What's the reality of being a combat engineer?

William Abbott — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 14:24:30 -0500

I'm about halfway through the enlistment process, trying to find an MOS that suits me. Combat engineer sounds good to me and I can envision what it might be like but I honestly don't know. My wife isn't too thrilled with that choice so I'm also looking for some reassurance.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2025 2:49 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 14:49:16 -0500

Heavy equiptment/mechanical, was my choice, mechanical always was a benifit and still does, heavy equitpment is a trade that'll allways be needed for service, in the civil or military.
Had some good friends that were electrician, carpenters and plumbers, hung around those guys and learned the trade, to do things for myself at my own home. I still do my electrical, plumbing and picked up maisonary skill too.
Mechanical gave me the insight and willingness to learn fixing things, I did my own Harley repairs. Now, a wife might not like a husband that is always in the company with his new love, his Harley.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2025 4:20 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 16:20:58 -0500

William Abbott Below is a previous post with information about the Combat Engineer MOS. Search on "12B" and "Combat Engineer" to find other posts. Gather as much information as you can and then talk to your wife so that you are both on the same page. Good luck. Let us know what you decide.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-is-it-being-a-12b-combat-engineer-on-active-duty

How is it being a 12B Combat Engineer on active duty? | RallyPoint

I am currently working on getting a conditional release from the Florida Army National Guard to go Active Duty. My current MOS is 12B. I'm curious as to how things are day to day for an active duty combat engineer. What are the main stateside bases 12bs get stationed at? Just trying to gain some more knowledge. Thanks.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Jan 12 at 2025 4:28 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 16:28:46 -0500

I wasn't a combat engineer - but I was in a combat EN BN for 4 1/2 years as my first unit in S2. I know they have changed since 2009 being redone as Brigade Engineer Battalions and now have MICOs, etc. But I was friends with lots of the combat EN guys.

For OIF, they did mainly but route clearance both times we deployed. The ESC that we had second deployment did some bridge building, but that wasn't all combat engineers and had engineers and other MOSs in it. I know I heard and saw photos (since S2 did BN history) of their first deployment they did build a major bridge that was used by CF, I think. I can't remember.

I know they did go out and do demo ranges when we were in garrison, sometimes they'd ask us in staff if we wanted to go. So they did at least keep training on it. Ultimately these are most of what they do:

Combat engineers in the U.S. Army perform a variety of engineering tasks to support combat forces:
Construction: Build fighting positions, defensive positions, bridges, and roads
Demolitions: Prime and detonate explosives, install firing systems, and conduct demolition missions
Minefield work: Emplace, remove, and report on minefields, and detect mines visually or with detectors
Obstacle clearance: Clear paths of obstacles, including trenches, tank traps, and other fortifications
Route clearance: Clear routes for friendly forces to move through
Reconnaissance: Conduct reconnaissance missions
Vehicle operation: Operate engineer wheeled and track vehicles

Combat engineers are also trained in infantry tactics and may serve as provisional infantry. They are typically paid more than non-combat engineers because they perform more dangerous and difficult tasks.

Ultimately, if you like to blow s* up, that's the job for you. Really that's the bulk of it and that's what they all told me why they picked it the guys I knew.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2025 6:26 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 18:26:19 -0500

All depends on the kind of unit you get to. Primarily in the Motor Pool doing maintenance on vehicles; in the field a lot. Deployments nowadays aren't too dangerous. At the end of the day, if you have all 10 fingers, 10 toes and 90% of your hearing still intact....it was a good day.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jan 13 at 2025 5:38 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 05:38:48 -0500

Depends on what you want out of life and a career. 12B deals with explosives, mobility/counter mobility. As you move up in rank you will be expected to figure out demo formulas, route recon parameters such as how steep is a slope, how fast is a current in water, what is the radius of a turn in a road. Algebra comes into play. Yes there are pocket calculators today, but you need to be able to do this by hand as well because what if you are on a mission and your calculator goes tits up?? Yes, it is a good MOS, I had it along with my 11B MOS, they went together real well. I worked a lot with explosives in my civilian job at one time, so was good. If you are looking for a MOS that has a civilian side, not as good as many others. You need to weigh out all your options, figure out what you want in life.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jan 13 at 2025 8:37 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 08:37:22 -0500

Combat engineers have a wide skillset that covers alot of things. They do everything from demo, mine clearance, digging holes, cutting trees, breaching, clearing landzones, and also building to include carpentry. I saw them do everything from blowing doors, clearing trees from potential landing zones, digging vehicle fighting positions and even building walls, barriers and even putting together wooden structures for new op centers or new huts for troops to call home. Your wife will always have reservations regardless of what you choose.