This is an assessment of the capability of combat engineer units to perform their secondary mission on the future battlefield: to fight as infantry when required. It critiques, updates and expands a 1983 Mission Area Analysis (MAA) conducted by the US Army Engineer School. As such, it requires that the reader have the original MAA available. The overall conclusion is that combat engineer units do have the capability to perform a limited infantry mission. This limited mission is identified by specific tasks. Since these same tasks can also be expected of units performing combat engineer tasks on the battlefield, unit proficiency is critical. This overall conclusion is further refined by addressing the question: 'Where on the battlefield and what type engineer units should be used for the infantry mission?' Specific deficiencies in doctrine, training, organization and materiel currently hindering the capability of combat engineer units to perform the infantry mission are identified. (Author).