Posted on Jan 14, 2016
The Marine Corps’ Ban On Hands In Pockets Centers Around The Possible Misuse Of A Semicolon
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Marines check this article out - what's up?
We asked the Marine Corps about the order that bans hands in pockets; the answer was revealing.
Anyone who has ever served a day in the Marine Corps knows one of the storied institution’s most sacred rules: Don’t put your hands in your damn pockets.
If as a Marine, you place your hands in your pockets in garrison while in uniform, be prepared to hear a crusty staff noncommissioned officer yell something that includes the words, “Hey Devil Dog,” and the rhetorical question, “What are we back on the block?”
The thought process being that Marines must always present themselves as professionals, and having your hands in your pockets somehow detracts from professionalism. So the Marine Corps made it a rule, and that rule is enforced at Marine Corps bases from Okinawa, Japan, to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Task & Purpose reached out to Headquarters Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia, in an effort to learn the specific source of this policy. The Marine Corps pointed us to Marine Corps Order P1020.34G, the order on Marine Corps uniform regulations, which contains a specific change that reads:
“The use of chewing gum, chewing tobacco, cigarettes; hands in pockets; or the consumption of food or beverage while walking in uniform or while in formation, are examples of activities that detract from an appropriate military presence. However, good judgment will govern the application of this policy in the field environment.”
We asked the Marine Corps about the order that bans hands in pockets; the answer was revealing.
Anyone who has ever served a day in the Marine Corps knows one of the storied institution’s most sacred rules: Don’t put your hands in your damn pockets.
If as a Marine, you place your hands in your pockets in garrison while in uniform, be prepared to hear a crusty staff noncommissioned officer yell something that includes the words, “Hey Devil Dog,” and the rhetorical question, “What are we back on the block?”
The thought process being that Marines must always present themselves as professionals, and having your hands in your pockets somehow detracts from professionalism. So the Marine Corps made it a rule, and that rule is enforced at Marine Corps bases from Okinawa, Japan, to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Task & Purpose reached out to Headquarters Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia, in an effort to learn the specific source of this policy. The Marine Corps pointed us to Marine Corps Order P1020.34G, the order on Marine Corps uniform regulations, which contains a specific change that reads:
“The use of chewing gum, chewing tobacco, cigarettes; hands in pockets; or the consumption of food or beverage while walking in uniform or while in formation, are examples of activities that detract from an appropriate military presence. However, good judgment will govern the application of this policy in the field environment.”
The Marine Corps’ Ban On Hands In Pockets Centers Around The Possible Misuse Of A Semicolon
Posted from taskandpurpose.com
Marines
Regulation
Garrison
Posted >1 y ago
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We we're never allowed to do it in the AF, I assumed it was the case for all services.
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I remember hearing from some Marine that often times enlisted Marines would sew their pockets up so that they would not be tempted to put their hands in their pockets, I think this was done only with the Forrest green trousers that were part of the class C "Charlie uniform or Alphas, not Camouflage Utilities.
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One of my shop SNCO's referred to an order that states having hands in pockets is acceptable when stationery, in extreme cold weather..... Don't recall the MCO #, but a lot of us had our hands in pockets when standing outside for a while, specially at 29 Palms.... We weren't trying to be belligerent bums, just cold.
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