An old marine was telling me about a particularly humorous (imo) debate that was (according to him) something of a 'big deal' when he was serving. Apparently, there was a very heated, divisive, ongoing struggle within the upper echelons of the Corp as to whether it was permitted for Marines to use their pockets to warm their hands when their duties required them to stand for long periods in the cold. The 'pro' argument was that 'A marine with cold hands and warm pockets is not adapting.' The 'anti' argument was that marines dont stand around with their hands in their pockets. My question is: was this just old marine embelishment, or was this actually a big deal?
It is a big deal. And in the Corps, it is never acceptable except for s**tbirds* to put your hands in your pockets when in uniform. No more than it is to kick back your cover, or use an umbrella in uniform. And you will find this amongst all levels, with only the lowest quality saying it is allowed. Unlike say the Army, the Corps takes such things very seriously. If it is cold, you wear gloves. They issue them to us for a reason. Leather gloves with the wool liners are actually quite warm.
Clearly you have not spent much time around MARSOC Or FR Marines. They have their hand in their pockets just as much as we do. Never considered them to be shitbirds or low quality.
Right, I only spent a decade in the Fleet, so what would I know? And we would all do it in the field, what happens in the field stays in the field. But in garrison? Nope.
That doesn’t mean you have spent any real time around MARSOC. I would be willing to bet I have spent more time around MARSOC then you and frankli they have their hand in their pockets no matter where they are. So yep.
If you think that MARSOC and FR guys don’t put their hands in their pockets then you clearly haven’t. But hey if you want to pretend otherwise you do you. It really doesn’t matter. Especially as you have already had to move the goalposts.
