U.S. Army Moves to Reshape Infantry with Mobile Brigade Transformation
Over the next two years, the U.S. Army plans to convert 25 Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) into Mobile Brigade Combat Teams (MBCTs), as part of its broader Army Transformation Initiative. The shift is driven by a push to integrate drones, lighter maneuver platforms, and capabilities closer to the tactical edge.
At a media roundtable, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George described the reorganization as central to the “Transforming in Contact” concept, designed to accelerate when and how new technologies reach frontline units.
What Changes in the Mobile Brigades?
Brigades undergoing conversion will receive a new architecture including:
- A multifunctional reconnaissance company
- A multipurpose company to distribute fires and strike assets more broadly at lower echelons
- Integration of Infantry Squad Vehicles (ISVs) and expanded drone / unmanned systems capabilities at brigade and battalion levels
Leaders of transition brigades testified that these additions are reshaping how infantry operates. In one training rotation at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, 90 percent of fire missions were observed via drone, allowing the unit to fire 50 percent fewer artillery rounds while increasing lethality by 300 percent due to improved targeting precision.
Col. Trevor Voelkel (101st Airborne) reported his brigade maintains nearly 400 drones, while other units emphasized that ISVs—transport platforms rather than fighting vehicles—allow infantry to execute 50-mile maneuvers when paired with helicopter delivery.
That said, leaders caution forces not to fetishize the ISV. As Col. David Lamborn (2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry) put it:
“Do not become fixated on the ISV … It’s a tool, just a tool in the toolkit.”
A new operational imperative in the MBCT design is managing electromagnetic signature and signals discipline. Commanders must “hide in plain sight” in the electromagnetic spectrum, varying communications and emissions based on terrain and threat context.
Guard & Stryker Brigades Also Transitioning
The transformation initiative is not limited to active-duty infantry. The Army National Guard is being folded into the “Transforming in Contact” effort.
For example, Washington’s 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team is slated to become a mobile brigade; it will divest Stryker vehicles in favor of lightweight ISVs, adopting similar systems and command architectures as the new MBCTs.
In parallel, some armored and Stryker brigades are being marked for later transition, particularly in the National Guard, though these moves are anticipated to be more complex due to reclassifications and retraining.
Institutional Drivers & Oversight Concerns
This transformation flows from a May 2025 “Letter to the Force,” in which Army leaders framed the evolution as a trade of weight for speed and mass for decisive force — canceling legacy systems in favor of leaner, more lethal formations.
But congressional watchdogs and defense analysts warn that the plan’s pace and scope may strain readiness. A report by the Congressional Research Service flagged potential risks to force availability, combat support (e.g. casualty evacuation), and whether the Army has built robust metrics to evaluate progress.
One key question: Can the Army simultaneously sustain global commitments while transforming its force structure so aggressively?
Strategic Assessment & Outlook
This shift toward Mobile Brigade Combat Teams reflects lessons gleaned from modern conflicts where dispersed systems, drones, and sensor-driven targeting have transformed ground combat paradigms. By pushing fires and reconnaissance capabilities deeper into brigade and battalion levels, the Army aims to minimize decision delays and increase tempo.
However, the success of this leap depends not just on technology, but on doctrine, training, sustainment, and electromagnetic operations. Units must cultivate new mindsets about signature control, distributed command, and cross-domain integration.
If carefully managed, the MBCT concept could ultimately redefine U.S. ground maneuver doctrine. But the margin for error is slim: overinvestment in new platforms without commensurate support systems or evaluation metrics could erode readiness. For now, the transformation is a bold bet on the future of warfare — one that will be closely watched by peer militaries and allies alike.
FAQs
MBCTs integrate reconnaissance, fires, and unmanned systems more deeply into battalion-level operations, use lightweight mobility platforms (like ISVs), and emphasize speed, agility, and electromagnetic discipline.
25 Infantry Brigade Combat Teams across the active and reserve components will transition over the next two years.
Potentially. Watchdog reports caution that infrastructure, logistics, and force availability may be stressed if conversion is too rapid without proper safeguards.
Some Stryker brigades in the Guard are already slated for conversion; future plans may include reorganization of select armored brigades, though that will require more extensive retraining.
Three brigades are already undergoing transformation and participating in experimental events such as the Maneuver Warfighter Conference.
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