Airborne combat engineers train to breach wire obstacle

A platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team briefs his engineers on a breaching mission using a dirt mockup of the battlefield July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. In spite of the 105-degree weather, the soldiers trained... ... READ MORE

A combat engineer throws a grappling hook to clear a potential mine field before advancing during a field training exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. The paratrooper and his first sergeant observing at right belong to 1st Brigade Combat Tea... ... READ MORE

A combat engineer tosses a smoke grenade over a wire obstacle he and his fellow 82nd Airborne Division engineers will breach during a training exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. The smoke will give the paratroopers cover from enemy fire as ... ... READ MORE

Using a smoke grenade as cover, a combat engineer with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team clears potential mines leading up to a wire obstacle with the aid of a grappling hook during a training exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg,... ... READ MORE

A combat engineer with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team clears potential mines leading up to a wire obstacle with the aid of a grappling hook during a training exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. Engineers routinely breac... ... READ MORE

A team of combat engineers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team cuts through a wire obstacle during a live-fire training exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. Observing and mentoring at left is the company’s senior enliste... ... READ MORE

A team of combat engineers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team cuts through a wire obstacle during a training exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. In spite of the 105-degree heat, the paratroopers trained throughout the ... ... READ MORE

A team of combat engineers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team cuts through a wire obstacle during a training exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. In spite of the 105-degree heat, the paratroopers trained throughout the ... ... READ MORE

After breaching a wire obstacle, a team of combat engineers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team marks a safe path of travel for advancing troops during a training exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. Infantrymen know to ... ... READ MORE

After combat engineers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team have breached a wire obstacle, their fellow engineers move forward along the red-staked safe path of travel during a training exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C.... ... READ MORE

After breaching a wire obstacle, a team of combat engineers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team moves to cover to establish a firing position during a live-fire training exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. Engineers rou... ... READ MORE

A combat engineer with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team throws a smoke grenade to provide cover as he and fellow engineers move forward to establish a firing position during a training exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. ... ... READ MORE

Combat engineers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team fire on an enemy position during a live-fire training exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. The engineers must be familiar with infantry tactics, as they are routinely ... ... READ MORE

Second Lt. Zachary Rozar, a combat engineer platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, coordinates fire with teams of machine gunners on his right flank during a live-fire exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. Hi... ... READ MORE

A combat engineer with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team clears a jammed M249 machine gun during a live-fire exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. After breaching a wire obstacle, the paratroopers are laying down a base of f... ... READ MORE

Combat engineers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team lay down a base of fire on an enemy position during a live-fire exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. The paratroopers trained all day and into the night in spite of 10... ... READ MORE

Spent shell casings pile up next to a combat engineer with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team who is manning an M240-B machine gun during a live-fire exercise July 21, 2011, at Fort Bragg, N.C. Machine gunners provided covering fir... ... READ MORE