Are esprit de corps runs still relevant? If yes, at what echelon?

This also gives rise to a war-story of sorts: While on an early morning battalion run back on Okinawa in 74 or so, the battalion CO and his staff took a sudden right turn just in front of me. Unfortunately i did not catch it quickly enough and continued on straight ahead with the rest of the bn behind me. Leaving the CO and staff standing in the middle of the street by themselves as their bn trotted past. Needless to say this did not go over well and I heard about it in no uncertain terms shortly thereafter. No, it didn't help my career either..

I'm sorry, whats an "esprit de corps run?" Just joking. We don't run in the Navy. Unless its to make it back to ship before liberty expires...

At the peon level? No.

Nearly everyone I knew dreaded them. I'm not sure how those at higher ranks feel about them, but I never met anyone who looked forward to them. Can't say I've ever met anyone who got any "organizational pride" from them either.

Pace was too slow, too much jogging in place as the formation slinkied, etc. Plus the lower enlisted never see anyone new. They just run alongside the same people they would run with on any other day. The only difference is they have to do it in a longer formation.

From my limited experience.

Yes, they are. Sometimes this is the only time we see people from sister units. Plus, this is a good time to "bond" with the commander and 1SG.

If you like giant miles long Slinkys they're great! I remember back in 99 at Ft. Hood, when it was still occupied by both 4th ID and 1st Cav, we did a III Corps "run". That Charlie foxtrot stretched the length of Battalion Ave. By the time the end got going the front was already done. When you were actually moving you were dodging landmines left by the 1CD Horse Det. What great funat the Great Place!

Yes. Personally I feel they are relevant at every level. You want to feel a connection to the unit you are in. I come from a small work center. Unless something was wrong, most people wouldn't know I exist. But being part of a formation run brings us back to the one unit one fight mentality where we are all in this together.

I might be in minority, but I always loved company runs. If the pace is too slow for you, run up grab the guidon, and circle the formation. Yell the whole way around the formation, and if you're not tired out by that do it again! In my ARNG platoon, we made it a point to get the guidon early in the run or road ruck, and keep it for as long as we could. A few times we got yelled at to let other platoons have it.
Because I was National Guard, I've never done a run above battalion level, but even that I enjoyed.

Esprit de corps runs provide validation to commanders that they can quickly move a division via a simple OPORD. That is an important action. As an NCO, I didn't have time to buy into the "happiness", as we were moving the monster.

Definitely. Company-organized runs are a great opportunity to cultivate unit cohesion, and to foster organizational pride and camaraderie.

At the battalion, and brigade-level, organized formation runs instill battalion, and/or brigade pride, but also provide the Battalion Command Team, and/or Brigade Command Team the opportunity to assess the "pulse" of their formations, as well as build professional relationships with their peers, and subordinates.

Why not? 1. It requires the entire Bde/Div to muster and run. 2. It lets the superior commander see his troops and what shape they are in. 3. It can be an indicator of morale. 4. It is at a slower pace- so if you have fall outs, you can catch them before they get into career ending trouble. We even did them with Corps echelons (Corps HQ/support units)