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Military question?
Doc
Member Posts: 13,898 ✭✭✭
Are active duty personnel prohibited from getting tattooed?
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Too old to live...too young to die...
Too old to live...too young to die...
Comments
NO! However they cannot get them on the head or face..Certain types, that advocate violence, or drugs are aslo prohibited..
or hands, IIRC.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
The Army has revised its policy on tattoos in an effort to bolster recruitment of highly-qualified individuals who might otherwise have been excluded from joining.
Tattoos are now permitted on the hands and back of the neck if they are not "extremist, indecent, sexist or racist." Army Regulation 670-1, which was modified via a message released Jan. 25, also now specifies: "Any tattoo or brand anywhere on the head or face is prohibited except for permanent make-up."
For women, allowable make-up would be permanent eye-liner, eyebrows and makeup applied to fill in lips, officials said. They said permanent make-up should be conservative and complement the uniform and complexion in both style and color and will not be trendy.
The change was made because Army officials realized the number of potential recruits bearing skin art had grown enormously over the years.
About 30 percent of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 have tattoos, according to a Scripps Howard News Service and Ohio University survey. For those under age 25, the number is about 28 percent. In all, the post-baby-boom generations are more than three times as likely as boomers to have tattoos.
As a result of tattoo attitude changes, Army Regulation 670-1, chapter 1-8E (1) has been modified via an ALARACT 017/2006 message.
Additionally, paragraph 1-8B (1) (A) was revised to state: "Tattoos that are not extremist, indecent, sexist or racist are allowed on the hands and neck. Initial entry determinations will be made according to current guidance."
The Army has never allowed indecent tattoos on any part of the body, G1 officials pointed out.
The new policy allows recruits and all Soldiers to sport tattoos on the neck behind an imaginary line straight down and back of the jawbone, provided the tattoos don't violate good taste.
"The only tattoos acceptable on the neck are those on the back of the neck," said Hank Minitrez, Army G-1 Human Resources Policy spokesman. "The `back' of the neck is defined as being just under the ear lobe and across the back of the head. Throat tattoos on that portion of the neck considered the front, the ear lobe forward) are prohibited."
Soldiers who are considering putting tattoos on their hands and necks, should consider asking their chain of command prior to being inked.
"While the Army places trust in the integrity of its Soldiers and leaders, if a Soldier has a questionable case regarding tattoos, he or she should seek the advice of the local commander through the chain of command," added Minitrez.
Should a Soldier not seek advice and have tattoos applied that aren't in keeping with AR-670, the command will counsel the Soldier on medical options, but may not order the Soldier to have the tattoos removed. However, if a Soldier opts not to take the medical option at Army expense, the Soldier may be discharged from service.
The U.S. Coast Guard has a limitation on the size of a tattoo in percentages of a given area that will not exceed 25 percent of the space between wrist and elbow, knee and ankle, but it does not allow tattoos on the hands or neck.
The Army's new policy, however, does not mean Soldiers should rush out and have the backs of their necks or their hands entirely covered in decorative art, Minitrez said.
"The Army does not have a percentage policy for tattoos," Minitrez said. "As long as tattoos do not distract from good military order and discipline and are not extremist, racist, sexist or indecent they're permitted."
If a Soldier's current command has no issue with his/her tattoos, the Soldier should have personnel files so notated that the Soldier is in line with AR-670, officials said. Though not mandatory, having the notation entered serves as back-up documentation at a follow-on command which might feel the Soldier's tattoos don't meet Army regulations.
when they run low on eager recruits, they institute waivers and exceptions. waive the hsd, waive the tats, waive certian medical condidtions etc. i was unfit for service before the wreck. since, theres no way in hell theyd even look once at me, so i dont even try to keep up.
Too old to live...too young to die...
Are active duty personnel prohibited from getting tattooed?
Rather than being any sort of military wide policy, location and subject matter for tats are set by each branch. If that's not confusing enough, add in the fact that even within each branch the details can vary a bit from one command to the next.
I'd say Pvt. Jones would be better off if he ran any tattoo plans up his First Sergeant's flag pole.
They can have tattos, but there are guide lines they must follow, like no GANG TATS.
Trinity +++
No.
They can have tattos, but there are guide lines they must follow, like no none they interpret as even possible GANG TATS.
Trinity +++
Fixed.
This is part of the 'subject matter' restrictions I was referring to.
Just a little niche' in the other answers.
COB
Here's the reference (for USMC active duty only). Sorry about the all capital letters thing. It's a Maradmin. it comes that way.
B. THE FOLLOWING IS THE EXISTING POLICY PROMULGATED IN REFS A AND B.
(1) PRIOR TO ENLISTMENT INTO THE MARINE CORPS, APPLICANTS WITH MORE THAN FOUR (4) TATTOOS/BRANDS WILL BE ADMINISTRATIVELY REVIEWED IAW WITH REF B.
