The Mechanized Infantry Battalion: Is Change Necessary?

As the Army transitions to the 21st Century, it will make changes based on new threats and technologies, the world environment,,, and the national security strategy. These changes help generate a warfighting concept, which then provides the foundation for changes in U.S. Army doctrine, training, organization, materiel, and leader development DTOML. AirLand Operations is the latest warfighting concept. This monograph examines the future as projected by the AirLand Operations Concept to determine if the maneuver structure of the mechanized infantry battalion should change from four to three companies. The study first examines theories of the modern battlefield and organization theory to identify factors that cause organizations to change. The study then examines span of control theory to determine if there is an optimum span of control for the modern battlefield.