The Joint Engineering Way Ahead

Tag: Jentec Technology

Current theater operations necessitate the integration of all Service engineers if full-spectrum joint engineer functions are to be attained. From combat to general engineering, our engineer Services are sharing the battlefield and expanding their capabilities to address a broad range of planning and execution efforts. Joint engineer planning can include simultaneous planning for an extreme range of engi?neer requirements, to include- * Combat mission planning support.

* Improvised explosive device (IED) defeat.

* Base camp planning and development.

* Contingency contracting.

* Infrastructure assessment.

* Reachback capability utilization.

* Construction management.

* Contractor and industry relations.

* Reconstruction and stabilization engineer operations, including joint interagency, intergovernmental, and mul tinational (JIIM) support.

* Humanitarian operations support.

Joint engineer planning is the key to bridging the gap in full- spectrum engineer operations. Engineering capabilities from across the Services are uniting to bring high degrees of expertise to theater mission planning. Engineers are no longer able to maintain Service-centric focus areas. The entire the?ater is now the focus. Thus, it requires an expanded engineer knowledge and skill base, increased training, and the ability to execute large-scale theater operations. Current engineer?ing missions indicate a demand of such magnitude that it will require all U.S. engineer forces to support the joint mission. The force multiplier in joint engineer theater operations is having technically and tactically competent engineers who comprehend the expertise and capabilities the joint engineer Services and their civilian counterparts bring to bear.

Joint Training Initiatives

The "way ahead" for joint engineering identifies train? ing and education gaps and promotes the integration of new programs throughout the Services. Engineers from all ranks and echelons of operations are identifying the joint requirements and training gaps throughout multiple the?aters. The Joint Engineer Training and Education Working Group, composed of engineer training and education leaders from across the Services, is working to mitigate these gaps by discussing key joint engineer considerations and the mecha?nisms to program and integrate them into our training and education systems. These senior leaders then take these con?siderations and recommendations for joint application to the Joint Operational Engineering Board (JOEB) to support the effort to update existing- or implement future-joint engi?neer programs. The joint initiatives will help integrate theater lessons learned and practical applications into our Services' training and education systems with a joint perspective and formalized education. This senior working group has gener? ated five initiatives that address gaps within training and edu? cation and joint organizational leadership of engineers and point the way ahead in joint engineering.