Are Tattoos Allowed In The Military

Will The Navy Pay To Remove Tattoos

Unfortunately, the answer is usually no.

In the past a soldier could get funding from the military branch he or she was serving in order to remove a tattoo that was not allowed for service.

However, in 2006 the Department of Defense released a new policy that requires active duty military personnel to pay for their own tattoo removals.

There was hope along with the new Navy tattoo policy that the decision would get reversed, however, the DOD policy still remains in place.

Sailors that are ordered to have a tattoo removed by a commanding officer can get financial support yet a command-directed tattoo removal in the Navy is rare.

The good news is that since the Navy is more loose with its tattoo policy the chances of needing to remove a tattoo in order to serve the country are far less.

What Accommodation Options Does The Nzdf Offer

The NZDF offers very affordable barrack accommodation for NZDF members on most bases and camps. Regular Force members become eligible for a housing allowance after 3 years of service. Regular Force members also become eligible for service housing after three years of service or under exceptional circumstances.

What is service housing like?

The majority of NZDF service houses were built in the 1950s and are of wood construction. They have been maintained but are not as good as most modern homes of this century.

Recently, some branches of the United States government have released new protocols regarding tattoos of enlisted men and women. These new policies are making it difficult for people who have visible tattoos to join the military and ultimately risk their lives for our freedom. Although we here at Atlantic Laser Tattoo Removal do not approve of these new standards, we do feel it is our responsibility to inform you of them. Depending on which branch of the military you are enlisting with, your options may be different. Most branches are uniformly using the no hands, no head, or neck rule

Here is a list of the different branches and their new policies. If you have any questions regarding these policies, please ask your recruiter for clarification.

How Does The Nzdf Prevent Discrimination And Harassment

We are committed to ensuring that our workplaces are safe and free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying because we recognise the effects of personal-wellbeing on our operational effectiveness. We make an effort to recruit good people, and install a positive culture early in initial training. Robust support processes are in place to deal with any alleged incidents sensitively, appropriately, and quickly.

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Whats The Big Deal About Tattoos

Many recruits wonder why the armed forces even care about their tattoos. While someone joining the Air Force or Marine Corps might expect to be required to put forth a professional appearance, someone joining the Army or Navy might think thatgiven the traditionally more rugged lifestyle of people in these branchesa tattoo on the hand or neck would not pose a big deal.

The reality of the matter is that the military is a place of tradition and high, uniform standards. Individuality is not valued like in our general society. Moreover, there are a lot of qualified recruits who meet the existing standards so theres little incentive to lower existing standards / regulations.

Tattoos that glorify sexism, drugs, violence, or extremist or indecent tattoos could pose problems for recruits. While some branches of the military will allow certain types of sleeve tattoos, many would-be recruits will find themselves being told to get laser tattoo removal treatment for these tattoos before they can submit enlistment papers.

Military tattoo regulations do tend to change slightly over time. So, while the below information is accurate to the best of our knowledge, you may want to double-check with your recruiter or another U.S. Military publication for the latest tattoo regulations.

Can You Join The Navy With Tattoos

Can you join the navy with tattoos? Tattoos are incredibly common amongst the main demographic of American citizens that the Navy recruit from, with estimates suggesting around 1 in 3 people who are between 18 and 25 have at least one tattoo.

Some studies suggest that number is even higher, including those getting multiple tattoos and in areas that would have been considered antisocial. In the past, due to a variety of reasons, tattoos made finding employment with the Navy difficult. Do tattoos show that the Navy man or Navywoman is a reliable and trustworthy member of society? Some people would say no tattoos make some unreliable and untrustworthy.

This is what all military branches believed up until recently. But it is very possible that you will be able to join the Navy today because of the changes that were made to recruitment policy in 2016. Now potential recruits can have pretty much any kind of tattoo they want as long as it doesnt fall under a very small list of examples that are still banned. The list is not exhaustive, however. If you are unsure, ask your recruiter.

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Tattoos And Military Policy

The United States military policies concerning tattoos have evolved over the years and vary across military branches. In recent years, these policies have been relaxed to increase the number of eligible recruits. But one thing that hasnt changed is soldiers and recruits are not allowed to have certain types of tattoos. Extremist, indecent, racist and sexist tattoos are not allowed.

Policies regarding the placement of tattoos vary among the branches. The strictest, the Marines do not allow sleeves. While the Army does not allow tattoos on:

• Your neck above the t-shirt line
• Inside your eyelids, mouth or ears

The military also has policies in place regarding getting tattoos while on active duty. Meeting the appearance standards prior to joining the military is just as important as abiding by them during your service in the military. The military is concerned about banned tattoos before and after enlisting. If the military finds your tattoo inappropriate concerning their policy you will likely face punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Furthermore, the military could require you to remove the tattoo if you want to remain on active duty.

In any case, If you or someone you know has a tattoo they need to be removed for military purposes Delete Tattoo Removal in Phoenix & Chandler is able to help! Laser tattoo removal is one way to meet military regulations as they concern your tattoos!

