Prime BEEF improves living conditions in Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sheila deVera
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  Recently, a small team from the 577th Expeditionary Prime BEEF Squadron traveled to forward-operating bases to improve the quality of life for service members at combat outposts in Southeastern Afghanistan.

Prime BEEF stands for Base Engineer Emergency Force, and these teams of laborers, made up of structures; heating, air conditioning and ventilation; utilities; heavy equipment operators; and electrical technicians; consist of two to seven Airmen going to different locations throughout the area of responsibility to work countless hours on improvement projects.

As part of Prime BEEF, they are rapidly deployable and provide a full range of engineering support. Their mission is to provide civil engineering support required to establish, operate, and maintain defense force and contingency air bases.

"Our main mission here is to build B-huts (semi-permanent wooden structures)," said Staff Sgt. Kyle Sunne, a 577th EPBS electrician. "Our secondary mission is base maintenance and helping improve what we can around the base."

So far, during their seven-week stay at the FOB, they have built seven B-huts to house Soldiers, and have fixed wells and well pumps so service members can have the comfort of taking decent showers. In addition, they have installed air conditioning units.

"The Army is appreciative of what we can do because we can fix anything -- from electrical issues, plumbing, or carpentry ... we've got guys who can fix it," Sergeant Sunne said.

Typically, construction of this magnitude takes more than six Airmen, and months to complete each task, but these highly motivated Airmen are continuously improving Soldiers' living conditions on FOBs or COPs.

"While Prime BEEF directly supports the Army in many locations across the AOR, we shift our manpower to meet the battle space owner priorities," said Chief Master Sgt. Dale Klossner, the 577th EPBS superintendent. "Our Airmen regularly perform missions at different FOBs and COPs throughout Regional Command East."

Army Sgt. Major Reginald Coulter sought the help of Prime BEEF to house an increasing numbers of Soldiers. A team of five was able to build 20 B-huts and 15 showers for Soldiers on the frontlines.

"Imagine having 20 guys living in B-huts cramped together -- now only six guys; ... B-huts with no air conditioning now have an air conditioning unit so I don't have guys out in the hot sun to come home into a hot B-huts," Sergeant Major Coulter said. "Prime BEEF has allowed me to go take care of my Soldiers. I have a gym, chapel, living quarters, and latrine/shower/shave facility because of them."

Though they are temporarily assigned to the Army, there are 70 Prime BEEF laborers around Regional Command East, working non-stop, improving service members' living conditions in remote locations, so they can continue focusing on their mission.

"Prime BEEF has improved our living standards by 90 percent," Sergeant Major Coulter said. "If we could have them stay here with us all the time, that would be our preferred method."