Complex Obstacle Breach
Abstract
A platoon level complex obstacle breach requires a coordinated effort with multiple actions on the objective occurring simultaneously, which is an exceptionally difficult and important part of the combat engineer mission-essential task list in an infantry brigade combat team. Unfortunately, combat engineers of today do not always get to practice this important skill because of the myriad of other tasks they must accomplish in the short dwell time they have between deployments. The primary reason that typical engineer companies lack this type of training is that, in our current conflicts, route clearance has become the focus for combat engineers. The types of countermine operations now being performed do not require the same proficiency in complex or combined arms breaches let alone the emplacement of antitank mines as the Engineer Regiment had 15 years ago. However, the complex obstacle breach is still a vital task that needs to be continuously trained to combat engineers, young and old. Though not directly applicable to current operations, conditions could change at any time. It is imperative to prevent the atrophy of skills that allow Army engineers to perform their core functions of providing mobility, countermobility, and survivability support to maneuver units.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA568702
Entities
People
- Lance E. Peterson