In modern warfare armies use what's known as a 'combined-arms' approach, rather than say, all-tank or all-infantry. In such a doctrine infantry fight alongside tanks, and this is pretty much where the whole idea of mechanized infantry (i.e the US's Stryker brigades). This doctrine comes arose because few battles occur on locations favourable towards all-tank combat (i.e the large desert plains of Gulf War 1 which saw allied tank forces pretty much decimate the Iraqi army with some help from the air force). Most battles in recent history occur in built-up areas, where the tank's advantage of speed and range is useless. In built-up areas the tank is extremely vulnerable to mobility kills, where the tracks are shot off or the engine destroyed making it a very heavy, well-armoured wreckage.
In mechanized infantry fighting doctrine, the infantry are supposed to protect the tanks. That's why the paratroopers weren't riding in their own APC in the first place.
Also the war depicted in the movie took place in the 1980s and that tank is pretty close to 60s technology.
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