Command and Control of Engineers in Joint Operations

Joint doctrine places the staff cognizance for engineering under J4 Logistics by emphasizing sustainment engineering functions. The Uniform Joint Task List identifies operational requirements for combat engineering functions, but no joint doctrine covers how joint force commanders should plan for or best employ combat engineering capabilities. Additionally, far more of these tasks should fall under the staff supervision of the J3 Operations than the J4 Logistics. Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY (OUD) provides several useful examples of how the success of the engineering effort resulted from the creation of an engineer special staff element and a Joint Force Engineer Command. This study examines these OUD lessons and other alternatives to J4 sole cognizance of engineering in joint operations. Solutions recommended include: a JP3 series doctrinal publication on joint force engineer employment; engineer special staff sections for the Joint Staff and each combatant command staff; a Joint Engineer Tasking board replacing the Joint Facilities Utilization Board, Joint Civil-Military Engineering Board, and Joint Environmental Management Board; a Joint Engineer Support Plan replacing the Civil Engineering Support Plan; and assigning ENCOMS and Corps Engineers to each combatant commander to complete the engineer planning for every OPLAN tasked by the Joint Strategic Capabilities plan.