The doctrine of explosives and demolitions focuses on the procedures that support the combat operations provided by engineer capabilities to the combined arms team. This doctrine reduces the effectiveness of barriers, obstacles, infrastructure, and minefields to maintain mobility and momentum in the operating area.

Field Manual (FM) 3-34.214 is the reference manual for explosives and demolitions procedures that support combat operations, as well as, peacetime training missions requiring demolition (the destruction of structures, facilities, or material by use of fire, water, explosives, mechanical, or other means) (FM 1-02) applications.

FM 3-34.214 provides the theory of explosives, explosive characteristics and their common uses, formulas for calculating various types of charges, and the standard methods of priming and placing charges.

FM 3-34.214 provides doctrine on constructing charges for various applications and its uses to maintain mobility and momentum in the contemporary operational environment (COE). It focuses on the demolition systems and material required to accomplish the mission. The doctrine in this manual recognizes the need to address the urban and complex environment. This manual describes in detail the procedures required to assemble and emplace explosive charges for impartial or complete destruction.

The primary audience for FM 3-34.214 is Soldiers at the unit level and below. This doctrine will assist Army branch schools in teaching the integration of engineer explosive capabilities into Army operations. Engineer involvement is a given for nearly every military operation. The degree of involvement will include one or more of the roles associated with engineers performing demolition missions in support of the maneuver commander. Given the magnitude of the changes in demolition material and the techniques used in recent years, becoming familiar with the information in this document is essential to use explosives effectively to achieve the desired end state.