Looks vs. results: Get your Army hands off my snazzy Five Finger running shoes!

On the face of it, this issue
of what to wear whilst running isn't a big deal. But our Army captain is correct
in asserting that one of the warning signs of deterioration in the military
during peacetime is an emphasis on appearance over effectiveness.

By A Rifle Company
Commander

Best Defense culture
of the Army correspondent

The
Army has officially banned the wearing of Five
Finger running shoes. Many garrison commanders have already done so, but
the following order has made it official Army-wide: 

ALARACT 241/2011 REQUEST FOR EXCEPTION TO
POLICY TO PUBLISH ALARACT MODIFYING WEAR OF IMPROVED PHYSICAL FITNESS UNIFORM
(IPFU), DTG 231424Z JUN 11. This message modifies the existing wear policy for
the (IPFU). There are a variety of minimalist running shoes available for
purchase and wear. Effective immediately, only those shoes that accommodate all
five toes in one compartment are authorized for wear. Those shoes that feature
five separate, individual compartments for the toes, detract from a
professional military image and are prohibited for wear with the IPFU or when conducting
physical training in military formation. (See the message at this link.)

What
particularly gets me is the line, "detract from a professional military
image."  I don't understand how the
image of someone that takes their running serious is detracting from a
professional military image. Professionals sometimes wear items/clothing that
may look "weird" but serves a professional purpose. Anyway, I have
had some Five Fingers for over a year, and I love them. They reduce shin splints,
work your calves better, toughen your feet, and reduced my five mile run
average by five minutes in three months. 

Is
this a matter of national security? In isolation, probably not. But, I would
say that an Army that is more concerned with looks versus results IS a matter a
national security.