More Ink On Heads Fingers Allowed In Updated Coast Guard Tattoo Policy
Coast Guard men, women and recruits now have more options to show off tattoos on their fingers or behind their ears under a new policy the service announced Monday.
The new finger regulation allows service members to get a tattoo anywhere between their first knuckle and fingertip, or on the top or side of the finger, in an area that may be visible at the position of attention.
The Coast Guard previously had stipulated that a single finger tattoo could be placed per hand but needed to be between the first and second knuckle. Any ring tattoo counts as the single finger tattoo allowed on that hand.
The new rules also allow for a single tattoo no larger than an inch wide to be placed behind one ear.
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Hand tattoos remain authorized as long as they are no more than an inch wide. One finger and one hand tattoo are allowed on each hand, according to policy, published as ALCOAST Commandant Notice 113/21.
The Coast Guard last updated its tattoo policy in 2019 to broaden the pool of potential recruits and allow members flexibility in decorating their bodies.
Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz said in his first State of the Coast Guard Address in 2019 that the services leadership needed to look at its policies to draw service members and retain them.
All the military services have issued updates in recent years to address similar concerns, as well as trends in the general population where they hope to attract recruits.
National Guard Tattoo Policy
The US National Guard is an important branch of the United States Armed Forces. The National Guard and Air National Guard are reserve forces, which means that those that serve do so on a part-time basis while also holding civilian jobs. Removery often sees clients who plan to join the National Guard but have tattoos that violate their tattoo policy.
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Navy Tattoo Ideas And Meanings
The U.S. Navy has a rich history when it comes to tattoos and their meanings.
For instance, you might see an old-timer sporting an anchor, a few swallows, a dagger with a rose, etc.
The younger generations are catching on to the meaning behind these, and are carrying the torch and heading for the tattoo parlor for the same tattoos.
Here are a few U.S. Navy tattoo ideas and their meanings:
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Coast Guard Tattoo Policy 2022
The U.S. Coast Guard says its tattoo policy “strikes a balance between personal expression and maintaining our sharp military appearance” as it aims to continue recruiting and keeping its next generation of Coast Guardsman.
Tattoos that represent “racism, discrimination, indecency, extremist/supremacist ideals, lawlessness, violence, or are sexually explicit” are banned.
Theres also no limit on the number of tattoos one can have, but there are restrictions on where they can be on the body. Chest tattoos that are visible above the Coast Guard crew neck T-shirt are not allowed.
Service members can have one, 1-inch tattoo on each hand, but it cant go past “the first knuckle closest to the wrist.”
One finger tattoo per hand is also allowed “within the length of the finger from the first to the second knuckle,” according to the Coast Guard tattoo policy.
Additionally, one ring tattoo per hand is allowed on the wearer’s finger but not the thumb.
Final Words On Military Tattoos
If youve been following along, you should be a military tattoo policy pro by now. Weve covered the new and updated tattoo policies for each of the armed services the Navy, Army, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
Youre also well aware that the overarching theme is this: the military is becoming less strict and more accommodating of tattoos at least in size and number of tattoos.
As far as the content of tattoos, each of the branches still have their non-negotiables that you must be aware of and abide by.
We hope this extensive, in-depth guide helps you on your way to serving our country.
As they say, knowledge is power and in this case, its half the battle! So go forth in confidence, knowing exactly what to expect from your desired service branch.
In the meantime, have a look at our other related posts, and keep an eye out for more in-depth guides and articles all about the military and how to join.
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In 2015 The Army Updated Its Rules To Allow Sleeve Tattoos But It Does Not Permit Soldiers To Have Ink On Their Necks Or Hands Which Would Be Visible In The Army Service Uniform
Essentially, any visible body tattoos are prohibited. The army changed the regulations in 2015 after realizing that its restrictions on tattoos were costing it recruits. However, tattoos, brands or body markings on the head, neck, face, tongue, lips and/or scalp remain prohibited.
Space Force Tattoo Policy 2022
The U.S. Space Force, the countrys newest military service branch, allows tattoos on the chest and back , arms, legs, and feet, according to its official policy.
Chest and back tattoos cannot be visible through any uniform or visible while wearing an open collar uniform. One tattoo on the neck or behind the ear is allowed, but it cant exceed 1 inch in any direction. Neck tattoos also cant be located on the front of the neck.
The approved location of a neck tattoo for the U.S. Space Force is shown.
Ring tattoos are limited “to a single band, no more than 3/8 of an inch in width, below the knuckle and above the finger joint on one or both hands.” Only one ring tattoo is allowed per hand, the policy states. Tattoos elsewhere on the hand are not allowed.
