Though regulations state no hands in your pockets in uniform, what are your thoughts on those who hold their belt buckle or waistline?

Never did it but didn't think there wad anything wrong with it but when your assigned to a TRADOC unit you learn not to

I was stationed at Fort Sam Houston as a young private with only a few months in service. I was standing in the bus shelter waiting on the post shuttle to arrive. It was November, it was cold, it was 0600, I had my hands in my pockets. A formation runs by and the NCO leading the formation yells out, "Hey Troop, are your hands cold?" I quickly reply, "Yes, yes they are." He immediately stops the formation and starts running over to where I am. Just then the bus pulls up. Needles to say I got a stern talking to but it was short lived because the bus driver needed to get on his way.

I remember being stationed in FT Carson back in the 90's. Being from the south, it took me a while to adapt to the extreme cold weather. Needless to say the army issued cold weather gloves didn't work. Therefore I'm all for sticking your hands in pockets or wherever to keep warm. At the end of the day, you're the one who will suffer from frost bite. Then to throw salt on the wound, then they would say common sense should have applied after its too late.

DOESN'T MAKE ME LESS EFFICTIVE

The Air Force Instruction that governs this does mention no hands in the pockets, except to basically retrieve items or put them in there. I still haven't found to where the thumbs on the belt loop or belt buckle is prohibited. Some take a different approach by leaving their thumbs out of the pocket, having the other four in. This technically isn't prohibited as the whole hand is not in the pocket. I can understand not having the hand in the pocket while walking, but if stationary, I'm not fully buying off as to why that's prohibited. Leaders at all levels say that it looks unprofessional. Many of my civilian friends don't see a hand in the pocket stationary as unprofessional in appearance. I just follow the guidance as best I can and correct those politely that fall short.

I've been in 4 different units in the army thus far-all different. In the 82nd it was not acceptable to have your hands in your pockets. In the 82nd CAB it was a bit more acceptable. Now in 4ID, no one cares. Nearly everyone puts their hands in their pockets here. I think that's partially due to the fact that the standards are not highly enforced here. Honestly, we do so many other "unprofessional" things in uniform why should putting your hands in your pockets matter?

I loved to say unhand your pockets....as to the why one couldn't or shouldn't do it that's a good question.

I think most folks are looking to the Army command policy when they say...you can add to but not take away.

One of my pet peeves was 1SG, platoon SGT, squad leader etc...denying leaves or passes without the packet going all the way to the appropriate approval authority.

Were soldiers during WWII allowed to have their hands in their pockets? Reg?

I'm from Texas, you see that on farms

I was trained to not allow hands in pockets. Most of the time I don't care. When addressing someone take them out.
Also when its -20 degrees F here in WI and it's what I call "Operation Its Too Fricking Cold For This," hands in pockets. Its situational but I see the "image" of hands in the pockets doesn't show professionalism. And anyone higher above me always frowned upon it and reviewed it as inattentiveness. Apparently we can't be aware and alert....with hands in pockets. Weird.