WHAT IS AN ASSAULT PIONEER?
1LT LYNDON SOLLESTA PA
2/95 Assault Pioneer Singleton, NSW, Australia


He is an INFANTRYMAN with special training. His trade lineage goes back over 2000 years when a Roman General described him as “one of a body of foot soldiers, marching in advance with spaces to prepare the roads for the main body”.

He still uses a shovel or an axe or a more sophisticated tool like power saws or Theodolite survey instruments. He can build a bridge, a house or a latrine. He can blow up the same bridge and booby trap the house and the latrine with fiendish skills. He lives in danger but works with caution.

He can operate the latest assault boat and motor launch, Or build a raft out of logs and barrels. He can lead an attack with a Bangalore Torpedo, Or be the last man out in a withdrawal while blowing a crater. He can smoke out an entrenched enemy with a flame thrower or a pole charge.

All these things he can do, or he can lay down his tools, pick-up his rifle and fight as an – INFANTRYMAN. That is an ASSAULT PIONEER.

In Australia, they are known as the Regimental Combat Construction and Assault Demolition Technical Specialists. Here we simply call them, . . .ENGINEERS.