Runners in the SAF (Platoon, company, battalion (CO, 2i/c, etc)
and upwards) are often so badly used.
During active time, I saw a CO send his runner to go clean his
bunk, cook food for him, etc. Even saw one runner sent up a tree to
pluck rambutans!
I would think the orignial idea of having a runner is to have
someone relay messages when other lines of communications have
broken down. Not have someone play "maid".
I always kidded my friend that he should have told his commander
that he'd send a fit sri lankan maid to take his place, and she
probably be able to cook better meals than him. 
The sad thing is that often these runners are some of the better
soldiers in the army and would make decent to good section
2i/cs.
I think its time to change their designations to something else and
give them some other real military responsibility than make coffee
in the field.
