Roles
The 31st COE fulfilled the Combat Engineer role within the 1st Southern Brigade RDF. The 31st COE maintains specialist’s skills were in line with their PDF counterparts.
Mobility
This involves improving the ability of friendly forces to move around the battlefield. The 31st COE fulfills this role by maintaining skills necessary for the;
- breaching and clearing of minefields
- gap & river crossing (infantry & vehicular bridge deployment)
- obstacle clearance (including use of explosives for obstacle reduction and provision of alternative access or egress points in the urban environment)
Counter Mobility
The aim of counter mobility operations is to reduce the ability of enemy forces to move around the battlefield. The 31st COE has the capability to;
- destroy bridges or buildings
- render roads or areas impassable to tanks
- create substantial roadblocks to deny roads to both infantry and mechanised enemy
- create extensive defensive obstacles ranging from barbed wire entanglements to defensive anti-tank minefields
Survivability
To improve the survivability of defensive positions the 31st COE can strengthen existing fortifications and supplement them with defensive trench systems, machine gun bunkers, mortar positions, etc...
Other roles
In addition, the 31st COE can deploy in the Battlefield Services role. This role principally relates to support of units operating considerable distances from a secure base and can range from the creation of substantial base camps, establishing a secure floodlit perimeter with defensive positions, erecting tented command positions and accommodation, providing on-site electricity generation and large scale on-site water purification.
The Basic Field Engineering role supplements the other roles, allowing the 31st COE to construct lifting and gap crossing devices with minimal equipment in demanding conditions.
Cmdt John Keane AR (Retired)
Cmdt Pat Lavin AR (Retired)
Cmdt Gerard Beatty AR (Retired)
Captain Gerard Russell AR (Retired)
Lt Gerard O'Donoghue AR
Company Sergeant Patrick Hincy AR (Retired)
Company Quarter Master Sergeant Martin Cronin AR
Training Sergeant Mark O'Reilly AR
Transport Sergeant Pops McGrath AR (Retired)
Sergeant Dwayne O'Doherty AR (Retired)
Corporal Gerard Arthur AR (Retired)
Corporal Shane O'Reilly AR
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