The horizontal construction engineer supervises or serves as a member of a team, squad, section, or platoon. They are responsible for, quarry, paving, and plant equipment operations, and crew maintenance of equipment.

Combat engineers construct, alter, repair, and maintain buildings and structures; lift and move heavy objects and equipment by setting up, bracing, and utilizing rigging devices and equipment; and perform various duties incidental to the use of demolitions in construction projects and destruction of objects. Personnel assigned this MOS are taught carpentry and other construction skills as well as demolitions, specialized demolitions for urban breaching and land mine warfare.