often assigned as a component of both covert and overt [direct action](/source/Direct_action_(military)) [special operations](/source/Special_operations) teams. For example, the [active duty](/source/Active_duty) [US Army Special Forces](/source/United_States_Army_Special_Forces)[10] and its two [reserve components](/source/Reserve_components_of_the_United_States_Armed_Forces), the [19th SFG](/source/19th_Special_Forces_Group) and [20th SFG](/source/20th_Special_Forces_Group) of the US [Army National Guard](/source/Army_National_Guard),[11] employ combat engineer sergeants designated by [MOS](/source/United_States_military_occupation_code) 18C. A [Green Berets](/source/Green_Berets) [Operational Detachment Alpha](/source/United_States_Army_Special_Forces#Basic_Element_–_SF_Operational_Detachment-A_(SFODA)_composition), more commonly known as an "A-Team",[12] typically consists of 12 men, two of whom are combat engineer sergeants.[13]

Another example is the Israeli [Yahalom](/source/Yahalom_(IDF)) unit, which is a special operations engineering unit that possess sabotage, explosives demolition and [tunnel warfare](/source/Tunnel_warfare) capabilities.

## Terminology

A general combat engineer is often called a *[pioneer](/source/Pioneer_(military))* or *[sapper](/source/Sapper)*, terms derived respectively from the [French](/source/France) and [British](/source/United_Kingdom) armies. In some armies, *pioneer* and *sapper* indicate specific [military ranks](/source/Military_rank) and levels of combat engineers, who work under fire in all seasons and may be allocated to different corps, as they were in the former Soviet Army, or they may be organized in the same corps. [Geomatics](/source/Geomatics) (surveying and cartography) is another area of military engineering but is often performed by the combat engineers of some nations and in other cases is a separate responsibility, as was formerly the case in the Australian Army. While the officers of a combat engineer unit may be professionally certified civil or mechanical engineers, the non-commissioned members are generally not.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

### Sapper

Main article: [Sapper](/source/Sapper)

*Explosives and Demolitions: Bangalore Torpedoes* (1944) De-classified U.S. Army Bangalore high-explosives combat engineer training film reel.

In the British, Indian, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand armies, a sapper is a soldier who has specialized combat engineer training. The term "sapper" in the U.S. Army refers to a person who either possesses the combat engineer military occupational specialty or who has graduated from the Sapper Leader Course, more commonly called "Sapper School." In Sapper School, volunteers from the ranks of combat engineers and other military occupational specialties (most of whom serve in the [combat arms](/source/Combat_arms)) undergo training in combat engineer and infantry battle drills, expedient demolitions, threat weapons, unarmed combat, mountaineering, and water operations. Some of the training in this 28-day course, arguably one of the most challenging in the U.S. Army, features covert infiltration techniques or survival skills.[14]

In the [Israeli Defense Forces](/source/Israeli_Defence_Forces), sapper (פלס) is a military profession code denoting a combat engineer who has graduated from various levels of combat engineering training. Sapper 05 is the basic level, Sapper 06 is the general level, Sapper 08 is the combat engineer commander's level, and Sapper 11 is the combat engineer [officer](/source/Officer) level. All IDF sappers are also trained as [Rifleman](/source/Rifleman) 07, matching [infantry](/source/Infantry).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

In the [Canadian Army](/source/Canadian_Army), it is a term for soldiers that have completed the basic Combat Engineer training.[15]

In the [Portuguese Army](/source/Portuguese_Army), a *sapador de engenharia* (engineering sapper) is a soldier of the engineering branch that has specialized combat engineer training. A *sapador de infantaria* (infantry sapper) is a soldier of the infantry branch that has a similar training and that usually serves in the combat support sapper platoon of an infantry battalion.

The [Italian Army](/source/Italian_Army) uses the term *guastatori* for their combat engineers.

