I think that any infantry unit (101st, 82nd, etc) in theatre should have Bradleys, even if they are not mechanized units. It doesn't take long to teach a soldier how to drive a Bradley. Right now, the 101st and 82nd are using soft-skinned HMMWVs. There are Bradleys in theatre. 3rd ID turned in their Bradleys in early June. If they are not available now, then something is wrong.
The MP and CA units there all have M1114s, if I remember correctly. 1st AD has its tanks and Bradleys.
"My point is that trying to turn the humvee into an armored vehicle is a bad idea from the start: if we need an armored utility vehicle, we should design and build one, not try to modify something that does not properly fit the need."
Good point.
The problem with that is the support infrastructure...even if they also have the support vehicles (fuel HEMTTs etc) they don't have the people, the mechanics, 77F's etc etc that a mech force needs. It isn't as easy as handing them Bradleys, but you have a point...they ought to get what they need people wise to get the equipment they need. Which gets to another point...even in a mech force, think about how big your tail is. I know in an armored battalion the non-tankers easily outnumber the tankers. That probably is not true in an infantry unit at the battalion level, but once you go to the brigade and division level it certainly is, plus there is all the COSCOM people. Think about how many non-trigger pullers are in theater...and they are largely where the casualties are because the terrorists try pretty hard to avoid attacking people trained, equipped and motivated to counter-attack. Those non-trigger pullers need something with some small arms/schrapnel protection.