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The Motorized Rifle Regiment (MRR) is the PLA's smallest combined arms unit. It normally comprises of three Motorized Rifle Battalions (MRBs), a heavy mortar battalion, an anti-tank company, a engineer company, a transportation company, a medical company, an air defence company, one signals company, one headquarters company, a chemical platoon, and a reconnaissance platoon. While the MRR can operate as part of a division or an army group, it is also an independent formation that can be deployed alone.

The MRR's main goal is to envelop a hostile force up to battalion size by simultaneously striking the front with strong firepower, enveloping the enemy, and penetrating to up to a hostile division's rear area. The MRR attacks with two or more echelons with the main effort to lock the enemy into place while flanking attacks, backed by massive artillery, try to envelop the enemy. The goal is to cut the enemy's escape route and to prevent re-supplies and re-enforcement from reaching the enemy. In effect, to force the enemy to surrender or be killed.

Operationally, the MRR approaches a Deliberate Attack along classic infantry lines. Namely,

The reconnaissance platoon usually scouts about 20 to 30 kilometres ahead of the main body. There is both a passive and active role for this force. Initially, the platoon would try to avoid direct contact with the enemy while trying to identify the enemy's key logistical, C3, and tactical concentrations as well as key terrain features. This information is then relayed, by foot if necessary, to the regimental headquarters. As the regimental main body organizes into their battalion lines of deployment, the reconnaissance platoon would then directly engage the enemy in order to reveal the enemy's disposition, strength, and fire plan.

The MRR organizes a Deliberate Attack into a main direct attack echelon and a flanking attack echelon. The composition is usually two MRBs for the frontal attack and one MRB for the flanking maneuver. The two echelons usually attack simultaneously. The target list provided by the reconnaissance platoon is evaluated and the Regimental Artillery Group (RAG) is tasked to handle this list in priority.

The Air Defence Company is expected to protect the RAG and the Command Posts. For the attacking echelons, air defence is passive, relying on speed and stealth for protection. The MRBs also would rely on hugging tactics during engagment for protection against enemy firepower. By intermixing with the enemy, enemy airpower and artillery would be presented with hitting their own people as well as the MRBs.