Building bridges: National Guard lends hand with Arnold AFB installation project
The crane and rigging crew at Arnold Air Force Base provide crane support Nov. 30, 2023, support to off-load a bridge to be used by an Armored Launched Vehicle Bridge. The vehicle was commercially delivered to Arnold AFB, Tenn., from Fort Campbell, Ky., that same day, and the crew stayed late to ensure mission success. AVLBs carry a deployable bridge and are designed to allow tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other tactical vehicles to cross small rivers, gaps and other terrain obstacles on the battlefield. It was needed to move a large crane across an Arnold alleyway where the axle load limit was less than the weight of the crane. The bridge component of the AVLB was emplaced on Jan. 6, 2024, to allow the crane entrance into the work area. The AVLB was operated by a Guardsman with the 190th Engineer Company of the Tennessee National Guard, while Guardsmen from the 194th Engineer Brigade directed and guided the operation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Bradley Hicks) (This image was altered by obscuring a vehicle license plate)