Minimal normal subgroups of finite solvable groups are elementary abelian

A nontrivial minimal normal subgroup $N$ of a finite solvable group is abelian: its commutator subgroup is characteristic, and minimality plus solvability excludes $N^{\prime }=N$. A nontrivial Sylow subgroup of this abelian group is characteristic, so minimality makes $N$ a p-group. The characteristic subgroup of pth powers is proper, hence trivial by minimality. Therefore $N$ is an elementary abelian group.