Page 9 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, December 3, 2021

8 Desert lightning news s. nevaDa Photo Feature December 3, 2021 9
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Prime BEEF exercise develops agile, multi-capable airmen at Nellis

by Michael J. Hasenauer This wartime contingency training event provid- logistics in a high-end conflict when the need arises
Nellis AFB, Nev. ed an opportunity to train CE Airmen to be multi- and the Air Force’s footprint needs to remain small.
capable under the ACE construct, allowing fewer Service leaders have an established track record
In steps to innovate and modernize the Depart- Airmen to be deployed to the same contingency. of advocating for programs focused on capabilities
ment of Defense, approximately 200 Airmen as- As maintaining the base and runways are the that create effects across the competition continuum.
signed to the 99th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Prime Air Force’s key to remaining operational, more is ACE is one such program that also assists in ‘Ac-
Base Engineer Emergency Forces participated in on the horizon. celerate Change or Lose’ Chief of Staff of the Air
an Agile Combat Employment exercise Nov. 8-10, “We are starting in-house to build multi-capable Force initiatives.
2021, at Camp Cobra in Area II of Nellis Air Force Airmen, capable of executing the ACE concept,” said “As the Air Force is moving forward, we’re look-
Base, Nev. Master Sgt. Damar Turner, Prime BEEF manager. ing to develop Airmen that are critical thinkers and
“ACE is the future of how the Air Force organizes “Our future goal is to integrate outside AFSCs, such problem solvers,” said Lt. Col. Eric Rosenlof, 99th
and employs forces in preparation for a near-peer as maintenance, security forces and medical, so that CES commander.
conflict,” said Col. Todd Dyer, 99th Air Base Wing we can build on this concept and offer it on a grand Dyer ended by saying, “Chief Morgan and I are
commander. “As operations will likely occur in a scale to the wing.” really proud of our CE Team for getting after it;
contested, denied or operationally degraded envi- This exercise demonstrated ACE and other con- readiness is a top priority for us and this is just one
ronment, it’s unlikely large installations and force cepts that enhance operations, maintenance and of many ways we’re training to fight.”
presentations will be sustainable.”
The exercise consisted of 12 different CE Air
Force Specialty-Code career fields coming together
to learn wartime and job skills not typically used
within their own specialties.
Their training included small-shelter systems
build up; tactical combat casualty care; chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear training; ex-
plosive ordnance familiarization; electrical, heat-
ing, ventilating, and air conditioning; contingency
equipment, and bare base set-up.
Dyer said the mindset is to have more Airmen
understand and experience a wider range of non-
core AFSC skills so that future teams are smaller
and lighter. Members were paired up with local
Pararescue Specialists and EOD teammates during
the three-day exercise.

Airmen assigned to the 99th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Prime Base Engineer Emergency Forces assemble a small shelter system similar to one used in a deployment setting during an Agile Combat Employment
exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 9, 2021. Throughout the training, Airmen were taught new skills not related to their specific jobs to ensure future deployment teams are smaller yet fully capable.

An Airman assigned to An Airman assigned
the 99th Civil Engineer to the 99th Civil
Squadron’s Prime Base Engineer Squadron’s
Engineer Emergency Prime Base Engineer
Forces uses a circular Emergency Forces
saw while participating deconstructs a small
in an Agile Combat shelter system during
Senior Airman Aaron Richards, an Explosive Employment exercise an Agile Combat
Ordnance Disposal journeyman assigned to the at Nellis Air Force Base, E m pl o y me n t
99th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Prime Base Engineer Nev., Nov. 9, 2021. The exercise at Nellis Air
Emergency Forces, helps set up a small shelter 99th CES conducted ACE Force Base, Nev., Nov.
system during an Agile Combat Employment Air Force photographs by Michael J. Hasenauer to tackle the concept of 9, 2021. The training
exercise at Camp Combra, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Airmen assigned to the 99th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Prime Base Engineer Emergency Forces, conduct multi-capable Airmen also included tactical
Nov. 9, 2021. In steps to innovate and modernize the a hydro-excavation during an Agile Combat Employment exercise at Camp Cobra, Nellis Air Force Base, by teaching specific combat casualty care,
Department of Defense, approximately 200 Airmen Nev., Nov. 9, 2021. In steps to innovate and modernize the Department of Defense, approximately 200 engineer skillsets to explosive ordnance
assigned to the 99th CES’s Prime BEEF participated Airmen assigned to the 99th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Prime BEEF participated in an ACE exercise training all engineers in the familiarization and
in an ACE exercise training multi-capable Airmen. multi-capable Airmen. squadron. bare base set-up.