The Overlap and Distinctions Between Combat Engineers and Infantry

Combat engineers and infantry both play crucial roles in modern military operations. While there are distinct differences, these specialized units often share overlapping skills and responsibilities. This article explores the unique characteristics and missions of each unit, highlighting the similarities and distinctions between them.

Combat Engineers: Beyond the Infantry

Combat engineers can be described as 'infantry with a twist' or even 'infantry with an attitude!' Beyond the standard armament of automatic rifles, machine guns, and grenade launchers, combat engineers wield a range of tools and equipment such as bulldozers, dump trucks, and earth movers. Their versatility is not just limited to combat; they can construct, deconstruct, and fortify positions, and even lay and remove mines. These skills make combat engineers a flexible and indispensable asset on the battlefield.

One particular mission that showcases the unique abilities of combat engineers is bridge building. In the article, a combat engineer recalls his company's responsibility to build bridges before armor and infantry. This required them to operate in hostile environments, often swimming and carrying heavy equipment to reach their goal. The demands on these engineers are not just limited to construction; they must also be prepared to defend these structures.

Training and Skills

To perform their diverse roles, combat engineers undergo extensive and specialized training. In addition to basic infantry skills, they are trained in activities such as mine-laying, mine-sweeping, mine-removal, bridging, laying barbed wire fences, digging bunkers, reinforcing bunker roofs, and operating earth-moving equipment. These skills are essential not only for building but for counteracting enemy mobility and ensuring the safety and movement of friendly forces.

The versatility of combat engineers is highlighted by their large fleet of vehicles and equipment, which often outnumber those of an infantry company. A company of 120 combat engineers may have over 30-35 vehicles, providing them with the necessary mobility and resilience to tackle a wide range of tasks.

Distinctions and Challenges

While infantry and combat engineers both play roles at the forefront of battle, there are significant distinctions in their missions. The primary mission of infantry is to close with and destroy or capture the enemy through close combat fire and maneuver. They are designed to engage and annihilate the enemy in direct confrontations.

Combat engineers, on the other hand, specialize in mobility and the management of obstacles. They are trained to help friendly forces overcome obstacles, as well as to create and counter obstacles. Their skills in explosives and specialized equipment allow them to lay minefields, construct defensive positions, and operate earth-moving machinery. However, these capabilities come at a significant cost, both in terms of resources and lives.

While it's desirable for combat engineers to clear obstacles, this mission is often dangerous and costly. Consequently, infantry is frequently trained to carry out many of the missions combat engineers perform, particularly in breaching obstacles and preparing positions. This sometimes leads to the somewhat dismissive nickname 'grunts with a shovel' used by infantry troops.

Common Ground and Mutual Support

Despite the differences, it is not unusual for combat engineers and infantry to work closely together. Combat engineers may be called upon by infantry to clear obstacles or provide support during missions. While higher commanders prefer to retain special capabilities for specific tasks, these units often form a symbiotic relationship on the battlefield.

In conclusion, the roles of combat engineers and infantry in modern military operations are intricately linked, yet distinct. Their shared and specialized skills make them formidable forces, and their ability to adapt and support one another is a critical factor in the success of military operations.