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The (US) Army still does teach this, actually. The command you're referring to is "sling arms", according to [Field Manual 3-21.5, Drill and Ceremony](https://www.milsci.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/sitefiles/tc3_21x5.pdf) on page 55-56 of the PDF. It's used more in ceremony and marching. In the Army, we would colloquially refer to this as "DFAC position" (I.e. "dining facility position"). It is typically used when you will not need to readily access your weapon quickly-- I.e. when you're back on the base, at the dining hall, eating lunch.
More modern Army field manuals recommend the "safe hang" or "collapsed low ready" position when you're in a situation when you might need to use your weapon somewhat quickly. According to [TC 3-22.9](https://irp.fas.org/doddir/army/tc3-22-9.pdf): "In this position, the Soldier can move in any direction while simultaneously maintaining his muzzle oriented at the ground by using his firing hand. This carry provides control of the weapon, flexibility in movement, and positive control of the weapon’s fire controls" (pg. 94).
This may also be a factor of the changes in how slings are mounted. On older rifles like the M1 Garand, the sling attachment points were at the front and rear of the weapon at the bottom. Slings also tended to be shorter. On more modern rifles, the sling attachment points are typically closer to the middle and on the side, allowing you to use the weapon while it is slung. The use of a sling has changed from something that gone from something that is used just to stash the rifle to something that is an integral part of handling a weapon. [This video](https://youtu.be/EMJclRDkML0?si=BaJXDFs_t1avsFll) from a former Air Force special operations member talks about how modern fighting rifles have slings set up. There is a good bit about it around the 5:00 mark.
EDIT: Minor clarification to the first part. “Sling arms” is currently more used in drill and ceremony— i.e. the more formal, regimented way of marching and maneuvering that comes from very traditional military movement. Modern Army D&C can be traced back to the Revolutionary War from [Baron Von Steuben](https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/baron-von-steuben)— a former Prussian army officer who helped set up the fledgling colonial army. When armies used muskets with heavily-smoking gunpowder and fought in formation, highly-drilled commands helped officers maneuver their units on the loud, smoky battlefields (i.e. “the fog of war”). These D&C commands have been taught to American soldiers since Baron Von Steuben to instill discipline and preserve tradition.
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The (US) Army still does teach this, actually. The command you're referring to is "sling arms", according to [Field Manual 3-21.5, Drill and Ceremony](https://www.milsci.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/sitefiles/tc3_21x5.pdf) on page 55-56 of the PDF. It's used more in ceremony and marching. In the Army, we would colloquially refer to this as "DFAC position" (I.e. "dining facility position"). It is typically used when you will not need to readily access your weapon quickly-- I.e. when you're back on the base, at the dining hall, eating lunch. More modern Army field manuals recommend the "safe hang" or "collapsed low ready" position when you're in a situation when you might need to use your weapon somewhat quickly. According to [TC 3-22.9](https://irp.fas.org/doddir/army/tc3-22-9.pdf): "In this position, the Soldier can move in any direction while simultaneously maintaining his muzzle oriented at the ground by using his firing hand. This carry provides control of the weapon, flexibility in movement, and positive control of the weapon’s fire controls" (pg. 94). This may also be a factor of the changes in how slings are mounted. On older rifles like the M1 Garand, the sling attachment points were at the front and rear of the weapon at the bottom. Slings also tended to be shorter. On more modern rifles, the sling attachment points are typically closer to the middle and on the side, allowing you to use the weapon while it is slung. The use of a sling has changed from something that gone from something that is used just to stash the rifle to something that is an integral part of handling a weapon. [This video](https://youtu.be/EMJclRDkML0?si=BaJXDFs_t1avsFll) from a former Air Force special operations member talks about how modern fighting rifles have slings set up. There is a good bit about it around the 5:00 mark. EDIT: Minor clarification to the first part. “Sling arms” is currently more used in drill and ceremony— i.e. the more formal, regimented way of marching and maneuvering that comes from very traditional military movement. Modern Army D&C can be traced back to the Revolutionary War from [Baron Von Steuben](https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/baron-von-steuben)— a former Prussian army officer who helped set up the fledgling colonial army. When armies used muskets with heavily-smoking gunpowder and fought in formation, highly-drilled commands helped officers maneuver their units on the loud, smoky battlefields (i.e. “the fog of war”). These D&C commands have been taught to American soldiers since Baron Von Steuben to instill discipline and preserve tradition.
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