Quote Originally Posted by Rifleman View Post
These questions are really targeted to current serving US Army soldiers, but anyone in the know feel free to jump in:

1) How do you feel about the "new" brigade combat team structure at this point; how's the organization working out?

2) Should a third (or fourth?) manuever battalion be added as standard?

3) Are any of the brigades (especially Light/Airborne/Air Assault) deploying with additional manuever battalions attached?

This is a driveby to start since I'm tired and going to bed...

1. Reconnaissance task organization in all 3 BCT models sucks. Manning is horrible, as is the force platforms for these organizations. Resultantly, they're being used, improperly, as another maneuver BN (feeding into #2).

2. Yes, since that would follow doctrine. Task organization cutdown was based upon a premise (much like the FCS) that could prove to be fundamentally flawed, that our future conflicts are non-linear and can be fought with a premium on technology and sensors.

3. No first hand experience. I've heard rumors to the affirmative on this.