The unit run (most commonly referred to by the unit type, such as "battalion run") is a United States military tradition wherein an entire unit of servicemembers run in an organized formation along a set route. The run is normally conducted on a military post, on streets that are closed to traffic. Common practice in many units is to conduct physical exercise before or around sunrise during the week, and thus many unit runs are conducted during that time. Distance and pace of the run can vary depending on the terrain, weather, and overall fitness level of the unit. However, since a unit's size can vary greatly in size, larger units tend to run slower. Thus, the generally-accepted purpose of the run is to develop esprit de corps rather than actually physically train, allowing even the slowest-running servicemember to participate.
Since a larger unit can be unwieldy in a single formation, it is normally divided into its constituents (such as companies for a battalion run, and in some cases, the companies further organize themselves by platoons).
A distinguishing feature of the unit run is the use of the unit's colors at the front of the formation. The Commanding Officer (or the next-ranking officer in the commander's absence) will be at the front of the column, and the colors will be just behind (and often to the left). It is common for the staff officers to run immediately behind the commander, followed by the smaller unit formations.
Read more about Unit Run: Purpose, Military Traditions
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