Army
MOS 12B
Combat Engineer
Army 12B (Combat Engineer) typically involves combat-oriented field operations, mechanical systems maintenance, construction and engineering work.
Common Exposures
🪖 Combat/Stress
Direct combat exposure, hostile fire, IED blasts
🔊 Noise
Weapons fire, explosions, vehicle noise
💪 Physical Strain
Heavy gear, marching, physical demands
🌦️ Environmental
Extreme weather, dust, sand, burn pits
🔊 Noise
Heavy equipment and power tool noise
💪 Physical Strain
Heavy lifting, repetitive motions
🧪 Chemicals
Concrete dust, paint, solvents, asbestos
🌦️ Environmental
Weather exposure, dust
🔊 Noise
Engine and machinery noise
🧪 Chemicals
Diesel fumes, oil, solvents, hydraulic fluid
🌦️ Environmental
Heat, confined engine spaces
Likely Service-Connected Conditions
| Diagnostic Code | Condition | Likelihood | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5237 | Lumbosacral or cervical strain | High | Heavy gear and physical demands cause back strain |
| 6260 | Tinnitus, recurrent | High | Weapons fire and explosions cause tinnitus |
| 9411 | Posttraumatic stress disorder | High | Combat exposure commonly causes PTSD |
| 5242 | Degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (also, see either DC 5003 or 5010) | Medium | Repetitive heavy lifting and vibration |
| 5257 | Knee, other impairment | Medium | Marching and physical demands affect knees |
| 6847 | Sleep Apnea Syndromes | Medium | Deployment stress and irregular sleep patterns |
| 8045 | Residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) | Medium | Blast exposure risk for traumatic brain injury |
| 8100 | Migraine | Medium | Blast exposure and stress cause migraines |
| 9434 | Major depressive disorder | Medium | Combat stress and deployment separation |
☢️ PACT Act & Toxic Exposure
Select the era that best matches when you served to see how this job’s toxic exposures changed over time.
Vietnam Era
📅 1962-1975
Agent Orange / Herbicides
PACT Act
Ground-level exposure in defoliated terrain and contaminated vegetation.
Agent Orange / Herbicides
PACT Act
Construction and route-clearance work in recently defoliated or treated areas.
Herbicide-Treated Sites
PACT Act
Potential exposure at sites sprayed or handled with herbicides.
Asbestos
Construction, demolition, and renovation work around asbestos-containing materials.
Combat Stress
Sustained combat and operational stress exposure.
Dust
Concrete, soil, silica, and demolition dust exposure.
Heavy Equipment Exhaust
Diesel exhaust exposure from construction equipment and generators.
Infectious Wounds
Punji stake injuries and contaminated wound exposure in jungle environments.
Lead Paint
Exposure during scraping, welding, and renovation of older structures.
Noise
Weapons fire, tracked vehicles, demolitions, and repeated blast noise exposure.
Physical Strain
Rucking, jumping, digging, heavy loads, and repeated musculoskeletal stress.
Tropical Disease Exposure
Malaria and other tropical disease exposure during field operations.
Cold War Era
📅 1945-1991
Radiation
PACT Act
Possible exposure during nuclear facility construction and support projects.
Asbestos
Construction, demolition, and renovation work around asbestos-containing materials.
Asbestos
High likelihood of asbestos exposure in barracks, ships, utilities, and industrial facilities.
Combat Stress
Sustained combat and operational stress exposure.
Dust
Concrete, soil, silica, and demolition dust exposure.
Heavy Equipment Exhaust
Diesel exhaust exposure from construction equipment and generators.
Lead Paint
Exposure during scraping, welding, and renovation of older structures.
Lead Paint
Routine work disturbing legacy lead paint coatings.
Noise
Weapons fire, tracked vehicles, demolitions, and repeated blast noise exposure.
Physical Strain
Rucking, jumping, digging, heavy loads, and repeated musculoskeletal stress.
Gulf War Era
📅 1990-2001
Chemical Warfare Agents
PACT Act
Potential low-level exposure related to Khamisiyah demolition and alerts.
Depleted Uranium
PACT Act
Exposure from damaged armor, munitions, and recovered battlefield equipment.
Oil Well Fire Smoke
PACT Act
Operations in oil smoke plumes across the theater.
Anthrax / PB Tablets
Use of PB tablets and anthrax prophylaxis during deployment.
Asbestos
Construction, demolition, and renovation work around asbestos-containing materials.
Combat Stress
Sustained combat and operational stress exposure.
Dust
Concrete, soil, silica, and demolition dust exposure.
Heavy Equipment Exhaust
Diesel exhaust exposure from construction equipment and generators.
Lead Paint
Exposure during scraping, welding, and renovation of older structures.
Noise
Weapons fire, tracked vehicles, demolitions, and repeated blast noise exposure.
Physical Strain
Rucking, jumping, digging, heavy loads, and repeated musculoskeletal stress.
Post-9/11 Era
📅 2001-present
Burn Pits
PACT Act
Daily proximity to open-air burn pits on FOBs and combat outposts.
Burn Pits
PACT Act
Construction or maintenance of waste pits and burn pit perimeters.
K2 Base Contamination
PACT Act
Potential exposure for units that transited or operated through K2.
K2 Base Contamination
PACT Act
Soil disturbance and dust exposure at contaminated forward sites such as K2.
PFAS Exposure
PACT Act
Potential contact with PFAS-contaminated soil, runoff, and training areas.
Sand / Dust Particulates
PACT Act
Persistent inhalation of fine particulate matter during patrols and base operations.
Asbestos
Construction, demolition, and renovation work around asbestos-containing materials.
Combat Stress
Sustained combat and operational stress exposure.
Dust
Concrete, soil, silica, and demolition dust exposure.
Heavy Equipment Exhaust
Diesel exhaust exposure from construction equipment and generators.
IED Blast Exposure
Lead, mercury, explosive residue, and blast overpressure from IED strikes.
Lead Paint
Exposure during scraping, welding, and renovation of older structures.
Noise
Weapons fire, tracked vehicles, demolitions, and repeated blast noise exposure.
Physical Strain
Rucking, jumping, digging, heavy loads, and repeated musculoskeletal stress.