Senior Airman Jeremy Robinson, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron water and fuels, demonstrates blackout procedures during PRIME Beef training June 21, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The CES conducted the training to hone the way they conduct nighttime contingency operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Airmen from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron read M-8 chemical detection paper during nighttime contingency operations training June 21, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Being able to operate at night in mission-oriented protective posture is an important skill. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Airmen from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron Charlie flight simulate their reaction time to an enemy flare during nighttime operations at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, June 21, 2012. The training they receive is used to lessen the loss of their “night eyes” when a flare is used. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marcus Morris)
Master Sgt. Jason Pearl, far right, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron unit training manager, helps his squadron hone communication skills during nighttime operations at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, June 21, 2012. The Airmen do burpees to simulate physical stress while the informant has to properly remember the message to pass back to his team. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marcus Morris)
An Airman from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron practices ground maneuvers during PRIME Beef training June 21, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. They learned different techniques that allow them to move as silently as possible during nighttime contingency operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
An unexploded ordnance lies on the ground after being discovered during training June 21, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The 8th Civil Engineer Squadron conducted the training to hone the way they conduct nighttime contingency operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Airmen from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron move silently during night contingency operations at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, June 21, 2012. The Airmen took turns practicing the ghost walk, cat walk, kitten crawl, low crawl and the roll techniques. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marcus Morris)
Tech. Sgt. Peter Saechao, left, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron power production craftsman, demonstrates how to set up a light-all during night operations at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, June 21, 2012. The light-alls are used for high traffic and security areas that need lighting during blackouts or night operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marcus Morris)
Staff Sgt. Jerry Bonds, left, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron service contracts, and Tech. Sgt. Rigoberto Vasquez, 8th CES NCO in charge of service contracts, use the defense concealment training they received that morning to get to the assigned check-point at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea June 21, 2012. The objective of this exercise was to use the terrain and darkness to move without being seen by the enemy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marcus Morris)
by Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
6/27/2012 - KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Before the sun came up June 21, members of the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron were honing skills which could increase their survivability downrange.
The morning's training at Kunsan Air Base gave the "Red Devils" a chance to practice nighttime contingency operations, which are conducted in low-light situations.
"Controlling the skies as well as the Air Force does, our enemies are driven to do most of their operations at night," said Master Sgt. Jason Pearl, 8th CES PRIME Beef program manager. "That makes it imperative that we control the night as well to deny them any sort of victory."
The training began with an interactive discussion, where Pearl described the most important elements to operating at night: leadership, training, planning, control and surprise.
The engineers then donned their mission-oriented protective posture (MOPP) and were led around Kunsan to practice these skills.
They honed their skills on powering up a light cart, practicing blackout procedures on Humvees and moving under concealment.
Next they practiced ghost walk, cat walk, kitten crawl, low crawl and roll ground movements. After that, they practiced finding unexploded ordnance and reading M-8 detection paper.
Last up was a communication exercise, where a runner was fatigued through running and burpees, then given a verbal message to take back to his Wingmen.
"The purpose was to get them engaged in the training and give them that muscle memory so they retain the information," said Pearl. "Later on in life when they actually have to apply it, whether that's in combat skills training or downrange, they have that baseline knowledge to help them out."
For many of the Airmen there, it was their first time attending this type of training and they appreciated its hands-on nature.
"The best part was going outside and practicing the skills, like all the ground movements," said Airman 1st Class Carl Osborne, 8th CES water and fuels system maintenance. "All the CE sections work together a lot downrange so it's good to get all the experience now so we can later put it to use."
Since civil engineers often work with sister services, the training wrapped up with baseline knowledge on deployed operations with joint forces.
