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ArmyCombat SupportRank #36 of 101 by 4-year cost
12C

Bridge Crewmember

13-week pipeline · BCT + AIT · Fort Leonard Wood, MO
Training Pipeline
$32K
13 weeks
Annual MILPERS
$63K
E-4, 3 years service
Equipment Burden
$12K
per year (amortized)
4-Year Total Cost
$334K
DoD investment
4-Year Cost Breakdown
Training Pipeline
$32K10%
Military Personnel (MILPERS × 4yr)
$254K76%
Equipment Burden (× 4yr)
$48K14%
Training: 10% · MILPERS: 76% · Equipment: 14%= $334K
By the Numbers

Without bridge crews, divisions stop at rivers. 12Cs enable operational maneuver in terrain that would otherwise halt an entire corps — each soldier accountable for millions in bridge equipment.

Training Pipeline
Duration
13 weeks
Type
BCT + AIT
Location
Fort Leonard Wood, MO
Pipeline Cost
$32K

A single Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB) bay costs $280,000. A 12C is trained to assemble and operate bridges that carry 70-ton M1A2 tanks across rivers — each bridge system totaling $8–12M.

Equipment & Annual Burden
Primary Platform
Improved Ribbon Bridge — $280K per bay, 30+ bays per battalion set
Assigned Equipment
  • ·Improved Ribbon Bridge System
  • ·Bridge Erection Boat (BEB)
  • ·M4A1 Carbine
  • ·Watercraft Equipment
  • ·Safety Gear
Annual Equipment Burden
$12K/yr
Bridge equipment share ($8M system / 60 crew / 15yr) + personal gear
Military Personnel Cost (Annual)
Grade BenchmarkE-4, 3 years service
Base MILPERS$63K/yr
Total Annual MILPERS$63K/yr
Force Structure Context
Annual Accessions~600
Avg Career Length6 years
Annual Training Bill$19.2M
Total Force 4yr Cost$200.1M
Read 12C Reviews →← All MOS ProfilesAverage Per-Soldier Cost →
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Cost estimates derived from DoD Comptroller per-soldier analysis, RAND Corporation military personnel studies, CBO military compensation reports, service-specific training cost testimony, and published equipment unit costs. Error margin ±15%. Individual costs vary by duty station, assignment, and deployment tempo. This is Phase 3 of the Honest MOS DoD Budget Intelligence Roadmap.