82nd Airborne inches toward mechanization.

This is an interesting development.  Using militarized ATVs for this role isn't what many want but as an interim step it makes sense.  Additionally support in the field will be easy, you can't argue with its agility in the field or the ability to transport them by C-130, C-5, CH-47 or UH-60.

By pushing the concept forward and getting what is available into the field, the Army might have hit on the vehicle it actually needs going into the future.

Which riles up the biased Marine in me.

The US Army isn't drinking our milkshake...yet.  But they have their straws out and its aimed squarely at our beverage.  Question.  Which would you rather have.  A brigade from the 82nd that can be on the ground in 72 hours (sooner if you're planning properly....meaning you have them on alert before needed) or a SPMAGTF-CR that can arrive with a company (+) of Marines?  Now toss in the idea that the brigade from the 82nd will have mechanized ground mobility and our Marines will be foot mobile and what are your thoughts?

I stand by my earlier contention that the solution is to reinforce the MEU by adding AFSB's to each MEU.  Trash the SPMAGTF-CR concept and simply use the MV-22 to add distance to the reach of each deployed MEU....maybe use it as an early entry force for the MEU before the full strength of the formation can be brought to bear...but as an individual unit...trash it.  Simply enlarge the Air Company and reinforce it if necessary.

Meanwhile the US Army/82nd Airborne is starting to complain that we ordered a strawberry shake instead of the mango peach that they love.