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1 FM 5-71-100 CHAPTER 1 Engineer Operations and the Division BattlefieldThe division is the US Army s largest, fixed organization that trains and fights as atactical team. It is organized with various combat, combat support (CS), and combatservice support (CSS) units that make up the combined arms team. A division maybe armored, mechanized infantry, light infantry, airborne, or air assault. It is aself-sustaining force capable of independent operations, even for long periods of time,when properly type of division conducts tactical operations in alow-, mid-, or high-intensity are the basic units of maneuverat the tactical division engineer organization (DIVEN) focuses on maneuver at the tactical division engineers execute mobility, countermobility, survivability,topographic, and limited sustainment engineering missions to support maneuver inthe division division engineer integrates nonorganic and corps engineerassets into the division to augment these capabilities as the battlefield dictates.

2 Thestructure of division engineers allows them to fight as part of the division s combinedarms OF DIVISION ENGINEERSD ivision engineers serve two critical rolesfor the division. First, they provide engineerexpertise at every echelon of command fromthe division to the company or , they provide the structure neces-sary to command engineer units at theseechelons. Both of these roles involve thefive engineer battlefield functions:topographic, mobility, countermobility, sur-vivability, and sustainment engineering. Asa combat multiplier, engineer units focuson maintaining the division s freedom ofmaneuver and attacking the threat sfreedom to maneuver on the battlefield. Aspart of the division staff, the division en-gineer focuses on integrating andsynchronizing engineer missions to supportthe division commander s intent and schemeof ORGANIZATIONSDIVEN organizations are specifically tailoredArmored and Mechanizedto provide the support necessary to comple-ment the division s capabilities and employ-Infantry and mechanized infantry divisions(henceforth discussed together under theterm armored division) provide mobile,1-1FM 5-71-100armor-protected destroythreat armored forces and seize and controlland (including population centers andresources) with long-range and flat-trajec-tory fires.

3 Armored divisions operate best inrelatively open terrain where they can usemobility and long-range, direct-fire weaponsto their best armoreddivision typically has three ground-maneuver brigades (consisting of tank andmechanized infantry battalions) and an avia-tion armored division has an organic en-gineer brigade consisting of threemechanized engineer battalions and a head-quarters and headquarters detachment(HHD). Each battalion is normally habitual-ly associated with a ground-maneuverbrigade. The DIVEN HHD provides central-ized command and control (C2) and planningfor the total division engineer effort. TheDIVEN commander task organizes divisionengineer companies and corps assets intoforward combat engineer battalions. Eachbattalion habitually trains and operates withits associated ground-maneuver DIVEN commander may detach com-panies from one battalion to another divisionengineer battalion (main effort) or to anothermaneuver unit (cavalry (CAV) squadron).

4 Figure 1-1 shows engineers organic to thearmored division and the generic engineertask organization for division defensive andoffensive Infantry DivisionDue to its ability to deploy, the light infantrydivision provides the flexibility to rapidlyaccomplish missions on a global basis. Ithas the ability to operate in terrain oragainst a threat unsuitable for armored for-ces. The division conducts operations byexploiting the advantages of restricted ter-rain and limited visibility. In mid- to high-intensity conflicts, the light division can beaugmented with armored forces. Based onthe factors of mission, enemy, terrain,troops, and time available (METT-T), a lightinfantry brigade (with the appropriate CSSaugmentation) can be task organized to anarmored division is designedto conduct autonomous operations for upto 48 hours. The light infantry division typi-cally has three ground-maneuver brigades(three light infantry battalions) and an avia-tion light infantry division has an organiclight engineer battalion.

5 The division lightengineer battalion focuses on supporting thedivision s fight by task organizing elementsof his assault and obstacle (A&O) platoon,combat engineer companies, and corps as-sets. The task organization of division lightengineers depends on METT-T and requiresmuch more light en-gineers must be concentrated at the criticalplace and time under centralized example, two division engineer com-panies could be massed to one maneuverbrigade or one division engineer companymassed to an infantry battalion if METT-Tdictates this level of light engineer companies requireaugmentation for extended operations. Fig-ure 1-2, page 1-4, shows engineers organicto the light infantry division and genericengineer task organization for divisiondefensive and offensive DivisionThe airborne division can rapidly deployanywhere in the world. It conducts airborneassaults in the enemy s rear to secure ter-rain, interdict routes of resupply, or inter-dict enemy withdrawal routes.

