FM 3-34.22 - Army Electronic Publications & Forms - U.S. Army

Chapter 2
Integration of Engineer Operations
The instruments of battle are valuable only if one knows how to use them.
—Colonel Ardant du Picq
Engineers are challenged when trying to execute engineering tasks in today’s OE.
Force modularity, the application of engineer force tailoring, and limited engineer
resources require flexible task organization and the ability of engineers to rapidly
transition within the AO to meet mission requirements. Commanders and planners
must understand this setting and the inherent C2 challenges they face in integrating
engineer operations. This chapter centers on engineer participation in the supported
BCT commander’s C2 and applies to organic and augmenting engineer unit
commanders and planners. This chapter discusses planning (which is part of C2) and
provides considerations for engineers as integrated members of the combined arms
team. The construct and format for essential tasks for M/CM/S and the engineer staff
running estimate are highlighted to assist engineer planners in integrating engineer
operations. Finally, this chapter provides an overview of integrating processes and
continuing activities and their contribution to the overall operations process.
COMMAND AND CONTROL
2-1. Limited engineer resources are a predominant factor in the OE. Careful prioritization and allocation
of resources must occur to accomplish objectives. Because engineer assets are mission-tailored and
allocated against specific requirements, engineers must be able to rapidly transition between phases of the
operation and shifted throughout the AO to meet mission requirements. Effective C2 of engineer units is
paramount.
2-2. FM 6-0 provides Army doctrine for C2 and are interrelated. Command resides with commanders; it
consists of authority, decisionmaking, and leadership. Control is how commanders execute command; it
resides with both commanders and staffs. Commanders cannot exercise command effectively without
control. Conversely, control has no purpose without command to focus it.
2-3. In the past, engineer commanders supporting combined arms operations were always confronted
with the dichotomy of exercising C2 responsibilities over their units, while fulfilling their role in
supporting the maneuver commander’s C2 of the unit. Engineer leaders today are more challenged in
ensuring effective C2 of engineer units given the requisite task organization of engineer forces (organic
and augmenting) within the construct of the modular Army. Engineer unit commanders and planners must
work together to ensure the effective control of engineer operations to facilitate their complete integration
into combined arms operations. Command and support relationships are the basis for building task
organization and provide the basis for ensuring the unity of command and unity of effort in operations.
(See FM 3-0 for more information on command and support relationships.)
COMMAND AND SUPPORT RELATIONSHIPS
2-4. Additional engineer units augmenting the BCT are task-organized to the BCT in a command or
support relationship, depending on the mission requirements. Those units and engineer units organic to the
BCT may also be task-organized to a maneuver TF or the reconnaissance squadron (RS) or be subordinate
to a company or troop. Command relationships prescribe the supporting engineer unit chain of command
11 February 2009 FM 3-34.22 2-1