There are no other size or placement limitations on tattoos as long as they are in accordance with the official policy.
This story was reported from Cincinnati.
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Can You Have Neck/face/hand Tattoos In The Army
No, the Army does not allow tattoos on the face, neck, or hands.
The only exception is a small ring tattoo that can exist on each hand .
Face and neck tattoos are highly discouraged in the U.S. Army.
There are a few waivers that are granted each year by Army recruiters if the officer determines the tattoo is not too distracting.
Coast Guard Tattoo Ideas And Meanings
The USCGs official flag shows a seal of an eagle with the words Semper Paratus underneath it.
This is always a popular tattoo for Coast Guardsman. Similar to the Marines Semper Fi , Semper Paratus means Always Ready.
And thats exactly what the Coast Guard is all about.
Preparing men and women to be ready at a moments notice to govern and bring peace to the coast and sea.
Here are a few of these tattoos, and other common Coast Guard tattoos.
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What Can You Do If Your Tattoo Doesnt Meet Military Standards
Laser tattoo removal is your best option for getting rid of unwanted ink that violates the military standard. While the military will not pay for your removal, many laser clinics offer military discounts. At MEDermis Laser Clinic were proud to offer 10% off individual treatments or an additional 10% off our discounted prepaid packages to all active military personnel.
- Before and after 3 laser treatments with MEDermis
- Before and after 5 laser treatments with MEDermis
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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:
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What About Tattoos After You Are Enlisted
Some recruits think they can enlist in the military and then get whatever tattoos they wish once they have completed training. This is false. Commanding officers are always reviewing their servicemembers, and people who get tattoos after joining are still subject to disciplinary action up to and including administrative separation.
While cosmetic tattoos are acceptable, they must mimic the natural appearance of the body. The most common illustration is getting an eyebrow tattoo in cases where you are losing your eyebrow hair for some reason. However, the cosmetic tattoo must mirror the natural color, shape, and size of the eyebrow.
Some people who get tattoos after they have enlisted find that the tattoos hurt their ability to proceed up through the ranks. When they are reviewed for promotion, they might find that their promotions are delayed until they visit a tattoo removal clinic.
Generally speaking, visits to a tattoo removal clinic will be on your own dimethe government will not pay for you to have a tattoo removed, nor will health insurance. Fortunately, we do offer special discounts for military recruits, active duty, and veterans its our way of saying, thank you for your service!
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.
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So Does The Military Allow Tattoos
The simple answer: there is no simple answer. It all depends, and although military tattoo regulations and policies are liable to be modified each year, take a look below for a quick guide on current military tattoo policies per branch.
Because much of these policies are up for interpretation its always best to seek feedback from a recruiter directly. However, if you already have ink and are worried it may not pass the military standard you have options! For starters, active service members who enlisted before a new regulation dont have to worry. However, if you add or alter a tattoo and it then violates new military tattoo regulations, you could run into some trouble.
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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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United States Navy Tattoo Policies
UNIFORM REGULATIONS.
GENTEXT/REMARKS
1. This Navadmin supersedes Navadmin 021/03, amplifies waiverable and non-waiverable criteria, establishes final waiver authority, and provides procedures for administrative documentation and processing of tattoos/body art/brands/mutilations and dental ornamentation. These changes are effective immediately and will be reflected in the next change to the uniform regulations.
2. For clarity, revisions and additions to Navy uniform regulations, article 2201, are quoted below in their entirety: article 2201. Personal appearance, because it is impossible to provide examples of every appropriate or unacceptable grooming standard, the good judgment of leaders at all levels is key to the enforcement of the Navy s personal appearance policy. Therefore, hair, grooming, and personal appearance while in uniform shall present a neat, professional appearance.
3. Tattoos/body art/brands. Four criteria will be used to determine whether tattoos/body art/brands are permitted for Navy personnel: Content, Location, Size, and Cosmetic.
B. Location. No tattoos/body art/brands on the head, face, neck, or scalp. The neck area for purposes of this regulation is any portion visible when wearing a crew neck t-shirt or open collar uniform shirt. In addition, otherwise permissible tattoos/body art/brands on the torso area of the body shall not be visible through white uniform clothing.
A. Examples of mutilation include, but are not limited to:
Does It Make A Difference
All the military services have acknowledged their having a hard time making mission this year as the eligible population shrinks, and long-range economic and pandemic effects are felt. But how much do tattoo restrictions factor in?
GAO cites 2014 and 2020 studies by the Defense Departments Joint Military Advertising, Market Research and Studies arm , which found that easing restrictions would increase the recruiting pool by about six percent in the 16-24 demographic. The Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard all told GAO they collected data on waiver requests and disqualifications and used that data to inform policy.
