text: Chapter 18
  * Construct and maintain forward airfields and landing zones.
  * Traffic management and enforcement.
  Note. Chapter 18 only discusses breaching, gap crossing, and clearing. For additional information
  on combat roads and trails, forward airfield and landing zones, and traffic management and
  enforcement, see ATP 3-90.4/MCTP 3-34A.
  18-7. Mobility tasks are conducted to enable friendly forces to move and maneuver freely on the battlefield.
  Mobility tasks depend on information collection and intelligence. Breaching and gap crossing in support of
  maneuver are primarily conducted using combat engineer units that have, or are augmented by, gap-crossing
  equipment. Gap-crossing equipment includes the rapidly emplaced bridge system that is organic to the
  Stryker BCT and the joint assault bridge organic to the armored BCT. Units may also receive gap crossing
  assets from echelons above brigade such as those typically found in a multi-role bridge company. These
  echelons above brigade assets may include the dry support bridge fixed bridging for dry-gaps or the improved
  ribbon bridge, which is also capable of rafting, for wet-gap crossing.
  18-8. Typically, BCTs are able to execute breaches, dry-crossing, and wet- gap crossings up to a certain
  width with little assistance from a division or corps headquarters. Any wet-gap crossing that requires a multi-
  role bridge company will usually be at least a division level operation and require additional assistance from
  a corps. Engineers at all echelons and can conduct clearing operations.
  BREACH
  18-9. A successful obstacle breach is a synchronized and rehearsed combined arms activity, under the control
  of the maneuver unit. Breaching is a mission undertaken to execute a breach. Breaching allows maneuver
  despite the presence of the enemy reinforcing obstacles with direct and indirect fire. For additional
  information, see paragraph Chapter 20B-7.
  18-10. Breaching begins when friendly forces detect an obstacle and begin to apply the breaching
  fundamentals. Breaching ends when battle handover occurs between follow-on forces and the unit conducting
  the breach. A breach includes the reduction of minefields, other explosive hazards, and other obstacles.
  Generally, breaching requires significant combat engineer support to accomplish.
  18-11. Reduction is the creation of lanes through a minefield or obstacle to allow passage of the attacking
  ground force (JP 3-15). A lane is a route through, over, or around an enemy or friendly obstacle that provides
  passage of a force (ATP 3-90.4/ MCTP 3-34A). The route may be reduced and proofed as part of breaching,
  constructed as part of the obstacle, or marked as a bypass. The number and width of lanes vary depending on
  the enemy situation, size and composition of the assaulting force, and the scheme of movement and
  maneuver. Proof is the verification that a lane is free of mines or explosive hazards and that the width and
  trafficability at the point of breach are suitable for the passing force (ATP 3-90.4/ MCTP 3-34A). Proofing
  can be conducted visually, electronically, or mechanically. Some mines are resistant to reduction assets and
  may require a combination of breaching techniques; for example, magnetic and double impulse mines may
  resist a mine clearing line charge blast. Proofing is an important component of breaching considering the
  wide variety of explosive obstacle threats in use today.
  Breach Control Measures
  18-12. The breach area is a defined area where a breach occurs (ATP 3-90.4/ MCTP 3-34A). It is
  established and fully defined by the higher headquarters of the unit conducting the breach. Within the breach
  area is the point of breach, the reduction area, the far side objective, and the point of penetration. Their
  definitions follow in paragraphs 18-13 through 18-16.
  18-13. Point of breach is the location at an obstacle where the creation of a lane is being attempted
  (ATP 3-90.4/ MCTP 3-34A). Initially, points of breach are planned locations only within the directed breach
  area. Normally, the breach force determines the actual point of breach during the breach.
  18-14. Reduction area is a number of adjacent points of breach that are under the control of the breaching
  commander (ATP 3-90.4/ MCTP 3-34A). The commander conducting the attack determines the size and