Are the Corps of Engineers and Engineer Branch one in the same?

Cadet PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 20:23:21 -0500

I know that soldiers are part of the Corps of Engineers, but aren't the the two still different components?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 26 at 2018 8:24 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 20:24:25 -0500

No. USACE is an entire entity all its own

Response by MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2018 8:25 PM

MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 20:25:10 -0500

No they are not. Way different. Engineer Branch is military and Corps of Engineers is almost fully civilian. With two completely different missions.

Response by SGT Cynthia Barnard made Nov 26 at 2018 9:06 PM

SGT Cynthia Barnard — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 21:06:57 -0500

Response by COL John McClellan made Nov 26 at 2018 9:31 PM

COL John McClellan — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 21:31:54 -0500

So - good question! The name of the branch for all Army engineer officers is the Corps of Engineers, but USACE, or the US Army Corps of Engineers is a unique hybrid government/military organization. Both tactical Army engineer units as well as USACE are led by Army engineer officers - a unique opportunity for those branched engineer. USACE is mostly made up of federal civilian workers: engineers, scientists, administrators and even park rangers. If you eventually branch as an engineer officer, you will start out in the "regular Army," National Guard or Reserves, but after initial assignment(s) as an LT, you will also have access to serving in the "civilian" Corps as an engineer officer at a USACE District. USACE have federal responsibility for all inland waterways in the United States, as well as supervision of major military construction projects such as barracks, hospitals, other large projects - basically anything appropriated by Congress. They also provide specialized engineering expertise to the Army - including downrange. Some engineer officers serve their entire careers in the regular forces, but some seek assignments in USACE along the way. Good Luck!!

Response by COL David Turk made Nov 27 at 2018 5:56 AM

COL David Turk — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 05:56:55 -0500

A lot of good answers here. To add a few comments, USACE also performs work directly for the US State department. There is one active duty military unit assigned to USACE (249th EN BN). You don’t have to be EN branch (military) to serve in USACE. USACE has brought a lot of reserve military on temporary active duty (typically 1-3 years) assignments. USACE projects are not just construction. They do planning and design. They are involved with environmental projects.

Getting back to Engineer branch, one last note. We have our own “buttons”.

Good luck!

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 29 at 2020 9:45 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 21:45:25 -0500

No Corps of Engineers, oversee thing like the levees on the rivers, federal dams, keeping open river boat and barge traffic. Army engineers build and destroy things