Controversial hands in pockets ban for sailors lifted by US Navy - Julian Perreira 15th February 2024 at 11:54am

The US Army has not followed suit and personnel are not allowed hands in their pockets.

Sailors in the United States Navy are now allowed to place their hands in their pockets after the service implemented sweeping changes to its uniform policy.

The policy update, which was sent out to all US Navy personnel, rescinds the decades-old restrictions barring sailors from putting their hands in their pockets, which the Navy previously claimed was "inappropriate and detracts from a professional military appearance".

Sailors are now "authorised to have hands in their pockets when doing so does not compromise safety nor prohibit the proper rendering of honours and courtesies", the latest guidance said.

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While the US Navy has relaxed its rules, current US Army policy still states that "while in uniform, personnel will not place their hands in their pockets, except momentarily to place or retrieve objects."

No such regulation exists for UK military personnel. However, having hands in pockets is widely considered a sign of poor discipline and it has been known for 'repeat offenders' to have to sew up their pockets as a punishment.

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Since the policy update was released, female sailors are now able to wear t-shirts designed for women, if the garment conforms with the navy's current colour, fabric, and neck configuration standards.

"The intent of this policy update is to address expressed dissatisfaction regarding the required wear of male or unisex t-shirts that are not designed to fit female bodies," the latest regulation said.

Sailors may also wear false eyelashes or eyelash extensions in uniform – provided they are no more than "14 millimetres in length as measured from the eyelid to the tip of the eyelash."

The false eyelash colour must match the colour of the natural eyelash, however, and "eyelash extensions cannot hinder wear of protective eyewear".

Elsewhere, the Royal Air Force has scrapped its strict no-hand tattoo policy for all serving personnel and potential recruits.

The removal of the RAF's previous zero-tolerance stance on hand tattoos brings the service in line with British Army and Royal Navy guidance.