### Pioneer

Main article: [Pioneer (military)](/source/Pioneer_(military))

In the [Finnish army](/source/Finnish_army), *pioneeri* is the private equivalent rank in the army for a soldier who has completed the basic combat engineering training. Naval engineers retain the rank *matruusi* but bear the *pioneeri* insignia on their sleeves.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

The German [Bundeswehr](/source/Bundeswehr) uses the term *Pionier* for their combat engineers and other specialized units, who are associated with Special Forces to clear obstacles and perform engineering duties. Also the combat engineers in the Austro-Hungarian [k.u.k.](/source/K.u.k.) Forces were called "Pioniere".[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

### Assault pioneer

Main article: [Assault pioneer](/source/Assault_pioneer)

In the British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand armies, an assault pioneer is an infantry soldier with some limited combat engineer training in clearing obstacles during assaults and light engineering duties. Until recently, assault pioneers were responsible for the operation of [flamethrowers](/source/Flamethrower).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

### Field engineer

Field engineer is a term used (or formerly used) in many Commonwealth armies. In modern usage, it is often synonymous with combat engineer. However, the term originally identified those military engineers who supported an army operating in the field instead of garrison engineers who built and supported permanent fixed bases. In its original usage, "field engineering" would have been inclusive of but broader than "combat engineering."[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

### Specialisations

Sappers specialising in [tunnel warfare](/source/Tunnel_warfare) may be known as miners.

In the [French Army](/source/French_Army), combat engineers specialising in bridge-building are called *[pontoniers](/source/Pontonier)*, while in the [Italian Army](/source/Italian_Army), combat engineers specialising in bridge-building are called *[pontieri](/source/Pontieri)*.

## Practices and techniques

*Demolition Part II - Electric Priming* (1957) - Official U.S. Army combat engineer demolition training film reel.

Combat engineers are force multipliers and enhance the survival of other troops through the use and practice of camouflage, reconnaissance, communications and other services. These include the construction of roads, bridges, [field fortifications](/source/Field_fortification), obstacles and the construction and operation of water supplies. In these roles, combat engineers use a wide variety of hand and power tools. They are also responsible for construction rigging, the use of [explosives](/source/Explosive), and the carrying out of demolitions, obstacle clearance, and obstacle construction, assault of fortifications, use of [assault boats](/source/Assault_boat) in water obstacle crossings, [helipad](/source/Helipad) construction, general construction, [route reconnaissance](/source/Route_reconnaissance) and road reconnaissance, and erecting communication installations. Combat engineers build and run water distribution points, carrying out water filtration, and NBC decontamination when necessary, and storage prior to distribution.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

All these role activities and technologies are divided into several areas of combat engineering:

### Mobility

Improving the ability of one's own force to move around the battlefield. Combat engineers typically support this role through reduction of enemy obstacles which include point and row minefields, anti-tank ditches, wire obstacles, concrete, and metal anti-vehicle barriers, and [improvised explosive devices](/source/Improvised_explosive_device) (IED) and wall and [door breaching](/source/Door_breaching) in urban terrain. Mechanized combat engineer units also have armored vehicles capable of laying short bridges for limited gap-crossing.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

- Clearing terrain obstacles

- Overcoming [trenches](/source/Trench) and ditches

- Opening routes for [armored fighting vehicles](/source/Armored_fighting_vehicle)

- Constructing [roads](/source/Road) and [bridges](/source/Bridge)

- [Route clearance](/source/Route_clearance)

### Countermobility

Building obstacles to prevent the enemy from moving around the battlefield. Destroying bridges, blocking roads, creating airstrips, digging trenches, etc. Can also include planting [land mines](/source/Land_mine) and [anti-handling devices](/source/Anti-handling_device) when authorized and directed to do so.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

When the defender must [retreat](/source/Retreat_(military)) it is often desirable to destroy anything that may be of use to the enemy, particularly bridges, as their destruction can slow the [advance](/source/Offensive_(military)) of the attackers.

- Planting land mines

- Digging trenches and ditches

- Demolishing roads and bridges

### Explosive material handling

The placement of [land mines](/source/Land_mine) to create [minefields](/source/Minefield) and their maintenance and removal.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

- Clearing fields of [land mines](/source/Land_mine)

- Demolition

### Assault

- Opening routes during an assault

- Demolishing enemy structures (using [bulldozers](/source/Bulldozer) or explosive charges).

