High-quality steaks and hamburgers weren’t involved in the Prime BEEF Challenge April 26 at Luke Air Force Base. Instead, nine teams of 10 Airmen from the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron faced a series of obstacles involving mud, protective gear, fire hoses, balance beams, sand bags and more.
From fire and emergency services to power production, Prime Base Expeditionary Emergency Force, also known as Prime BEEF, involve every aspect of the civil engineer career field, according to Senior Master Sgt. William Hight, 56th CES Operations Flight superintendent.
56th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal members carry a telephone pole 300 yards during a Prime Base Expeditionary Emergency Force challenge at the Ability to Survive and Operate area April 26.
“These monthly challenges are instrumental in building and reinforcing our squadron’s wartime skills,†Hight said. “They solidify the importance of fitness and exercise. They are also huge team building events for individual sections and bring the entire squadron closer together.â€
Airman 1st Class Emilio Cardenas, 56th CES electrical apprentice, who is new to Luke, said he enjoyed participating in his second Prime BEEF challenge here.
Senior Airman Anthony Coleman, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron, hits the keiser sled as teammates cheer him on during the Prime Base Expeditionary Emergency Force challenge at the Ability to Survive and Operate area April 26.
“Although my team didn’t win, we still had a lot of fun and learned a lot about sections we don’t work in,†he said. “The obstacles were mentally and physically challenging. My favorite part was low-crawling through the mud.â€
Although most of the teams finished in about an hour, Hight said the explosive ordnance disposal team won the challenge with a time of 45 minutes and 30 seconds.
“The morale boost and excitement from the day’s events was very evident,†he said. “Everyone had a blast.â€
56th Civil Engineer Squadron electrical shop Airmen yell the Airman’s Creed as the final obstacle of the Prime Base Expeditionary Emergency Force challenge at the Ability to Survive and Operate area April 26.
Prime BEEF Challenge order of events:Â
25 push-ups
Traverse over six barriers
Correctly identify unexploded ordnances
300-yard telephone pole carry
Team movement over barriers and water hazard with low-crawl
M-4 and M-9 weapons rebuild
Build two defensive fighting positions with 100 sand bags
Walk across balance beam in protective gear
Answer five job-related questions
Deploy and redeploy a fire hose and sledge-hammer event
Cross-country walk on 2×6 planks
Mud hill and water obstacle low-crawl
SALUTE (size, activity, location, unit, time and equipment) report with binoculars
Litter carry, fireman’s carry and two-person carry through a water obstacle
Recite Airman’s creed
Tech. Sgt. Adam Kelley, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron fireman, carries a dummy across a mud pit as Senior Airman Anthony Coleman, 56th CES, assists him out during a Prime Base Expeditionary Emergency Force challenge at the Ability to Survive and Operate area.