6 It is ideallysuited to seize, secure, and repair airfieldsand to provide a forward operating base forfollow-on forces. The airborne division maybe the initial force for contingency opera-tions, and it secures the necessary lodgmentfor force division consists ofthree ground-maneuver brigades (each withthree airborne infantry battalions) and anaviation airborne division has one organicdivision airborne engineer battalion. Thedivision engineerbattalion focuses on1-2FM 5-71-1001-3FM 5-71-1001-4FM 5-71-100supporting the division s fight by task or-ganizing the A&O platoon, combat engineercompanies, and corps assets. The task or-ganization of division airborne engineersdepends on METT-T and requires airborne engineer battalions areaustere organizations. Organic assets, suchas small emplacement excavators (SEEs),Volcanos, and engineer squad vehicles, allowthe airborne division engineer battalion toconduct short-term ex-tended operations, the division airborne en-gineer battalion normally requires 1-3, page 1-6, showsengineers organic to the airborne infantrydivision and the generic engineer task or-ganization for a division offensive and secur-ing an Assault DivisionThe air assault division combines strategicmobility with an extremely high degree oftactical mobility within its area of operations(AO).

7 Once on the ground, the air assaultdivision fights like an airborne or infantrydivision; however, their air mobility permitsrapid aerial deployment and air assault division has more groundand aerial antiarmor assets than other lightinfantry divisions. The air assault divisionconsists of three ground-maneuver brigades(having three air assault infantry battalionseach) and an aviation air assault division has one division airassault engineer battalion. The division airassault engineer organization is similar tothe division airborne engineer , the division air assault engineerbattalion has enhanced tactical mobility dueto the air mobility assets organic to thedivision. It also has additional haul assetsorganic to the engineer , page 1-7, shows engineers organic tothe air assault infantry division and thegeneric engineer task organization fordivision offensive and hasty defensive opera-tions after a deep ENGINEER SUPPORTDIVEN organizations satisfy the most imme-diate engineer requirements for thedivision s close , thedivision requires corps-level augmentationfor engineer mobility missions such as bridg-ing and large-scale breaching operations,intense counter mobility and survivabilitymissions associated with deliberate defen-ses, and any significant rear missions suchas sustainment engineering support foraviation units and support engineer considers the available en-gineer support from corps in order to fullyplan and execute engineer missions in thedivision s sector.

8 A division can be allocateda wide variety of engineer organizations thatare structured to suit the division s Engineer Brigade. The corps combatengineer brigade is a large, flexible organiza-tion structured to provide engineer C2 atcorps level, beginning with a contingency andgoing through a force projection to a fullydeveloped corps contains all of thespecialized engineer units, engineer bat-talions, and engineer group headquarters re-quired to support corps-level mix and type of units assigned to thecorps engineer brigade is determined by thenumber and types of divisions that make upthe corps and by METT-T. In many cases,engineer units from echelons above corps(EAC) will be task organized to the corpsengineer Figure 1-5, page 1-8,for a sample corps engineer brigade assignedto a corps consisting of one light infantrydivision, three armored divisions, and anarmored CAV Engineer engineergroup is a flexible C2 headquarters with1-5FM 5-71-1001-6FM 5-71-1001-7FM 5-71-1001-8FM 5-71-100engineer battalions and companies assignedto it based on the analysis of groups are primarily designed tosupport divisions.

9 In such a role, the groupmay become the engineer headquarters fora light division when the division receivessignificant augmentation from the corps en-gineer brigade. The group may also becomethe engineer headquarters for a special-pur-pose mission, such as a river-crossingoperation, for either light or armoreddivisions. When not required for a front-linemission, the group normally assumesresponsibilities in the corps or division rear,where it directs engineer missions support-ing corps units such as the corps aviationbrigade, corps artillery, and corps the combat engineer group enters thedivision sector, it comes under the controlof the division. The division engineer ad-vises the division commander on the bestway to use the group. This pertains to bothlight and armored forces. In special cases,the division commander may transfer DIVEN organizational responsibilities to a combatengineer group that has been task organizedto the division on a long-term basis.

10 Nor-mally, this is only done for airborne, airassault, or light divisions when corps en-gineer augmentation surpasses the C2capability of the DIVEN battalion combat engineer group is used most fre-quently within a division to act as a head-quarters for all corps combat engineers,bridge companies,combat support equip-ment (CSE) and light equipment companies(LECs), and EAC units such as combat-heavy battalions that have been task or-ganized to a division on a mission corps engineer organization supportand laydown for armored and light divisionsare depicted in Figure 1-5 and Figure 1-6,page 1-10. (See Figures 1-1 through 1-4,pages 1-3 through 1-7, for DIVEN assets.)CLOSE, DEEP, AND REAR OPERATIONSS ince the location of engineer functions onthe battlefield dictates different planning re-quirements, coordination, and executiontechniques, division engineer leaders mustunderstand the relationship between en-gineer functions and close, deep, and rearoperations (Figure 1-7, page 1-11).