Thesis Statement: The current transformation of the mechanized infantry is imperative in order to succeed on today's modern battlefield. Since 1776, the Army has often exercised the operational doctrine of employing elements smaller than a division on independent missions. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington made the brigade the basic maneuver element of the Continental Army. However, brigades, divisions, corps, and armies formed only as needed in wartime and were promptly disbanded during peacetime. During WWII, separate brigade-size elements once again performed valuable service. Separate brigade-size units also served as auxiliaries to the main tactical elements, the division. Entire divisions have been formed in deployed theaters of operation by compositing separate regiments or brigades. Using separate brigades for appropriate missions provided flexibility and agility and avoided dismembering divisions for smaller missions. (Military Review, March-April 2004)

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