text: Engineer Echelon Perspectives
  * Creating flood prediction models for mapping disaster effects.
  * Fighting fire.
  Peace through large-scale combat operations typically involves the scaled introduction of increasingly
  larger military construction forces into the operational area. This range of military operations implies a degree
  of theater echelon engineer support for access, base development, sustainment base establishment, and
  operational movement requirements. While each theater or JOA is unique from a broad perspective, each
  follows a pattern from some level of immaturity at the beginning of operations, through development, to
  established standards and the maintenance of those standards during operations and, finally, to the closure or
  turnover of bases and other facilities as operations conclude. Lesser-developed theaters or operational areas
  tend to generate more operational-level engineer effort earlier in the operations process. Table 6-3 shows a
  general comparison based on the development level.
  Table 6-3. Development level-based requirements comparison
  Lesser Developed Theater Highly Developed Theater
  Greater effort is required to establish SPOD and APOD may be available but
  SPOD and APOD. require improvement.
  Geospatial data may require
  Geospatial data may be available.
  generation.
  Real estate may be more available for
  Real estate acquisition is less likely.
  acquisition.
  Environmental conditions may be An environmental baseline may be
  unknown. established.
  Austere base camps and forward Installations may be available for
  operating bases may be required. temporary use.
  A road network is likely limited. A road network is available.
  Natural obstacles predominate. Man-made obstacles predominate.
  May be complex or extensive
  May be primitive or basic infrastructure.
  infrastructure.
  Legend:
  APOD aerial port of debarkation
  SPOD seaport of debarkation
  While the unifying theme describes the character of the dominant major operation being conducted,
  ARFOR conduct decisive action within this larger framework. All major operations conducted overseas
  combine offensive, defensive, and stability operations elements executed simultaneously at multiple
  echelons. ARFOR provide a mix of land combat power that can be tailored for any combination of offensive,
  defensive, stability, and DSCA operations as part of an interdependent joint force. At higher echelons,
  engineer operations consist of more technically focused tasks that simultaneously support offensive,
  defensive, stability, and DSCA operations. The technical aspects of engineer tasks at higher echelons become
  increasingly essential to their effective application. For example, from an operational-level perspective, the
  application of engineering efforts to repair and upgrade a road and its component bridges tends to retain a
  consistent set of technical tasks. Operational elements have less distinct impact than the technical aspects of
  the engineering tasks; in fact, most operational-level engineering simultaneously supports all of the
  operational elements. For example, upgrading a road supports the movement of forces into attack positions,
  the movement of counterattack forces repositioning in a mobile defense, and the movement of forces
  supporting civil security. Theater army engineer operations apply technical capabilities to create favorable
  conditions for any combination of operational elements.
  While the influence of distinct operational elements may be lessened for some technically focused
  engineering tasks, the overall engineer effort must remain integrated within the combined arms framework.
  The engineer staff participates in operations process activities to synchronize the orchestration and
  sustainment of primarily subordinate echelon engineer actions and the application of more technically
  focused engineer capabilities. Some generalities can be observed while considering the operational elements
  and higher echelon engineer operations.