The Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) equipped units have under gone significant reorganization at the platoon level. The most significant change is the delineation of vehicle (mounted) and dismounted elements, with the Bradley vehicle commander remaining with the vehicle and the two dismount squad leaders leading the dismounted element. This study answers the question, can the Bradley squad leader manage both the mounted and dismounted responsibilities he once had? This monograph builds on a historical examination of armored infantry in Germany, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union to provide some perspective on the growth of mechanized infantry in the US. The evolution of the current BFV doctrine is also discussed, leading into alternative BFV employment considerations. A close examination of what is expected of the squad leader concludes that the BFV squad leader is capable of adequately commanding both the vehicle and the infantry dismount element.

ADA 262839 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)