CODEX: THE KOVENANT IMPERIAL ARMY.

Combat Pioneers.

Combat Pioneers are specialist engineers, mechanics that were often used in a very important role, in that it was the duty of this men and women to construct defensive works, as well as construct infrastructure such as bridges, roads, bunkers and when assist in the construction of military installations via the setting up of prefabricated bases and buildings, that the Combat Pioneers would than be able to set down and set up in less than an hour or perhaps 2 hours depending on how large the base was intended to be.

This speed is often achieved thanks to the fact that, prefabricated bases would be highly modular and was very easy to set up within a matter of hours.
This applied to the barracks, storage areas, ammunition depots, etc.

To qoute a Kovenant Combat Pioneer when constructing bases
"Think of it like how you would construct something with lego pieces. That's how swiftly we can construct a large enough base to hold an entire Regiment of 500,000 men."

Because of their specialised role as engineers, this men were more often than not, part of the Regimental HQ, which meant that, per each every Regiment there would be about 30,000 Combat Pioneers present as part of Regimental command. This is because this men would be responsible for construction detail, such as the construction of defences and earthworks as well as ensuring the construction and swift establishment of Kovenant Imperial Army bases, outposts and more.

When deployed in the Field, Combat Pioneers are often responsible for quickly establishing defences over the course of a few hours or even days depending on the tasks being given to them.
This tasks ranged from the construction of Bunkers and other fortifications, to the construction of bridges to replace destroyed and or unusable bridges. And even, laying minefields, setting up barbed wire defences as well as smaller pillboxes and other defensive works.

Of course the Field Engineers are also assisted by the common Kovenant Imperial Soldiers in their responsibilities and tasks and as such, the Combat Pioneers are able to swiftly secure an area after the infantry or Panzers had captured it and they can also be used to establish new bases, new defensive lines, create new bridges etc.

Sometimes, they may even be given advanced sensors in the form of a type of sonar that could detect enemy mines, where than the Pioneers would be able to clear them.

Recruitment and Training.

Recruitment as Combat Pioneers would be a volunteery and conscription based system. Those who volunteered or were conscripted [I.E. Construction workers, mechanics, and most importantly engineers] to become Combat Pioneers would be given over to specialist training.

It was at this specialist training schools that the Combat Pioneers would learn how to construct large bases within hours with the use of the Prefabricated, modular base system that was often used in the Kovenant Imperial military.
As well as learning how to construct new buildings and structures without the use of a  prefabricated base system. This part of training would see the Combat Pioneers learn how to construct bunkers, trenches, outposts and all manner of other buildings and fortifications as was needed.

Combat Pioneers were expected to work until all types of combat and environmental conditions and as such, they were given training to be able to work in various environmental conditions as well and while the Combat Pioneers were given such training, this were week long courses to prepare them for whatever is to come.

However Combat Pioneers were also given weapons training, particularly in the usage of Submachine guns, as well as Flamethrowers. This was to ensure that they would be able to defend themselves when put in a combat situation that they have to fight in.