scope:

FOREWORD

Allied Joint Publication (AJP) 3.12 (A) Allied Doctrine for Military Engineering Support to Joint Operations outlines the organization, roles and responsibilities of military engineers in support of the full range of Alliance missions. It derives its authority from and complements AJP-3 Allied Doctrine for Joint Operations which presents North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) doctrine for planning and conducting joint operations.

The terms 'engineer' and 'engineering' have a variety of meanings. This document is concerned with 'military engineering', which is used in the sense of that engineer activity undertaken, regardless of component or service, to shape the physical operating environment. It does not encompass the activities undertaken by those 'engineers' who maintain and repair vehicles and equipment.

Military Engineering is a multifaceted activity. It is undertaken by all services and is a force multiplier across the full range of Alliance operations, particularly non-article 5 crisis response operations (CROs). It includes the use of military and civil engineering capability to support joint operations. As the Alliance Strategic Concept has evolved, the requirement for military engineering support has grown. Military engineers are particularly suited for rapid deployment in support of NATO operations worldwide.

To meet the challenges of the evolving strategic and security environment, AJP-3.12 (A) provides doctrine reflective of existing organization, capabilities and best practices. It provides fundamental principles by which the military forces or elements thereof guide their actions. It is authoritative but requires judgment in application. Throughout this document the generic term joint force commander (JFC) is used and his chief engineer advisor is known as the joint force engineer (JFENGR). At the operational level¹, the impact of military engineering as a key campaign 'enabler' is of crucial significance.

Military engineering plays a vital role in support of the joint force as a whole. Land based engineers play a key role in providing immediate support to ongoing and imminent operations in support of the maritime and air components and logistics. The coordination and control of engineers at joint force level, as envisaged in this publication, will ensure the best use of limited resources, both manpower and materiel, in meeting the various demands made by joint operations.

Although intended for Alliance use, the doctrine is equally applicable for use by a coalition of NATO and non-NATO nations within the framework of any combined joint operation. It is aimed primarily at the joint force level. However, much of what it says is equally applicable at the component level, though recognizing that the engineering needs of the different components are not identical. Moreover, although this publication sees the need for dedicated engineer staffs at all levels to provide the appropriate advice to commanders and coordination of engineer effort, it is not fundamentally about structures and organization. It is about rationalizing what currently exists, by providing an appropriate engineer focus in headquarters in order to enhance the delivery of military engineer support through improved engineer advice and coordination.

¹. At the tactical level, combat engineer doctrine supporting air, land and maritime forces is mature and detailed within current AJP-3.2 Allied Land Operations Doctrine, AJP-3.2.2 Command and Control of Allied Land Forces and ATP-52 Land Force Combat Engineer Doctrine.