JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- Members of the 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron participated in a Prime Base Engineering Emergency Force, or Prime BEEF readiness challenge, Oct. 25, 2016 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
During the training, the 12 teams of six to eight U.S. Air Force Airmen, with various specialties, spent 25 minutes at stations, which held a task representing a different civil engineering craft.
“Stations represent contingency home-station training required to hone their wartime skills,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kevin Osborne, 633rd CES commander. “We are making sure the different AFSC’s (Air Force Specialty Codes) are getting a little taste of what our Civil Engineer Squadron does, as diverse as we are.”
At each station, a representative from that specialty explained how to complete the task, while keeping score, helping and encouraging the teams along the way. The engineers participated in the events in hopes that they pick-up new skills they did not know before.
“In a deployed environment, where you can sometimes be short on manning, you want to have that total-Air-Force-integration Airman, jack of all trades,” said Osborne. “Someone who can step-up and help other engineers out.”
The engineers did just that, but in a manner that helped raise morale and encouraged competition, said Staff Sgt. Daniel Muldowney, 633rd CES emergency management.
“It was a morale booster and got people out and away from their jobs for a day,” said Muldowney. “It put people in the competitive spirit with friendly banter within the units. It gave the opportunity to see what other’s do.”
Half-way through the competition, the squadron also hosted a burger-burn for those competing, giving the opportunity to continue spending time with other 633rd CES members.
Squadron leadership said they hope to continue this station-style training in the future.