Combat engineer

They are invariably found closely integrated into the force structure of divisions, combat brigades, and smaller fighting units.

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] Individual combat engineers are often assigned as a component of both covert and overt direct action special operations teams.

A Green Berets Operational Detachment Alpha, more commonly known as an "A-Team",[12] typically consists of 12 men, two of whom are combat engineer sergeants.

A general combat engineer is often called a pioneer or sapper, terms derived respectively from the French and British armies.

[citation needed] In the British, Indian, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand armies, a sapper is a soldier who has specialized combat engineer training.

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.

[citation needed] In the Canadian Army, it is a term for soldiers that have completed the basic Combat Engineer training.

Combat engineers are force multipliers and enhance the survival of other troops through the use and practice of camouflage, reconnaissance, communications and other services.

[citation needed] All these role activities and technologies are divided into several areas of combat engineering: 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 (IED) and wall and door breaching in urban terrain.

Mechanized combat engineer units also have armored vehicles capable of laying short bridges for limited gap-crossing.

[citation needed] When the defender must retreat it is often desirable to destroy anything that may be of use to the enemy, particularly bridges, as their destruction can slow the advance of the attackers.