SOUTHWEST ASIA -- A small team of Airmen from the 577th Expeditionary Prime Beef Squadron have been augmenting the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structures shop for the past weeks to erect large fabric structures at the 407th Air Expeditionary Group.
"Although the team is small it gives the 407th ECES a subject matter expert to lead the Airmen assigned here and alleviate some of the stress erecting these structures would put on the unit," according to Senior Master Sgt. William Bryant, 407th ECES operations superintendent.
The Airmen worked together to erect a big-top sun shade for the 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron’s K-9 unit as well as a 4k dome for the 407th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s vehicle maintenance section supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.
"The big top sun shade will provide protection from the heat of direct sunlight for the military working dogs during the summer months," according to Tech. Sgt. James Swann, 407th ESFS military working dog section NCO in charge
"It is a daily requirement to run each dog assigned here through the obedience course and having the shade extends the hours the handlers and their dogs are able to meet that requirement," he said.
"The 4k dome will benefit the 407th ELRS in more ways than one," according to Staff Sgt. Brittany Donnelly, 407th ELRS vehicle maintenance NCO in charge.
In addition to providing more space to work on the vehicles, having a second facility alleviates workflow restrictions, which occur due to safety regulations.
“When working on higher-risk vehicles, such as fuel delivery trucks, only one vehicle is allowed in the maintenance area at a time,” Donnelly said. “Having the second workspace will allow work on multiple vehicles to continue under these circumstances.”
Continuous improvements such as these contribute to the group’s mission of generating, executing and sustaining combat airpower and ensure the base is prepared to provide bed-down support to flying units at a moment’s notice.
Prime BEEF teams provide a full range of civil engineering support required to establish, operate, and maintain garrison and contingency air bases. Prime BEEF forces maintain the necessary equipment and personnel to support beddown fire emergency services; expedient construction; explosive incident response; emergency management; chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response; and many other specialized mission duties.
The 577th Expeditionary Prime BEEF Group was established in September 2009. Its mission was to carry out installation engineer capabilities.