(2) TATTOOS/BRANDS THAT ARE SEXIST (EXPRESS NUDITY), RACIST, ECCENTRIC OR OFFENSIVE IN NATURE, EXPRESS AN ASSOCIATION WITH CONDUCT OR SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED BY THE MARINE CORPS DRUG POLICY AND THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE (UCMJ), TO INCLUDE TATTOOS ASSOCIATED WITH ILLEGAL DRUGS, DRUG USAGE, OR PARAPHERNALIA, ARE PROHIBITED.
(3) TATTOOS/BRANDS THAT DEPICT VULGAR OR ANTI-AMERICAN CONTENT, BRING POSSIBLE DISCREDIT TO THE MARINE CORPS, OR ASSOCIATE THE APPLICANT/MARINE WITH ANY EXTREMIST GROUP OR ORGANIZATION ARE PROHIBITED.
(4) TATTOOS/BRANDS ON THE HEAD AND NECK ARE PROHIBITED.
(5) SLEEVE TATTOOS AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAGH 5A ARE PROHIBITED. HALF-SLEEVE OR QUARTER-SLEEVE TATTOOS THAT ARE VISIBLE TO THE EYE WHEN WEARING STANDARD PHYSICAL TRAINING (PT) GEAR ARE LIKEWISE PROHIBITED. NO ADDITIONAL ACTION IS REQUIRED BY MARINES WHOSE SLEEVE TATTOOS WERE PREVIOUSLY GRANDFATHERED PER MARADMIN 198/07.
4. THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE CLARIFIES THE MARINE CORPS TATTOO POLICY AND IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. MARINES WHO DO NOT MEET THIS GUIDANCE WILL BE GRANDFATHERED PER PARAGRAPH 6.
A. THE FOLLOWING APPLIES TO ALL MARINES.
(1) TATTOOS/BRANDS ON THE HANDS, FINGERS, AND WRISTS ARE PROHIBITED.
(2) TATTOOS/BRANDS IN THE MOUTH ARE PROHIBITED.
(3) INDIVIDUAL TATTOOS VISIBLE IN THE STANDARD PT UNIFORM (SHORTS AND T-SHIRT) WILL BE NO LARGER THAN THE WEARER'S HAND WITH FINGERS EXTENDED AND JOINED WITH THE THUMB TOUCHING THE BASE OF THE INDEX FINGER.
(4) BAND TATTOOS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 5B ARE PROHIBITED.
(5) TATTOOS/BRANDS WILL NOT BE VISIBLE OR APPARENT ON THE FEET OR LEGS WHEN WEARING THE SERVICE A, BLUE DRESS A/B, BLUE-WHITE DRESS A/B, OR THE EVENING DRESS UNIFORMS. EXCEPTION: FORMAL INSPECTIONS AS PRESCRIBED BY COMMANDERS AND/OR INSPECTOR GENERAL TEAMS.
(6) TATTOOS NOT VISIBLE OR APPARENT WITHOUT THE USE OF ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHTING (BLACK LIGHT) MUST MEET THE POLICY AS SET FORTH HEREIN AND IAW THE REFERENCES.
B. ADDED GUIDANCE APPLICABLE ONLY TO OFFICERS (COMMISSIONED/WARRANT).
(1) OFFICERS ARE LIMITED TO NOT MORE THAN FOUR (4) TATTOOS/BRANDS VISIBLE IN THE STANDARD PT UNIFORM.
(2) BAND TATTOOS EXCEEDING A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF TWO (2) INCHES ARE PROHIBITED.
(3) ENLISTED MARINES WITH PREVIOUSLY GRANDFATHERED SLEEVE TATTOOS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A MARINE CORPS COMMISSIONING OR WARRANT OFFICER PROGRAM. IN OTHER WORDS, AN ENLISTED MARINE GRANDFATHERED FOR A SLEEVE TATTOO IAW MARADMIN 198/07 HAS NO RESTRICTIONS FOR REENLISTMENT OR PROMOTION AS AN ENLISTED MARINE, BUT IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE MARINE ENLISTED COMMISSIONING EDUCATION PROGRAM (MECEP), WARRANT OFFICER, OR ANY OTHER ENLISTED-TO-OFFICER PROGRAM.
(4) PRIOR TO COMMISSIONING/WARRANT OFFICER APPOINTMENT, OFFICER CANDIDATES WILL BE RESCREENED FOR TATTOOS WHICH ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS POLICY.
Full text and definitions at source:
http://www.marines.mil/news/messages/Pages/MARADMIN029-10.aspx
Don
Used to be, that you could recognize where an 'ol salt has been by his tattoos...
Branding IN THE MOUTH? That is either one TOUGH or very DRUNK Marine to take that treatment. [:D]
IIRC, the tatto parlor in Waynesville MO was off limits to recruits....It did not stop me though [:0][:D]...
Don
what year(s)were you there ??