Airmen awarded new readiness occupational badges

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TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  All of the Airmen graduating from the Civil Engineer Readiness Apprentice Course recently were first in their class.

The Air Force's newest 3E931s were the first graduates to receive the civil engineer readiness occupational badge. The badges were presented during their graduation ceremony at the U.S. Army Chemical Corps Museum, Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley approved the badge in February, with an official wear date of Oct. 1.

"The badge identifies us as emergency management professionals and specialists in peace and wartime chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense," said Chief Master Sgt. Mike Connors, the career field manager for CE readiness at the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency here. "It distinguishes us not only to our fellow Airmen, but also to the other CBRN specialists we work closely with in the Department of Defense and in civil and international agencies."

As the senior member of the CE readiness career field, Chief Connors received the very first badge, pinned on by Maj. Gen. Del Eulberg, The Air Force civil engineer, during a ceremony at the 2006 Air Force Emergency Services Symposium in Dallas, Texas. Airman 1st Class Adam Hills from Altus Air Force Base, Okla., the most recent technical school graduate, received his at the same ceremony.

After the Gulf War in 1991, there was an acknowledged need to recognize Air Force specialists within the CBRN community. The need to uniquely identify Air Force CE readiness personnel again became apparent during operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, especially with the increased joint service and allied force operations.

"The CE readiness badge represents an Air Force capability. Those wearing it provide a valuable resource for commanders to sense, shape, shield and sustain the battlefield while supporting Air Force personnel in a CBRN environment," said Master Sgt. Doug Smith, the Air Force emergency management program policy and guidance manager. "These CEs have a combined expertise in CBRN and emergency management, and can aid commanders in all the aspects of managing risks to the mission: preparation, prevention, response, recovery and mitigation.

The badge uses the Air Force wreaths combined with basic insignia first used by the U.S. Army Chemical Service in 1917: two crossed retorts -- glass laboratory vessels used for hundreds of years -- placed behind a benzene ring, the molecular building block of many organic chemicals. There are three levels of the badge -- basic, senior and master -- that represent increasing levels of time and expertise in the career field.