21B: Combat Engineer

Major Duties: Combat engineers supervise, serve, or assist as a member of a team, squad, section, or platoon; provide combat engineering support to combat forces; and operate Combat Engineer Vehicles (CEV), Armored Vehicle Launched Bridges (AVLB), and Armored Combat Earthmover (ACE). Duties for MOS 21B at each level of skill are:

• Skill Levels
  • Skill Level 1 MOSC 21B1O. Performs basic combat construction. Operates various light or heavy engineer wheeled vehicles. Operates or serves as crewmember on a CEV, AVLB, or an ACE while participating in combat mobility, countermobility, and survivability operations. Prepares and installs priming and firing systems for demolition and explosives. Arms, disarms, and installs anti–personnel and anti–tank mines. Locates mines by visual means or by using a mine detector. Recognizes and neutralizes booby traps, friendly and threat mines, and firing devices.
    
    
  • Skill Level 2 MOSC 21B2O. Performs duties in preceding skill level, supervises lower grade soldiers and provides technical guidance to the soldiers in the accomplishment of their duties. Directs and assists in the operation of engineer wheeled or tracked vehicles. Supervises and/or operates the ACE. Directs and assists in launching and retrieval of an AVLB. Boresights, determines zero settings, and fires the CEV weapon systems. Assists in performance of organizational maintenance of vehicle and armament system components. Directs the construction of fighting positions and wire entanglements. Controls fire team movements. Places explosives and clears misfires. Directs a mine-clearing line charge loading team. Directs minefield marking party and dispensing operation of mine scattering systems. Conductsreconnaissance operations, determines limiting slopes, curves, stream velocity, and gap widths.
    
    
  • Skill Level 3 MOSC 21B3O. Performs duties in preceding skill level, supervises lower grade soldiers and provides technical guidance to the soldiers in the accomplishment of their duties. Tasks, supervises, and instructs squad and section personnel. Directs utilization and maintenance of vehicles and equipment. Supervises and directs employment of a CEV and its crew. Prepares the CEV for firing. Supervises range card preparation for CEV. Provides unit and job site security. Prepares and issues an oral squad operation order. Conducts the maneuver of a squad in a patrol. Directs minefield installation, removal, and submits minefield reports. Conducts breaching operations. Collects data and calculates the requirement for explosives and related material. Directs construction of combat bunkers, shelters, and non–explosive anti-vehicular obstacles and expedient lifing devices. Conducts ground reconnaissance for roads, routes, bridges, tunnels, fords, and ferries. Prepares a demolition and engineer reconnaissance report. Directs assembly of various military bridges.
    
    
  • Skill Level 4 MOSC 21B4O. Performs duties in preceding skill level, supervises lower grade soldiers and provides technical guidance to the soldiers in the accomplishment of their duties. Assigns tasks to subordinate elements and personnel. Accounts for soldiers, material, and equipment. Supervises in mine warfare, demolitions and combat construction operations. Enforces safety standards, field sanitation, communication procedures, security, and job specification. Provides support for construction and tactical movements. Directs assignment of CEV and AVLB in support of maneuver forces. Operates a CEV crew qualification range.

Physical demands rating and qualifications for initial award of MOS. The combat engineer must possess the following qualifications:

(1) Physical Demands Rating: very heavy

(2) Physical Profile: 111221

(3) Normal color vision

(4) Minimum score of 90 in aptitude area CO.

(5) Formal training (completion of MOS 21B course conducted under auspices of U.S. Army Engineer School) mandatory.

CLOSED TO WOMEN

MOS 21B had the alphanumeric designator of 12B prior to fiscal year 2004.

The major duties, physical demands, physical profile, and skill levels were obtained from Army Pamphlet 611-21.

MOS List for Corps of Engineers