My CE Story: Ben Adkins, Prime BEEF 1955-1979

Photo By Emily Vang | Maj Ben Adkins in uniform 28 Oct 1975  

UNITED STATES

10.02.2022

Courtesy Story

Headquarters Air Force, Office of the Director of Civil Engineers

I would like to tell the story of my Air Force Civil Engineering journey, in hope that some of the information might be useful to both officers and enlisted personnel currently serving.

I enlisted 1 Sep 1955 with the objective of becoming a fighter pilot. I began this journey by applying for the Aviation Cadets program but failed the flight knowledge section if the exam. This then led me to enroll in the USAFI Aeronautics correspondence course. I completed the course and passed a two-day Aviation Cadets battery of mental tests only to find during my physical exam that my eyesight was no longer 20/20 and I did not meet the requirements at that time.

I then decided to serve in the enlisted ranks to Sergeant, until learning of the Airman Education and Commissioning Program. I applied, with glowing and welcome recommendations by my Senior Master Sergeant immediate supervisor, his Captain supervisor, and his Major Supervisor.

I served in the enlisted ranks as a Staff Sergeant, while attending Arizona State University as an industrial engineering major. The program required completion of a 5-year engineering curriculum within 24 months. To say I hung on by the skin of my teeth throughout my courses would be a gross understatement. I managed to complete all graduation requirements by January 1964 within 30 months and received my ASU engineering counselor's acquiescence and dispensation from the Air Force Institute of Technology.

Four months later, I was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant on 12 May 1964. I first served in Civil Engineering as a mechanical engineer in a strategic intercontinental ballistic missile squadron, supervising roughly one hundred civil engineering personnel in the various civil engineering trades as well as many unique to strategic missiles. I then moved into a more traditional Civil Engineering track as industrial engineer and civil engineer with combat civil engineering in Vietnam from 22 Jun 1967 to 22 Jun 1968.

As the CE Weekly clearly indicates, Civil Engineers in all ranks must be prepared for warfare at any point in their careers, and perhaps for more than one war. This certainly ensures awareness of the risks of combat and accepting those risks, or sometimes choosing the alternate route out of the Air Force.

Fear of warfare is a natural reaction for those receiving orders to a war zone, and during combat itself, but one should realize that this is a natural reaction. It can be overcome by most personnel before and during combat, even if it requires a major dose of determination and stamina.

During the Vietnam War many civil engineering personnel were being selected for second trips to warfare, as members of Prime BEEF, RED HORSE, and as individuals.

In addition to my combat role, I held positions in just about every job in BCE assignments. I also served in 5 higher command headquarters: 7th Air Force, 8th Air Force, 15th Air Force, Air Force Systems Command, and with the United Nations Command Headquarters in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

I was very fortunate throughout my career to be selected for the Airman Education and Commissioning program and for two educations with industry programs.

As a former hillbilly from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, and a high school dropout, I could never have paid for the education and experience that I acquired after I enlisted. I have always counseled airmen and junior officers known to me to take advantage of all such opportunities the Air Force offers, and to be persistent if that is needed.

I consider myself a very fortunate man so, if I would choose one word that I would proffer Air Force personnel it would be this, "PERSISTENCE" -- NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER QUIT TRYING TO ACHIEVE YOUR OBJECTIVE.

• Date Taken: 10.02.2022
• Date Posted: 10.03.2022 10:22
• Story ID: 430596
• Location: US