Quote Originally Posted by William F. Owen View Post
...but you're buying into the current accepted norms. This is not the way ahead, IMO.

If a "light" infantryman and an "armoured" infantry man have the same fitness and training standards and the same equipment, what is the difference? The MICV is protected mobility and stand-off fire support, plus some good sensors. Very nice to have. If you don't have it, then plan B.

Stryker Battalions are Light Infantry in armoured vehicles. How would then be any different if they were in well modified M-113s?
Exactly, Wilf. USMC infantry units are light formations; our armored vehicles are kept in an entirely separate battalion and attached to infantry units as needed. There are advantages and disadvantages to this, but it apparently didn't hinder 1st Marine Division during the march up to Baghdad. They were able to operate at a "mechanized" tempo, but the infantry units retained their light infantry flavor for when it was needed (i.e. Phase IV). Not to say it's a perfect system, but it's worked well for us so far.