text: Foundations of Engineer Operations
  operations tends to be of a long duration compared to the other operations. As such, the general engineering
  level of effort, including support from USACE, is very high at the onset and gradually decreases as the theater
  matures. As the AO matures, the general engineering effort may transfer to theater or external support
  contracts (logistics civil augmentation program, Air Force contract augmentation program, Navy global
  contingency construction contract).
  Operational contract support obtains and provides supplies, services, and construction labor and
  materiel—often providing a responsive option or enhancement to support the force. (See ATP 4-92 and
  ATP 4-94 for more information on the theater sustainment command and operational contract support.)
  General engineers provide subject matter expertise for the oversight of contracted services and materials use.
  PROTECTION
  The protection warfighting function is the related tasks and systems that preserve the force so the
  commander can apply maximum combat power to accomplish the mission (ADP 3-0). Engineers have unique
  equipment and personnel capabilities that can be used to support survivability operations and related
  protection tasks. Combat engineers, supported by general engineer capabilities when required, provide
  selected survivability operations through the protection warfighting function. (See ATP 3-37.34 for
  additional information on survivability operations.) Combat engineers typically provide the basic hardening
  and field fortification support, while general engineer support is focused on long-term survivability efforts.
  General engineer support is also applied through the protection warfighting function to control pollution and
  hazardous material and to harden facilities. Survivability operations include the following engineer tasks:
  * Protecting against enemy hazards within the AO.
   Constructing vehicle fighting positions, crew-served weapon fighting positions, or individual
  fighting positions.
   Constructing protective earth walls, berms, and revetments or constructing vehicles,
  information systems, equipment, and material protective positions.
   Employing protective equipment (vehicle crash barriers, entry control points, security fences).
   Installing bridge protective devices for an existing float bridge or river-crossing site to protect
  against waterborne demolition teams, floating mines, or floating debris.
   Installing or removing protective obstacles.
   Conducting environmental assessments to identify and protect against environmental
  conditions.
  * Conducting actions to control pollution and hazardous material. See ATP 3-34.5 for additional
  information on environmental pollution and hazardous materials.
  * Conducting tactical firefighting. See TM 3-34.30 for additional information on firefighting.
  When conducting stability and DSCA, survivability remains a key concern. Although the likelihood
  of combat operations is reduced, key resources and personnel remain vulnerable to other types of hostile
  action or attack. Commanders must consider protecting vital resources such as fuel sites, sustainment
  convoys, base camps, and logistics support areas because the entire AO has an equal potential for enemy
  attack. The priority of work for construction assets is focused more on protecting these types of resources
  than on constructing fighting positions for combat vehicles or crew-served weapons. Vital resources requiring
  survivability may also include facilities that are critical to the civil infrastructure (such as key industrial sites,
  pipelines, water treatment plants, and government buildings). Engineers also employ protective obstacles as
  a key tool in protecting these important assets and locations. Protective obstacles range from tetrahedrons
  and concrete barriers to networked munitions. Physical barriers provide a relatively inexpensive, inflexible
  survivability capability. Networked munitions, with built-in sensor capabilities and central control, provide
  a flexible intrusion detection and denial system.