Exercises

Multi-Specialty Coordination, Multi-Subject Continuity: A Direct Look at Combat-Realistic Engineering Support Training

多专业协同、多课目连贯，直击实战化工程保障训练

PLA Daily (解放军报) 20 May 2026

Summary

An unidentified PLA Army unit conducted a multi-specialty engineering support exercise at altitudes above 4,000 meters on the plateau, integrating bridge erection, camouflage, road construction, EOD, and communications countermeasures under simulated enemy reconnaissance and jamming conditions. The exercise documents the unit's effort to close a recognized combined-arms integration gap: engineering support elements trained not as discrete specialties but as a coordinated system subordinate to a combined-arms battalion's assault timeline. The plateau setting and the explicit post-exercise commitment to environment-specific corrective measures extends the pattern of PLA high-altitude combined-arms training, raising the question of whether engineering support doctrine is being revised to formalize multi-specialty coordination standards for plateau operations.

Translation

A Certain Army Unit Organizes Combat-Realistic Engineering Support Training—

Multi-Specialty Coordination, Multi-Subject Continuity

■ Man Kairu, Zhang Yuyu

Recently, deep in the plateau hinterland, as a burst of urgent alarm sounded, various support elements of a certain Army unit rapidly advanced toward the target area. A combat-realistic engineering support training exercise opened on the snow-covered plateau at an altitude of over 4,000 meters.

Halfway through the march, a wide ditch blocked the way ahead. The bridge support team immediately set up equipment to measure data. Unexpectedly, just as the personnel had finished marking the bridge axis and were preparing to begin bridge erection, a special-situation report suddenly came from the front: "'Enemy' reconnaissance aircraft are approaching the work area!"

Upon receiving the report, the commander of a certain combined-arms battalion decisively issued orders: the camouflage team fired smoke rounds to screen the work area and simultaneously set up multiple decoy targets to confuse the 'enemy' reconnaissance; the bridge team exploited the cover of the smoke to rapidly proceed with bridge erection. The participating officers and soldiers worked in full coordination, and the formidable obstacle was soon turned into a thoroughfare. The assault element quickly crossed the bridge and launched an attack on the 'enemy' position.

"A solid support capability is a critical pillar of the combined-arms battalion's warfighting system. In organizing combat-realistic engineering support training, our aim is to improve the unit's multi-specialty support proficiency with an eye toward battlefield requirements." The unit's leadership stated that in recent years they have routinely organized combat-realistic training, not only tempering individual soldiers' and individual equipment's combat skills, but also effectively improving multi-specialty coordinated support capabilities in a combined-arms context.

During the movement, the road construction team rapidly moved forward to cover 'contaminated' road surfaces; the information support team activated backup frequencies to counter 'enemy' communications jamming; the explosive ordnance disposal team operated unmanned equipment to remotely clear 'unexploded ordnance'... Faced with various sudden special situations, each specialty support team coordinated closely and accomplished all assigned tasks.

"Only when each specialty links seamlessly and all fingers clench into a fist can we provide powerful support for the combined assault group to achieve victory on the future battlefield." The unit's leadership introduced that this training was conducted continuously around combat-realistic subjects including command and control, engineering reconnaissance, and equipment repair and recovery, with multiple special situations set impromptu throughout. In the next phase, they will carefully sort through the shortcomings and deficiencies exposed during training, formulate corrective measures tailored to the characteristics of the plateau environment, and strive to drive continuous improvement in the unit's engineering support capabilities.

Original Chinese

陆军某部组织实战化工程保障训练—— 多专业协同多课目连贯 ■满锴儒张玉雨近日，高原腹地，随着一阵急促的警报声响起，陆军某部各保障分队迅速向目标地域开进。一场实战化工程保障训练，在海拔4000多米的雪域高原拉开战幕。官兵行至半途，一条宽沟横亘在前。桥梁保障小组立即架起设备测量数据。不料，官兵刚标定完桥轴线，正准备展开桥梁架设，前方突然传来特情通报：“‘敌’侦察机向作业区域逼近！” 接到通报，某合成营指挥员果断下达指令：伪装小组发射发烟弹遮蔽作业区，并同步设置多组假目标干扰“敌”侦察；桥梁小组利用烟雾遮蔽时机，快速展开桥梁架设。参训官兵通力合作，很快天堑变通途。突击组迅速通过桥梁，向“敌”阵地发起进攻。 “过硬的保障能力，是合成营作战体系的关键支撑。我们组织实战化工程保障训练，就是要着眼战场需求提升部队多专业保障水平。”该部领导说，近年来，他们常态组织实战化训练，不仅锤炼单兵单装实战技能，还有效提升合成背景下的多专业协同保障能力。机动途中，道路筑成小组快速前出覆盖“染毒”路面，信息保障小组启用备用频率应对“敌”通信干扰，排爆小组操纵无人装备远程排除“未爆弹”……面对各类突发特情，各保障专业小组密切协同，圆满完成任务。 “只有各专业无缝衔接、攥指成拳，才能为合成突击群制胜未来战场提供有力支撑。”该部领导介绍，此次训练围绕指挥控制、工程侦察、装备抢修等实战化课目连贯展开，全程临机设置多种特情。下一步，他们将认真梳理训练中暴露出的短板不足，结合高原环境特点制订整改措施，努力推动部队工程保障能力持续提升。