How Do You Make Your Tattoos Less Of A Liability For Military Service

If youre considering joining the military but have tattoos that would be an issue for service, its important to consider how you can make your tattoo less of a liability. Some options include:

Covering tattoo with temporary tattoos

Covering tattoo with medical prosthetics

Taking advantage of military enlistment opportunities that have been created in response to tattoos

Taking advantage of tattoo removal services that are available through the military

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Does The Piercing Policy Apply To All Areas Of The Military Installation

It does, but it is also important to note the policy only addresses personal appearance issues while on the installation.

Although the Air Force encourages airmen to maintain an appropriate military image at all times, piercing practices off base, such as earring wear by males, are not intended to be addressed by this policy.

Tattoos In The Right Area Guarantees Nothing

Its worth noting that even if your tattoos are in the right areas and are compliant with the new tattoo policy, that doesnt mean youre guaranteed to get into the Air Force or any other branch of the military for that matter.

There are rules regarding the placement of tattoos and then there are the moral and ethical standards that the Air Force, and all branches of the military, hold their members to. So even if you have a tattoo thats within the new guidelines, if its considered offensive, it could still preclude you from serving.

The AF tattoo policy states clearly that your art cannot be racist, sexist, or otherwise discriminatory in nature. Additionally, any tattoo that could be considered offensive or gang-related is also not allowed.

Ultimately, its up to your commander to decide whether or not a particular tattoo is acceptable. If youre unsure about whether or not a tattoo is allowed, the best thing to do is to ask your supervisor before getting it.

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Tattoos & Air Force: Faq

We hope that by now youre convinced that the Air Force is not entirely opposed to tattoos. The Air Forces rules about tattoos are constantly easing and a growing number of inked folks should feel confident in applying.

But before you go out and get inked, have a look at the FAQ section above. On top of summarizing everything weve covered so far, the section also answers some popular questions related to the current Air Force tattoo policy.

Space Force Tattoo Regulations

As of the writing of this article, we were unable to locate a tattoo policy for the U.S. Space Force, the sixth and newest branch of the military.

Even though we found guidance on Space Force uniforms and insignia, we advise you to speak with a recruiter and become familiar with the Air Force tattoo policy as the Space Force is situated within the Air Force.

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Examples Of Army Offensive Tattoos

Here are the main types of tattoos the U.S. Army analyzes and may prohibit you from enlisting in the military:

• Sexist Tattoos:Soldiers are not allowed to have body art that advocates a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on gender.
• Racist Tattoos: Soldiers are not allowed to have body ink that degrades or demeans a person based on race, ethnicity, or national origin.
• Extremist Tattoos: The Army determines extremist tattoos as body art affiliated with, depicting, or symbolizing extremist philosophies, organizations, or activities. The Army has zero-tolerance toward organizations that promote racial or gender intolerance.
• Indecent Tattoos: The Army clarifies that indecent tattoos are grossly offensive to modesty, decency, propriety, or professionalism. The definition of indecent tattoos in the Army is fairly loose. It might include body art like a character flipping the bird or using the restroom on another object.

Lastly, branding tattoos are not authorized in the U.S. Army.

Military personnel are prohibited from having tattoos, including brands on the head, face, and neck.

There are several commonly asked questions regarding the Army tattoo policy:

Air Force Tattoo Policy

Update! Read our full article on the Air Force Tattoo Policy here.

The U.S. Air Force tattoo policy is next in our lineup. And the rules that Airmen must abide by might shock you.

Recently in 2016, following an AFI 33-360 required review, the Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James communicated a shift away from their previous appearance and uniform policy.

It had been since 2010 that such matters were discussed.

And, according to Air Force Times, Senior leaders at the Air Staff level were reviewing the policies with the intent to continue their efforts of expanding the pool of eligible applicants for service, while still supporting the Air Force mission.

Secretary Deborah Lee James echoed these sentiments, saying

As part of our effort to attract and retain as many qualified airmen as possible, we periodically review our accessions policies As a next step in this evolution, we are opening the aperture on certain medical accession criteria and tattoos while taking into account our needs for worldwide deployability and our commitment to the profession of arms.

Alright, so how and where does this new policy deviate from the old policy?

Well dive into the details in just a moment.

But first, heres the lightning round that shows you the major changes that were officially announced and adopted February 1, 2017.

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How Long Will I Serve

Enlistedpositions typically require an initial service commitment of four years, but positions involving longer-term training may involve five- or six-year obligations.

Officerpositions typically require an initial service commitment of three to five years, but positions involving longer-term training may involve longer service obligations.

Can You Join The Military If You Have Tattoos

Can You Join The Military If You Have Tattoos?. The army tattoo policy was updated and relaxed in 2015 but is still one of the most strict in the military. Army recently changed its policy regarding tattoos on the arms.

