Marines Tighten Up Tattoo Policy
Saturday March 24, 2007
The Marine Corps is getting more strict about tatoos.
A new Marine Corps Administrative Message details new guidelines for Marines with tattoos, specifically, restricting them from getting sleeve tattoos. Effective April 1, Marines are prohibited from getting sleeve tattoos. Those individuals who have sleeve tattoos are required to be documented by their command by July 1.
Comments
why?
Didn’t they just say they were becoming more lenient on tattoos?
I wouldn’t have one, but what is wrong with having one if you so desire? It isn’t going to limit your abilities to carry out your duties!!!!
I went thru 4 years of U S Naval service, and I am a Vietnam veteran, but I didn’t get a tattoo. I think a service man or woman should, if he or she decides to get a tattoo, should have it to where it can’t be seen with the uniform on. It looks tacky and a service person in uniform should look sharp and intelligent–PROUD of the service they are a part of!!!!
I spent 11 good years in the CORPS { MARINE CORPS } and I see only good from having a military tattoo . I got a MARINE GLOBE and ANCHOR tattoo on HOTEL STREET in HAWAII on my upper right arm in 1971 . I think a military tattoo shows a strong love for your service or unit and being an AMERICAN fighting man . A good military tattoo helps to build morale . LOTS of MARINES were getting tattoos when I was in the CORPS .I do think that if a person has a tattoo on their arm that it should be high enough to be hidden by their T-SHIRT or uniform . IN other words a tattoo should not be seen when a person is in uniform . I still take pride in my MARINE tattoo even after 36 years so it shows to the world that I love the CORPS and that I was a MARINE in body and sprit .
SEMPER FI — OLD CORPS 0351 SGT HUGHES
let me get this straight, our men and women can go and fight and possibly die or be disabled but can’t have a tattoo, as long as its in good taste wear it where ever you want. I am the wife of a retired 1st Sgt. mother of an Air Force Staff Sgt.
correction to my comment #6, son is a Tech. Sgt soon to be a Master Sgt.
Tatoos especially in or around the neck are hideously redneck and what you’d expect of stars in any TV segment of Cops where you see drunkened guys sporting these kinds of tatoos all liquored up wearing a wife beater t-shirt. I think such a policy should be applied to police officers as well. Nothing looks anymore straight up trailer white trash as people advertising their low IQ’s sporting tatoos you’d expect only on prisoners.
I agree with the decsion to some extent.however limited to tatoos of a positive stature not some kind of idiotic imature drunken bender style of Tat one would get after a good load on after sporting his first pubic hair!Cmon these men & women are able to die for our country why cant they show there heroisim for it! as long as its in good taste,example in laymens terms: a nazi symbol on ones forehead would not be in good taste! SEMPER FI!
Tattoo is spelled T-A-T-T-O-O. I’m stunned! I cannot see anything postitive in this policy. I do believe all U.S. Armed Forces Service Men & Woman should get any tattoo, anywhere they want, whenever they want, where ever they damn well please regardless of what anybody says. Men and woman in Service will stand up for their rights. # 8 needs to get a clue!
Yea my bf is a marine and has 4 tattoos,omg what is the big deal i mean he is putting his neck on the line for us! so if they want a tattoo let them, you dont see us out there with our necks stuck out. SEMPER FI!
Why is the Military concerned about this when they have dedicated Men & Women whom they are kicking out merely because they identify as Gay or Lesbian? Surely we should be focusing efforts on our troops being able to serve openly and with honor rather than tattoos.
I am glad i served in th Marine Corps when i did.{1976-1980} It seems that they r getting soft along with the rest of the goverment
I am not a great fan of tattoos. HOWEVER this borders on the ABSURD! Who are these small minded people TELLING a fighting man or woman that they will impose upon their personal FREEDOM to show their PRIDE! They are willing to DIE for freedom! Aren’t there more important things to do/ Semper FI and tat away!
I do not see the big deal. It’s just a tattoo. It’s not like they’re coloring their hair in all different colors or get piercings. How will tattoos hurt the uniformity?
being a marine myself ,i cant believe the tatoo policy of the corps. when you get killed in combat ,they dont check to see what tatoo you have on your body.I am proud of my usmc tatoo’s and i hope the marine corps isn’t turning into a bunch of pussy. politically correct!!! semper fi,and kick ass,then take names
haha..we can have them and you cant, as a mtter a fact, we are approved for more! neener neener
I want to join the Marines and I think that it stupid that someone can’t join the Corps just because they have a tattoo. Getting a tattoo is a form of speech. So by telling people they can’t join the Corps cause they have a tattoo then you are infringing upon their 1st Amendment
Patrick,
One of the first things you should understand about military service (in any branch) is that members of the military do not have the same full constitutional rights as other citizens. Constitutional rights for military members are restricted in deferrence to military necessity and National Security.
For example, a civilian can cuss out his/her boss (free speech) and the worst thing that could happen is they would lose their job.
A military member could be court-martialed and could go to military prison for up to one year for doing the same thing (See Article 89 and Article 91 of the UCMJ at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/mcm.htm.
A civilian could join a racist organization, such as the KKK, and, as long as he/she didn’t commit any crimes as members of that organization, the worst that could happen is that his/her friends and neighbors may not like him/her anymore. A military member could go to jail for joining the same organization (see Article 92).
To Patrick (comment number 18). I’m going to give you some of the best advice you will ever hear. When you are in the service you are not entitled to the same “rights” that your average citizen is. You only have the rights that they give you. Before you join you need to understand that the military will literally own you. For example, soldiers have been written up in the past for getting too bad of a sunburn. I believe that falls under Article 13 (damage to governement property). In other words…they condsider YOU government property. Boy, before you join you better do your homework!