During a two-week period in August 2017, Acrow Bridge took part in training of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 652nd Multi-Role Bridge Company on the assembly and disassembly of Acrow modular steel bridges used in military operations. The exercises provided an opportunity for the 652nd Engineers to train on bridge construction prior to the company’s deployment to Iraq, where it will assume duties of the Bridge Training Team in support of the Iraqi Army and the Coalition Joint Task Force.

The bridge used during the training is a 440 foot-long multi span Acrow Wet Gap owned by the Department of Defense. The bridge is supported on Poseidon sectional barges which act as the floating intermediate piers. The exercise took place at Training Area 250 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

The bridge has an epoxy aggregate deck surface and is designed to a military live load class of 80 ton tank/110 ton wheeled vehicle. It was installed using U.S. Army Bridge Erection Boats, a hydraulic excavator and a crane. Acrow personnel on-site for the training included Steve Danner, Military Sales and Marketing Manager, and Eugene Sobecki, National Sales Manager.

“It is critical for these Soldiers to have hands-on training with the bridges they will be building during deployment—to feel the weight and what it takes to put it together,” said Danner, “so that they know what they are doing when they are in combat conditions in unfamiliar territory. It’s all about training and leader development and keeping your skill set up to date.”

Added Acrow Bridge CEO Bill Killeen, “Acrow has had a long-standing partnership with the U.S. Army, providing bridges used during deployment to bridge gaps for supply runs and other temporary and permanent route access needs. Our durable modular steel structures are capable of carrying the weight of the military’s heavy metal fleet and tracked vehicles.”