Why does the army run 2 miles on a PT test?

I never comment on here, but I just want to say I have really enjoyed this thread. SPC Plight - Read everything SFC Johnston said. He used to work for me and he was smarter than me then, and he's a heck of a lot smarter than me now. That was a clear explanation as to why we tested the way we did, and why we are transitioning to something else. To everyone who calmly and rationally explained that the 2 mi run isn't measuring your ability to "run 2 miles in combat" - thank you. You get it. I am 51 years old. No profiles, been running for pleasure and for the Army for almost 30 years. I'm not fast. I'm a grinder, but I like to run. On the civilian side - I have worked in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention for 25 years so I really like what Michelle Napper had to say - very clear and lucid. Read her stuff too. The myth that running hurts you more than it helps was always - at best - a urban legend spread by non-runners. If you can run - run. Its good for you, physically, mentally and you need to tax yourself to improve. If you cant - then don't, but don't try to talk us runners out of the benefits over walking. If walking was that much better for you, there wouldn't be runners. We're not stupid, we're just faster and we like to breathe harder. I want Soldiers who meet standards. Who can dig deep. Who can gut tough stuff out. I don't want excuses or profiles or waivers. There are THOUSANDS of Soldiers on walking profiles right now trying to figure out how to get back into running and overcome their profile, or planning their exit strategy for the Army - and rightfully so. The ACFT has some Soldiers scared - and rightfully so. But these things are standards so you meet or exceed them - not find ways around them. Never once have I been lit on fire but I still make sure my gloves have NOMEX in them. Not once have I lost an eye but I still wear eye-pro. Not one have I been attacked with nerve agent, but I still make sure I know how to put a mask on. "Not once did I"...."not once did I..." "not once did I...".etc etc. As leaders we field the "not once did I...so why do we...?" questions from our subordinate Soldiers all the time. Constantly. So we owe them the right answers. We don't let personal bias get in the way. We aren't supposed to say "I'm a walker to running is stupid to assess fitness" anymore than we are supposed to say "well that's just the way we've always done it." Or the dreaded: "There have been no SIGACTS on this route for weeks so we don't need to do the brief or PCC/PCI...everyone just load up..." No. We teach. We explain. Purpose, Direction and Motivation. And we back it up. I'm encouraged by some of the responses on here and discouraged by others. PT always gets people opinionated and fired up! It makes for a good read. It is a great thread to demonstrate how Army leaders are not of one-mind on things like they used to be way, WAY back in the day. Other things I liked in this thread: Someone threw some Loggy-shade. Nice. =) And finally - someone threw out "Jackwagon". I used to love calling people Jackwagon. thx for that. =)