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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)

2 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. 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.

3 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.

4 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.

5 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.

6 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).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.

7 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.

8 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. 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.

9 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. 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.

10 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.