Prime BEEF challenge strengthens Airmen mentally, physically

Published May 4, 2012
By Senior Airman Melanie Holochwost
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- 6 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.

"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."

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.

"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."

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."

Prime BEEF Challenge order of events:
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 2x6 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

View the Slideshow.