#militarymonday | can you have visible tattoos in the military?! In the early 2000s ed hardy got a bit of a. Any tattoo has to be smaller than your hand.

Source: www.thebalancecareers.com

Years after enacting tough rules on. Can you join the canadian army with tattoos.

Source: www.vance.af.mil

Hand tattoos, including ring tattoos, are also allowed In the air force, as of 2017, tattoos on the chest, back, arms and legs that still meet the authorized standard are not restricted by the 25 percent rule.

You cant have hand tattoos except for a single ring tattoo 3/8 of an inch or smaller. You can have full sleeve tattoos

Source: tattoosartideas.com

The army tattoo policy was updated and relaxed in 2015 but is still one of the most strict in the military. As a marine corps officer that would be a little more sensitive but as an enlisted man you can have all the tattoos you want.

Source: www.sandboxx.us

Some people would say no Marines can have a single band tattoo on one finger.

Source: www.tattoosforyou.org

Can you join the military with forearm tattoos share. This is what all military branches believed up until recently.

Source: tattoo-journal.comSource: www.cnn.com

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What Tattoos Are Allowed In The Marines

There are restrictions regarding content of tattoos, but well get to that in a bit.

• Sleeve tattoos are now allowed but cannot fall below the wrist.
• Band tattoos are permitted.
• Tattoos are not allowed above the collar bone and cannot be seen above the uniformed fitted T-shirt.

Hand tattoos are prohibited in the Marines, with the exception of a single band tattoo on the finger.

They can have a single band tattoo of no more than 3/8 of an inch in width on one finger.

What About Tattoos After You Are Enlisted

• Once youre enlisted, its important to be careful about the type of tattoo you get. You cant get a tattoo that violates any of the rules above or that would be deemed inappropriate if you get a tattoo while in the military. It will be covered with makeup or temporary tattoos.
• A tattoo is a form of body modification in which human skin is altered by inserting ink beneath the epidermis through puncture wounds on the skin. The process of tattooing involves using needles to inject ink into the dermis layer of skin, which results in pigment-filled pigmented tissue in the subcutaneous layer. Tattooing is a form of body modification that serves no medical purpose. There are various types of tattoos, such as Japanese-style tattoos, western-style tattoos, and tribal tattoos.

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Options For Recruits Looking For A Fresh Start

As mentioned, tattoo rules vary by military branch. No matter branch you hope to join, tattoos on the face, neck, and hands are highly regulated . Covering up a face, neck, or hand tattoo will usually not be an option. Most recruits with these tattoos or other tattoos such as sleeve tattoos, tattoos with sexist or extremist messages, and other tattoos that radically alter their personal appearance will benefit from visiting a tattoo removal clinic.

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What Air Force Tattoos Are Not Allowed

While the Air Force has one of the more lenient tattoo policies of all the military branches, they still have standards and restrictions that must be followed.

As far as size and location of unauthorized tattoos, Airmen cannot be inked up in the following locations:

Otherwise, its fair game for size and location.

USAF Airmen can have tattoos that are much larger than their hand when covering it.

And if you think about it, that leaves A LOT of canvas to be tattooed.

See below for a visual of what the new Air Force tattoo policy entails, what they prohibit, and what they permit.

Now that youre clear on the size and locations of unauthorized tattoos, lets discuss the content of tattoos that are prohibited.

The following unauthorized body markings are not allowed anywhere on the body, even when covered up by PTs.

So keep this in mind when visiting a recruiter, because they will ask, and you must tell.

Here are the tattoos not allowed in the USAF:

• Any markings that are obscene
• Associated with gang activity
• Ethnic or religious discriminatory tattoos

These tattoos will NOT fly, in more ways than one.

However, if you are unsure of a particular tattoo or tattoos, it doesnt hurt to visit an Air Force recruiter and get their opinion.

Sometimes they give waivers in certain cases.

Youd hate to blow your chances simply because you think your tattoo will automatically disqualify you.

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Tattoos And The Military: The Dos And Donts If You Want To Join The Service

A lot of people have tattoos, and our reasons for getting them range from acknowledging meaningful, life-changing moments to a weekend bender in L.A., New York, or Miami that ends up at an ink shop. Its your body and you can put whatever you want wherever you want. Right? Well, that depends on your future plans. Pay attention to what comes next if you plan to join the military after high school or college or if youre already in the armed services.

This next line is tough for me to get out, but your mama was right: Think before you ink. Each of the armed services has different regulations that change on a continuing basis. If youre already in the service, your existing tattoos are grandfathered in, but the doesnt mean they cant hurt your chances at a promotion. Also, new tattoos have to meet the stricter requirements, which leads to my next point.

If you tend to make rash decisions after drinking, make sure at least one of your buddies has your back. You might want to pick someone big enough to deter you from making stupid things that involve a tattoo shop. Anything thats going to follow you to the grave deserves deliberate intention, so if you hanker for body art, plan it out and go to a reputable place that understands military regulations. Dont drink then ink.