### Defense structures

Building structures which enable one's own [soldiers](/source/Soldiers) to survive on the battlefield. Examples include trenches, bunkers, shelters, and armored vehicle fighting positions.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Defensive [fortifications](/source/Fortification) are designed to prevent intrusion into the inner works by [infantry](/source/Infantry). For minor defensive locations, these may only consist of simple walls and ditches. The design principle is to slow down the advance of attackers to where they can be destroyed by defenders from sheltered positions. Most large fortifications are not a single structure but rather a concentric series of fortifications of increasing strength.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

- Building [fortifications](/source/Fortification)

- Building [outposts](/source/Outpost_(military))

- Building fences

- Defense against [WMD weapon](/source/WMD_weapon) threats

## Equipment and vehicles

Combat engineers employ a wide range of transportation vehicles and equipment and use weapons unique to the engineers, including those used in land mine warfare.

### Basic tooling

IED detonator in [Iraq](/source/Iraq)

Basic combat engineering tools include safe use of:

- driving tools and [chopping tools](/source/Chopping_tools) (hammers, mauls, sledges, screwdriver, and bits)

- [cutting tools](/source/Cutting_tools) and smoothing tools (saws, chisels, planes, files and rasps, brush-cutting tools, miscellaneous cutting tools)

- drilling tools, boring tools, and countersinking tools

- [measuring tools](/source/Measuring_tools), leveling tools and layout tools (rules, tapes, marking tools, levels, plumb bobs, squares)

- gripping tools, prying tools, and twisting tools (pliers, wrenches, bars)

- holding tools, raising tools, and grinding tools (vises, clamps, jacks, grinders, and oilstones)

- timber handling tools and climbing tools; digging tools (shovels, posthole diggers, picks, and mattocks)

- portable power tools and trailer-mounted tools (electric tool trailer and generator, portable power tools)

- miscellaneous tools.

### Vehicles

Armored [front loader](/source/Loader_(equipment))

The [IDF Caterpillar D9](/source/IDF_Caterpillar_D9) [armored bulldozer](/source/Armored_bulldozer) is used for a variety of combat engineering tasks, including opening routes, demolishing structures, digging antivehicular ditches, and constructing vehicle fighting positions.

[German Army](/source/German_Army) combat engineer vehicle *Dachs*

This EBG combat engineering vehicle is used by the engineers of the [French Army](/source/French_Army) (as well as the [British army](/source/British_Army)) for a variety of missions

Main article: [Military engineering vehicles](/source/Military_engineering_vehicles)

### Obstacle breaching

For obstacle breaching, including minefields, the combat engineers use a variety of vehicles, explosive devices, and [plastic explosives](/source/Plastic_explosive) including:[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

- Minefield breaching devices - Dozer blade - Mine rollers - [Bangalore torpedo](/source/Bangalore_torpedo) - [Antipersonnel Obstacle Breaching System](/source/Antipersonnel_Obstacle_Breaching_System) - [Mine-clearing line charge](/source/Mine-clearing_line_charge) (MICLIC)

- [Bomb disposal](/source/Bomb_disposal) robots

- Explosives, mines, and bombs

- Field-deployable [bridges](/source/Bridge), for example, French [EFA](/source/EFA_(mobile_bridge))[16] and [Bailey bridge](/source/Bailey_bridge).

## Historical publications

The *Basic Field Manual, Engineer Soldier's Handbook*, 2 June 1943 (FM 21-105) was written to provide guidance to a new combat engineer in the United States.[17]

## See also

- [17th Armored Engineer Battalion](/source/17th_Armored_Engineer_Battalion)

- [Engineer Combat Battalion](/source/Engineer_Combat_Battalion)

- [List of combat engineering corps](/source/List_of_combat_engineering_corps)

