Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit covers the competency required to command, lead and manage engineering personnel of up to a sub-unit size (about 130) on operations.

Command is the authority a commander in the military service lawfully exercises over subordinates by virtue of rank or assignment.

This unit also includes the skills and knowledge required to lead and manage under extreme conditions in a high-risk environment. It therefore requires individuals to be incisive in a fluid and demanding environment, to act independently, and to lead by example.

Application of the Unit 

The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.

Prerequisite Unit /s 

Nil

Employability Skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a Unit of Competency.

Performance Criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the Required Skills and Knowledge and/or the Range Statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare and plan for engineering operations 

1.1 Competence of subordinates is confirmed and maintained in accordance with standard procedures 

1.2 Personnel administration  is maintained in accordance with standard procedures

1.3 Orders are received and clarified as necessary to determine commander's intent

1.4 Constraints and risks  relevant to the task are determined and managed in accordance with standard procedures

1.5 Appropriate resources for the task are assembled, and any shortfalls that limit capability are reported to the chain of command

1.6 Occupational health and safety (OH&S) requirements and recognised safety precautions are applied throughout the operation in accordance with standard procedures

1.7 Planning decisions are made based on a logical process  to solve operational problems

1.8 Battle procedures  are conducted in accordance with standard procedures

2. Conduct engineering operations 

2.1 Orders are prepared and delivered in accordance with standard procedures

2.2 Subordinates are directed and supervised in accordance with organisational requirements

2.3 Liaison is conducted in accordance with operational requirements and standard procedures

2.4 Support from outside  agencies is organised and directed

3. Finalise engineering operations 

3.1 Debriefs are conducted in accordance with standard procedures

3.2 Post activity analysis is conducted and subsequent recommendations are made in accordance with standard procedures

3.3 Equipment, stores and ammunition are reconditioned, replaced or returned as applicable

3.4 Documentation is completed in accordance with standard procedures

3.5 Subordinates' health and well-being is monitored and any anomalies are referred or fixed

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills 

• combat engineer skills
• develop instructions from given orders
• draw simple construction plans
• navigate by day and night, vehicle and foot
• operate Global Positioning System (GPS)
• operate weapons
• simple levelling for construction tasks
• supervise subordinates
• use computers
• write reports

Required Knowledge 

• civil and general construction occupational competencies and related equipment. Such as:
• work in confined space and heights
• traffic control
• road repairs and culverting
• civil construction and design methods
• employment of plant and operators
• employment of civil trades
• combat communications
• combat engineer skill sets and equipment including:
• engineering information and intelligence
• engineering technical reconnaissance
• field construction
• field defences and obstacles
• water purification and analysis
• timber felling and milling
• high-risk search
• chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN):
• personal decontamination station/equipment decontamination station
• CBRN survey
• counter surveillance and deception
• mine warfare/booby traps
• demolitions/destruction of malfunctioned explosive ordnance
• blast effects
• target hardening
• battle area clearance
• bridging - wet, dry, non-equipment
• watercraft
• deployment of engineer equipment and personnel:
• convoy orders
• occupation and defence of a unit position
• deployment planning data sheet (DPDS)
• combat skills including:
• weapons (individual, crew served and direct fire support weapon systems)
• tactical reconnaissance
• navigation
• track and patrolling
• tactical deployment
• command and control
• emergency response engineering
• engineering specialist skills including:
• army working diver
• engineer driving
• plant operations
• quarrying operations
• timber milling operations
• explosive ordnance disposal operations
• explosive detection dog team employment
• geometric engineering including:
• survey
• terrain analysis
• geospatial information systems
• product support
• legal responsibilities
• relevant legislation and procedures in relation to environmental requirements and Rules of Engagement
• relevant OH&S regulations/requirements, equipment, material and personal safety requirements
• risk assessment techniques

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Assessment must confirm the ability to supervise a range of missions such as:

General construction  of pre-designed timber structures, sandbag walls, obstacles, expedient structures and field defences using the following techniques:

• construction design and plans
• excavation
• revetment
• basic carpentry
• concreting

The construction process must include the design and use of field machines (field machines may include devices such as slings, gyns, derricks and sheers to construct the mechanical advantage necessary to lift and move the load) to move a load of at least three tonne.

Searchof:

• an occupied building
• an unoccupied building
• a vehicle (may include aircraft, boat, truck, train etc)
• route (road)
• area
• and involving liaison with a higher authority (search advisor, cordon commander, police, explosive ordnance disposal, etc.).

Offensive , defensive and security tasks  (such as patrolling, attacking or withdrawing) involving:

• navigation (day, night, vehicle, foot)
• tracking and patrolling
• employment of unit weapon systems:
• individual weapons
• crew served weapons
• direct fire support weapons
• communications
• living in the field.

The individual should be exposed to the extremes of the operational environment where a person is under physical and mental stress.

Consistency in performance 

Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of environments. This may be in an operational or simulated operational setting.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Context of assessment 

Competency should be assessed in the context of commanding an engineering sub-unit and should replicate the extremes of an operational environment. The assessment would usually be simulated due to the nature of this high-risk environment.

Specific resources for assessment 

Access to a group of engineers of sub-unit size or below, including weapons, equipment and appropriate operating areas.

Guidance information for assessment 

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised  wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Standard procedures may include 

Australian Standards

Defence Instructions

Job guides, pamphlets and other publications

Manufacturers' handbooks, industry specifications and technical instructions

OH&S regulations

Organisational policies and procedures

Procedure manuals

Relevant local government by-laws

Relevant state/territory or federal legislation or regulations

Routine Orders

Standing Operating Procedures

Standing Orders

Written and verbal orders

Personnel administration may include 

Career management

Counselling

Discipline

Pay

Welfare

Constraints may include 

Environmental conditions

Experience of subordinates

Health

Morale

Operational tempo

Resources

Terrain

Training short falls

Troops to task

Welfare

Risks may include 

Loss of equipment

Loss of personnel

Threats injury

Logical process may include 

Engineer battlefield assessment

Individual military appreciation process

Battle procedures may include 

Concurrent activity

Rehearsals

Thorough reconnaissance

Warning orders

Support from outside agencies may include 

Armour

Artillery

Engineers

Logistics

Medical

Rotary and fixed wing aircraft

Mission may include 

Combat tasks

Expedient construction

General construction

High-risk searches

Movement of loads

Nuclear, biological, and chemical defence

Point of entry assessment and preparation

Target hardening

Timber milling

Co-requisite Unit /s 

Nil