The new report doesnt fully make clear, however, what the impact of clearer waivers would be now that rules have been substantially relaxed. In 2017, reported that 33 troops were denied re-enlistment packages over the course of a year due to their ink. Its likely most would be retained under the new rules.
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Making Sense Of Waiver Rules
According to GAO, every service except the Navy allows recruits and current service members to request waivers for certain tattoo restrictions. However, the watchdog organization said, the services dont consistently lay out the possibility of such waivers or the process for getting them.
respective policies generally do not document this possibility clearly,it states. Clear guidance on waivers for unauthorized tattoos would provide consistent information about requirements for waiver requests and conditions for approval. This could clarify whether tattoo prevalence affects future or continued military service.
Currently, all services offer recruit waivers for tattoo rules, although the Air Force and Space Force limit such waivers to exceptionally qualified recruits in critical, understaffed career fields. None of the six services, however, outlines how to request waiver approval and what conditions must be met, GAO found. The Navy is the only service that does not offer waivers for current troops. Again, however, the other services fail to specify how to apply for these waivers, and none are clear about which tattoos might qualify for them.
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Navy Tattoo Policy 2022
Like other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Navy updated its tattoo policy in 2016 in an effort to ensure that the branch is able to recruit and keep talented sailors.
“The tattoo policy change was made to reflect tattoo realities in the nation our military serves. The Navy does not want to miss opportunities to bring in talented men and women willing to serve,” it said in a 2016 publication of All Hands, the U.S. Navy magazine.
Neck and sleeve tattoos are allowed, officials said. But tattoos that are “prejudicial to good order, discipline, and morale, or be of a nature that brings discredit upon the naval service” are banned, including those that are racist, sexist, extremist, or indecent. Commanding officers and the chain of command are responsible for making these determinations.
Specifically, one tattoo is allowed on the neck, but it cannot exceed one inch in any direction. Any size or amount of tattoos on the arms and legs are allowed, officials said.
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Hand Ear And Neck Tattoos Now Ok For Soldiers Amid Recruiting Crunch
The military is struggling to find recruits right now, and the Army is no exception. With three months remaining in fiscal 2022, the service has only attained 40% of its enlisted recruiting goal, according to Army G-1 spokesperson Maj. Angel Tomko.
And thats part of why Army Secretary Christine Wormuth issued a new policy authorizing troops to have small tattoos on their hands, ears and necks, Army officials explained Thursday morning.
Wormuth signed a directive Wednesday that expanded the services acceptable tattoo policy. The changes will be incorporated in the next update to AR 670-1, the Armys appearance regulation.
The following tattoos are now authorized, according to the directive:
- One visible tattoo on each hand less than one inch in measurement. This tattoo cannot be on the fingers, though one ring tattoo per hand is okay, as are an unlimited number of tattoos between the fingers, as long as they are not visible when the fingers are closed.
- One tattoo on the back of a soldiers neck, less than two inches in measurement.
- One tattoo behind each ear, no larger than one inch in measurement and not extending beyond the ear lobe.
Sgt. Maj. Ashleigh Sykes, who oversees uniform and appearance policy for the services personnel directorate, cautioned that some ink still isnt okay.
United States Coast Guard Tattoo Policies
Commandant2100 Second Street , S.W. Washington , DC 20593-0001
COMDTINST 1000.1A
Subj: TATTOO, BODY MARKING, BODY PIERCING, AND MUTILATION POLICY
Ref: Uniform Regulations, COMDTINST M1020.6 Medical Manual, COMDTINST M6000.1
1. PURPOSE. This Instruction amends the Coast Guard’s Tattoo and Body Markings Policy to include both new accessions and current active duty/reserve members, and establishes new guidelines governing content, location, and amount of body coverage. Additionally, this policy reinforces the prohibition against other forms of intentional body mutilation.
3. DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. Tattoo and Body Markings Policy for Coast Guard Accessions, COMDTINST 1000.1, is cancelled. The following instructions will be amended to reflect this policy: Uniform Regulations, COMDTINST M1020.6 Coast Guard Recruiting Manual, COMDTINST M1100.2 and the Personnel Manual, COMDTINST M1000.6 .
5. POLICY.
b. Content. Tattoos or brands anywhere on the body that promote racism/discrimination, indecency, extremist or supremacist philosophies, lawlessness, violence, or sexually explicit material are prohibited.
Racist or discriminatory tattoos or brands are those that advocate the degradation of a person based on race, ethnicity, national origin, or gender
Tattoos or brands labeled violent or promoting lawlessness are those that depict extreme graphic violence, profanity, glorifications of drug culture, or markings that can reasonably be interpreted as anti-government in nature.
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