- [Military engineering](/source/Military_engineering)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Corps of Royal Engineers"](https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/corps-of-royal-engineers/). *www.army.mod.uk*. Retrieved 13 January 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Combat Engineer"](https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/career-match/mechanics-engineering/design-develop/12b-combat-engineer.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["ADP 1 - The Army"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191026133759/https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/dr_pubs/dr_a/pdf/web/arn18008_adp-1%20final%20web.pdf) (PDF). *Army Publishing Directorate*. July 2019. Archived from [the original](https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/dr_pubs/dr_a/pdf/web/arn18008_adp-1%20final%20web.pdf) (PDF) on 26 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "Engineer Operations". [*Field Manual 3-34*](https://web.archive.org/web/20160910064451/http://usacac.army.mil/sites/default/files/misc/doctrine/CDG/cdg_resources/manuals/fm/fm3_34.pdf) (PDF). US Army. pp. 1–10. Archived from [the original](http://usacac.army.mil/sites/default/files/misc/doctrine/CDG/cdg_resources/manuals/fm/fm3_34.pdf) (PDF) on 10 September 2016 – via usacac.army.mil.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Cain, Francis M. III (2014). [*1111th Engineer Group in the Bulge: The Role of Engineers As Infantry in Airland Battle*](https://books.google.com/books?id=yRRwCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT31). Lucknow Books. p. 31. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78289-599-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78289-599-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** "Operations". [*U.S. Field Manual 100-5*](https://web.archive.org/web/20180921003815/https://www.bits.de/NRANEU/others/amd-us-archive/fm100-5(93).pdf) (PDF). pp. 2–24. Archived from [the original](https://www.bits.de/NRANEU/others/amd-us-archive/fm100-5%2893%29.pdf) (PDF) on 21 September 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Pike, John. "Chapter 7: Engineers in Close Combat". [*FM 5-71-2*](http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/5-71-2/chap7.htm) – via globalsecurity.org.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["U.S. Army Training and Evaluation Program 5-437-10-MTP, Engineer Platoon, Engineer Company, Engineer Combat Battalion, Corps"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161222152905/https://www.aclu.org/files/projects/foiasearch/pdf/DODDOA025400.pdf) (PDF). pp. 1–12. Archived from [the original](https://www.aclu.org/files/projects/foiasearch/pdf/DODDOA025400.pdf) (PDF) on 22 December 2016 – via [ACLU](/source/ACLU).org.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Explosive Ordnance Clearance Agent"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151017214756/http://www.wood.army.mil/ENGRMAG/PDFs%20for%20Apr-Jun%2005/Clark.pdf) (PDF). *army.mil*. US Army. 2005. Archived from [the original](http://www.wood.army.mil/ENGRMAG/PDFs%20for%20Apr-Jun%2005/Clark.pdf) (PDF) on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Special Forces Engineer Sergeant"](https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/career-match/mechanics-engineering/design-develop/18c-special-forces-engineer-sergeant.html). *goarmy.com*. Retrieved 25 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Army National Guard"](https://www.nationalguard.com/18c-special-forces-engineer-sergeant). *www.nationalguard.com*. Retrieved 25 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["On The Ground - What Are The Special Forces? | Campaign Against Terror | FRONTLINE"](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/campaign/ground/specialforces.html). *www.pbs.org*. Retrieved 25 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Army National Guard"](https://www.nationalguard.com/special-forces-detachment-structure). *www.nationalguard.com*. Retrieved 25 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Sapper"](https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/units-tenants/USAES/Sapper). *army.mil*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Sapeur / Sapeuse de combat"](http://www.forces.ca/fr/job/sapeursapeusedecombat-5). *forces.ca*. Retrieved 20 January 2013.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["French EFA"](https://web.archive.org/web/20041213121710/http://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/terre/decouverte/materiels/arme_et_materiel_/genie/efa/). *defense.gouv.fr*. Archived from [the original](http://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/terre/decouverte/materiels/arme_et_materiel_/genie/efa/) on 13 December 2004.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [*Basic Field Manual, Engineer Soldier's Handbook*](https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc28313/m1/). US Army. 1943 – via library.unt.edu.

