Branch description. The Corps of Engineers is a Combat Arms Branch which also has combat support and combat service support roles. Missions encompass military and civil engineering and the related planning, organization, training, operation, and development. Engineer officers are responsible for training and leading troops in combat, topographic, and construction engineering operations; facilities maintenance; civil works programs; and leading Engineer troops in infantry combat operations.

Branch qualifications. DA Pam 600-3 lists qualifications for entry and professional development in this branch.

Engineer General (21A).

Description of duties. Provides general engineer expertise to Army activities. The majority of these positions will be at DA, DoD, Joint Staff, MACOMs, or Field Activities.

Special qualifications. Engineer officers are eligible for assignment in a 21A position upon branch qualification, which requires:

(a) Experience in an Engineer TOE unit.

(b) Completion of the Advance Course.

(c) Successful company command.

Special grading of positions. None.

Unique duty positions. None.

Combat Engineer (21B).

Description of duties. Plans, directs, and conducts engineer support of combat and peacetime operations. Support includes enhancement of friendly mobility, impeding enemy mobility (counter-mobility), providing survivability support, performing sustainment engineering missions (particularly construction), conducting topographic operations, and when necessary, fighting as infantry. Combat engineers command combat engineer, construction, and topographic units. They direct planning and implementation of engineering and topographic support at all levels of operations.

Special qualifications. Some field grade positions in topographic assignments may require prior topographic experience and/or an advanced civilian degree in a geoscience discipline.

Special grading of positions. None.

Unique duty positions.

(a) Utilities Detachment Commander.

(b) Port Construction Unit Commander.

(c) Diving Detachment Commander.

(d) Unified and Special Command Mapping, Charting, and Geodesy Staff Officer.

(e) Staff Office, Defense Mapping Agency.

Facilities/Contract Construction Management Engineer (FCCME) (21D).

Description of duties. Plans and programs construction and maintenance of facilities for Army and Air Force installations world wide. Provides Facilities Engineering and Family Housing support for the Army in garrison and in the theater of operations. Supports the nation through execution of the Civil Works Program, military construction, and nation building projects. Enhances national preparedness plans. Conducts research and development at engineer labo­ratories and in engineer functional areas.

Special qualifications. Requires completion of a bachelor’s or graduate-level degree in an engineering field, or engineering management.

Special grading of positions. Director of Engineering and Housing (DEH) positions are graded based primarily on three factors: total population served, total operating budget, and total construction planned. DEH may be in the grade of MAJ, LTC, or COL. Positions over the grade of MAJ require concurrence from the Office of the Chief of Engineers, ATTN: DAEN-ZC.

Unique duty positions.

(a) Director of Engineering and Housing (COL, LTC, MAJ).

(b) Engineer District Commander (COL, LTC).

(c) Commander, Dredge Team, Command, Control and Planning (MAJ).

For more information, see Army Pamplet 600-3-21.