Combat engineer

<p>A combat engineer (also called pioneer or <a href="/facts/Sapper/uAGvGdTR">sapper</a>) is a type of soldier who performs <a href="/facts/Military_engineering/dzAR2FJI">military engineering</a> tasks in support of land forces combat operations. Combat engineers perform a variety of military engineering, <a href="/facts/Tunnel_warfare/Ns7Whr3F">tunnel</a> and <a href="/facts/Land_mine/D5AkxUF9">mine</a> warfare tasks, as well as <a href="/facts/Construction/58eqDhy9">construction</a> and <a href="/facts/Demolition/205k0BUM">demolition</a> duties in and out of combat zones.
</p><p>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, <a href="/facts/Fortification/pyH0FXhH">fortifications</a>, and <a href="/facts/Road/3aadH4s3">roads</a>. They conduct <a href="/facts/Demolition/205k0BUM">demolition</a> missions and clear minefields manually or through use of <a href="/facts/Military_engineering_vehicle/9HYtnojU">specialized vehicles</a>. Common combat engineer missions include construction and breaching of trenches, tank traps and other obstacles and <a href="/facts/Fortification/pyH0FXhH">fortifications</a>; obstacle emplacement and <a href="/facts/Bunker/WDHwf6sc">bunker</a> construction; route clearance and reconnaissance; <a href="/facts/Bridge/vBJ7Hw8v">bridge</a> and <a href="/facts/Road/3aadH4s3">road</a> construction or destruction; emplacement and clearance of <a href="/facts/Land_mine/D5AkxUF9">land mines</a>; and combined arms breaching. Typically, combat engineers are also trained in infantry tactics and, when required, serve as provisional infantry.
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Combat engineer open-in-new

Combat engineer