v t e Military and war Concepts Military Service History Technology Occupational roles Recruitment National security Cyber Data Economic Energy Environmental Food Roles: Soldier Sailor Airman Enlisted rank Officer Commanding officer Executive officer Protocols and structure: Ranks List Uniforms Awards and decorations By country Highest Categories: Ranks Forces Command and control Defense ministry Armed Forces: Army Navy Air force Marines Space force Special forces Airborne forces Commando Frogman Militia Reserves Functional specialties: Communications Engineers Intelligence Reconnaissance List Medical Military police Gendarmerie Security forces Border guard Coast guard Logistics By country Categories: Combat occupations Development: Basic training Military maneuvers Combat training Branches Land units: Combat arms Infantry Armor Cavalry Artillery Special reconnaissance Signal corps Naval units: Warships Surface Littoral Patrol Submarines Aircraft carriers Landing craft Auxiliary ship Air units: Fighters Bombers Command Close air support Electronic-warfare Reconnaissance Structure Organization By country Armies by country Chain of command Unified combatant command General staff Land: Army group Field army Corps List Division List Brigade By type Regiment By country By type Battalion By country By type Platoon Squad Naval: Naval fleet Task force Carrier strike group Division Flotilla Squadron Air: Combat box Special units by nation: Battle Fleet; U.S. Navy Front; Russian land forces Vehicles Ground: Ground List Combat Tracked vehicles Wheeled vehicles Armor Tank Infantry fighting vehicle Lists By country Armored car Scout car Truck List Gun truck Self-propelled artillery List Anti-aircraft Rail Weapons Land Weapons List Artillery: Artillery List By country Battery Field gun List Howitzer List Rocket List Infantry guns: Pistols Machine guns List Service rifles: Battle rifles List Assault rifle List Sniper rifle Other infantry weapons: Bazooka Anti-tank gun List Grenade List Flamethrower Bayonet Combat knife List Missiles: Shoulder-fired Anti-tank List By country Mortar Lists: Infantry Heavy Other: Land mine Shells Sea/Air: Guided missiles List Naval: Naval artillery List Anti-ship missiles Torpedoes Depth charges Close-in weapons Aerial: Guns Missiles Bombs Equipment Military equipment Lists By country Helmet List Camouflage List Body armor Facilities: Military base Lists Field hospital Combat systems Fire-control system Fire-control radar Director (military) Combat information center Sonar Radar Historical: Ship gun fire-control Gun data computer Torpedo Data Computer Warfare War Battle Strategy Tactics Combat Military science Diplomacy International law By era: Prehistoric Ancient Post-classical Early modern Late modern industrial fourth-gen By type: Armoured warfare Artillery Barrage Biological Camouflage Cavalry Chemical Class Combined arms Conventional Cyber Denial Disinformation Drone Electronic Infantry Lawfare Loitering Music Nuclear Psychological Radiological Unconventional Battlespace Aerospace Air Airborne Space Land Cold-region Desert Jungle Mountain Urban Sea Amphibious Blue Brown Green Surface Underwater Subterranean Tunnel Cyber Information Tactics List of military tactics Aerial Airlift Airbridge Airdrop Battle Cavalry Charge Counterattack Counterinsurgency Defeat in detail Foxhole Envelopment Guerrilla Morale Rapid dominance Siege Swarming Tactical objective Target saturation Trench Withdrawal Operational Military operation Operations research Blitzkrieg Expeditionary Deep operation Maneuver Operational manoeuvre group Strategy List of military strategies and concepts Military campaign Attrition Counter-offensive Culminating Defence in depth Fabian Mosaic Deception Defensive Depth Goal Naval Offensive Scorched earth Policy Diplomacy: Alliances Peace treaty Cooperation Deterrence theory United Nations Mediation Public policy: Conscription Defense budget List Past Per capita Defense policy Related: Government Nation Lists Military lists Wars Weapons Military tactics History lists: Wars Battles Military occupations Operations Sieges Related lists: War crimes Writers Other namespace Templates {{War}} {{Weapons}} {{Ranks}} Vehicles and weapons {{Tanks}} {{Weapons}} {{Infantry fighting vehicles}} {{Modern warships}} {{Aircraft}} Specific modern wars {{World War I}} {{World War II}} {{Cold War}} {{War on terror}} Categories Lists of wars by country Conflicts by time Related Peace Peace and conflict studies Peace movement Peace process Disarmament Pacifism Détente Global studies Conscientious objector Anti-war movement Idealism in international relations Humanitarianism International cooperation Crimes against humanity {{International relations}} Categories: Peace organizations Category Commons

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Combat engineer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_engineer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_engineer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.