FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron Prime Base Emergency Engineer Force (BEEF) conducted land navigation and simulated weapons training at Fort Eustis, Oct. 16.
Prime BEEF units survey land to set up bare-bones facilities and flight lines at a moment's notice. In addition to the basic structural duties of a civil engineer unit, Prime BEEF units also respond in disaster situations in order to set up infrastructure in a damaged area.
The 40 Airmen in attendance will benefit from this training while in deployed locations, said Staff Sgt. Lloyd Swede, 633rd CES Prime BEEF training manager.
"Having Fort Eustis so close by allows us to take advantage of our joint-base relationship and utilize the training areas," said Swede. "Fort Eustis' land-navigation area greatly aided in ensuring our training was effective."
As part of the training, Swede tasked Airmen to find markers, expanding their computer-based land-navigation training.
"Because of our mission, we find ourselves deploying with our sister services frequently," said Swede. "Land-navigation training could be vital in a convoy or emergency response situation, so our Airmen would be better prepared with the addition of hands-on training."
Fort Eustis also provided the Prime BEEF units with a cost-efficient alternative to live-fire training in the form of a state-of-the-art simulated firing range.
"In addition to land navigation, weapons training is vital in a deployed location, no matter what service you belong to," explained Swede. "Just like the land-navigation training, giving our Airmen an opportunity to practice firing better equips them for a real-word environment."
Utilizing the simulated firing range means participants won't use ammunition, saving the military money, said Swede. Firing-range personnel also provided the Prime BEEF Airmen with instruction on advanced techniques taught to members of the FBI, CIA and other branches of security.
Training Airmen in these disciplines does more than improve their abilities, said Swede; it raises the bar for the future of the 633rd CES Prime BEEF.
"When we can come out here and give our Airmen hands-on training, they remember more than if they had just seen a slideshow presentation," explained Swede. "Conducting this training and having these resources allows Prime BEEF to improve skills and sets up our Airmen to be trainers for the next batch of Airmen to come through the 633rd CES."