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

Chapter 6
breaching operations. The nature and size of the obstacle, the threat situation, and the available crossing
assets limit the commander’s options. More than likely, augmentation is required. As a result, the
ENCOORD must coordinate for EAB augmentation well in advance.
6-5. The types of gap crossings are hasty, deliberate, and covert. Regardless of the type of crossing, the
planning requirements and engineer technical support are similar. (See appendix E and FM 3-90.12 for
more information on combined arms gap-crossing operations.)
CLEARING
6-6. Clearing operations are designed to clear or neutralize all EHs and other obstacles from a route or
area. (FM 3-90.11) Like breaching operations and gap-crossing operations, clearing operations are a
combined arms tactical enabling mission. They may include a combined arms breach, but are not limited to
reducing a lane or lanes through identified obstacles.
6-7. There are two types of clearing operations: route clearance and area clearance. Combat engineers
supporting clearing operations are task-organized to conduct route or area clearance. If a combined arms
breach is required as part of the clearing operation, selected combat engineers and other forces are task
organized specifically for the breaching operation. Bypassing or otherwise avoiding the obstacle may be
preferred over a combined arms breach; however, in clearing operations the objective is to eliminate the
enemy force or organized resistance within an assigned area or along an assigned route. Combat engineers
within the task-organized clearance force detect and mark EHs. They then either clear the route or area
(within their capability) or allow an EOD unit to respond appropriately based on the mission variables and
commander’s guidance. Only the EOD team is capable of eliminating or “rendering safe” an IED. (See
appendix C, appendix D, and FM 3-34.2 for more information.)
IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DEFEAT
6-8. With the proliferation of technology and access to explosive materials, many enemy groups have
come to rely on IEDs as a primary means of attack. With a focus on clearing IEDs, the IED defeat
framework is derived from the fundamentals of assured mobility (predict, detect, prevent, avoid, neutralize,
and protect the force from IED attacks). Parallel to the framework of assured mobility, IED defeat
framework enables commanders and staffs to exploit (proactive defeat) IED networks and associated
operations before they occur.
6-9. Route clearance is a key enabling task in IED defeat. It provides the maneuver commander the
capability to employ a combined arms force of combat engineers, EOD, and other units task-organized,
equipped, and trained to neutralize the IED threat along critical routes. (See FM 3-90.119 for more
information.)
RECONNAISSANCE
6-10. Reconnaissance operations are conducted to obtain, by visual observation or other detection
methods, information about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy or to secure data
concerning the meteorological, hydrographical, or geospatial characteristics and indigenous population of a
particular area.
6-11. Engineers participate in reconnaissance and enable other reconnaissance elements by enhancing the
quality of the reconnaissance. (The employment of engineer reconnaissance capabilities in support of BCT
operations is discussed in chapter 3. See FM 3-34.170 for detailed information on engineer reconnaissance.
See FM 3-20.96, FM 3-90, FM 3-90.5, and FM 3-90.6 for a further discussion of reconnaissance
operations.)
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
6-12. Offensive operations aim at defeating, destroying, or neutralizing the enemy. A commander may
conduct offensive operations to deprive the enemy of resources, seize decisive terrain, develop intelligence,
6-2 FM 3-34.22 11 February 2009