49th CES trains for deployment at Holloman

The 49th Civil Engineer Squadron held its monthly Prime BEEF training day at Holloman Air Force Base on May 28, 2026.

Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. — The 49th Civil Engineer Squadron ran its monthly Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force training day on May 28, 2026, with drills aimed at keeping Airmen ready for deployment and base support duties. The unit’s training mix covered emergency response, combat skills, and field tasks tied to mission support.

What changed

Prime BEEF is a monthly readiness event for the squadron, focused on keeping infrastructure support and emergency response skills current during deployments. The day brought together multiple disciplines inside civil engineering so Airmen could practice tasks they may not use every day.

Training included tactical combat casualty care, CPR, defensive fighting positions, integrated base defense operations, and explosives familiarization. Staff Sgt. Kelsey Smith, the squadron’s explosive ordnance disposal team leader, also showed peers how to throw a smoke grenade during the exercise.

• Monthly Prime BEEF training day held May 28, 2026
• Skills covered: TCCC, CPR, base defense, defensive positions, explosives familiarization
• Some Airmen acted as instructors for peers
• Training tied to deployability and base operations support

Tech. Sgt. Gerald Miller said the sessions prepare Airmen for situations they may face “downrange” and help them adapt to roles outside their normal daily duties. Senior Airman Benjamin De La Cruz said teaching others helped him see different perspectives across civil engineering fields.

Why it matters

For military engineers, readiness is not just about one specialty. The squadron’s approach builds cross-training across emergency response, security, and survival tasks, which matters when a unit is split across deployments or asked to fill gaps fast.

For the broader Air Force, this kind of recurring training helps preserve base operations if personnel are sent elsewhere. It also gives junior Airmen early experience in instruction, a useful step for NCO development and future team leadership.

The 49th Wing says these training days are part of its effort to keep Airmen ready for mission-essential tasks worldwide. The practical question is simple: when a deployment call comes, how many roles can each Airman cover on day one?