Wear Of Clothing Items
The Tattoo Artist Must Be Licensed By Local Laws
The US Army recommends that soldiers attend a licensed studio for their tattoos. You are responsible for knowing the laws of your state. If you are not sure, call your local police department or sheriffs office. If you are planning to do the tattoo at home, be sure that no one under 15 years old is present when you do it.
Tattoo Removal For Military Service Members
If you are considering a career in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or even the Coast Guard, you need to know about their restrictions on tattoos. Each branch of the armed forces differs in what it will allow, but all of them have one thing in common: if you have certain kinds of tattoos, or tattoos that cover too much of your body, you will not be allowed to enlist. Whats more, even if your tattoos are within the range of what is permissible, they may end up hindering your ability to progress and be promoted beyond a certain rank.
Because of this, if you are looking for a fresh start so you can begin an active duty career, you might want to consider laser tattoo removal. While other options do exist in certain circumstancessuch as simply covering the offending tattoo with something that complies with the existing regulationslaser tattoo removal is great option to help get you eligible to enlist.
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Can The Military Boost Recruitment By Allowing More Tattoos
Congress wants to know if tattoos and piercings are keeping too many potential recruits out of the military.
On Wednesday, during debate over the annual defense authorization bill draft, members of the House Armed Services Committee unanimously approved language which would mandate a new report on whether tattoos and body modification for potential enlistees have become a deterrent to meeting recruitment goals.
The research, which would be due in March 2022, would include the exact number of potential enlistees per year that are denied access to the military due to tattoos and body modifications and comparison of military rules to private-sector policies.
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The measure passed without opposition. It still has to survive negotiations with the Senate later this year before it becomes law.
But the move recognizes changing cultural norms and emerging demographics of the country, and the challenges that presents to recruiters, according to committee members.
A 2015 Harris poll found that about half of millennials have at least one tattoo, and at least a third of all Americans have gotten one.
Rules regarding tattoos or piercings vary from service to service, but most prohibit offensive imagery or tattoos on the face, upper neck and hands.
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What Tattoos Are Not Allowed In The Army
As far as placement or location goes, we recommend the t-shirt test.
Throw on a t-shirt and stand in front of the mirror. Now, you cannot have any tattoos showing above the t-shirt collar line or anywhere on the neck, ear, face, scalp, etc.
This restriction also includes any inner-mouth or eyelid tattoos .
You cannot have any tattoos on your hands either .
The hand is defined as any location below the wrist bone. With this in mind, its best not to have any ink on your wrists at all.
As far as content of the tattoos, the Army prohibits anything that is:
- Racist
- Extremist
- Indecent
These types of tattoos cannot be located anywhere on your body. And believe us, theyll check.
Of course, the terms above can be interpreted in different ways, so its ultimately up to your Recruiting Commander to make the call.
Also, if you have tattoos and eventually want to become an Officer or Warrant Officer, dont worry, theres still hope of moving up in rank.
You see, Commanders make recommendations for soldiers based on many considerations so you likely wont be rejected on account of your tattoos alone.
Finally, if you have a tattoo that you think will disqualify you from the Army, its worth a shot to check with the recruiters anyway.
You might get a waiver for, say, a tiny tattoo on your hand or something small behind your ear.
So dont count yourself out!
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Height And Weight Standards
The Air Force does not offer a weight reduction program. Currently, all applicants must meet a weight requirement based on their height. Please refer to the table below.
For pilot and aircrew positions, height specifications vary by aircraft, and most applicants can successfully pursue a career in aviation with the U.S. Air Force. Applicants who are significantly taller or shorter than average may require special screening to ensure they can safely perform operational duties. Applicants of all heights are encouraged to apply.
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What Tattoos Are Not Allowed In The Coast Guard
Location. Location. Location.
Similar to other branches of the military, the Coast Guard has very specific rules regarding the placement or location of tattoos.
No tattoos or brands are authorized anywhere on the head, scalp, face, and neck.
Otherwise, as far as location of tattoos go, your body is your canvas.
As for content of individual or groups of tattoos, the Coast Guard is particular about what they authorize and what is non-negotiable.
A Coast Guardsman cannot wear any tattoo that promotes:
- Racism/discrimination
- Violence
- Sexual explicitness
You can read all about how the Coast Guard defines the above terms in their official memo announcing the new tattoo policy change.
But before we move on, the Coast Guard does offer guidance in the form of an image collage as to what type of tattoo designs are not authorized .
Coasties are also not authorized to have any body mutilations, also known as intentional alterations and / or modifications to a members body .
Body Piercings are also prohibited, with the exception of women who may have small studded earrings.
As described in the Coast Guards latest uniform regulations, no piercing shall be made through the ear, nose, tongue, chin, eyebrow, or any other body part that would be visible while in any uniform.
This prohibition applies to male and female members alike and is specifically intended to limit the less than military appearance associated with vacant holes in the face and other exposed areas of the body.
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New Usaf Tattoo Policy
- Removes the 25% rule a rule that stated Airmen could not have tattoos that were larger than 25% of their body
- Eliminates size restrictions on tattoos located on arms, chest, back, and legs
- Clearly defines the tattoo locations that are not permitted
- Allows for only one single-band ring tattoo, located on only one finger and one hand
Fresh Start Tattoo Removal Is Here To Support You
At Fresh Start Laser Tattoo Removal Clinic, our mission is to provide laser tattoo removal help to active service members and those who want to enlist in the military. We are a veteran-owned business that honors active service members and veterans with a 10% discount off of any laser tattoo removal treatment. Our prices start at just $59. We will work with you to make sure that tattoo from your past doesnt get in the way of your future. We remove all tattoo ink colors safely with the most advanced three-wavelength laser technology available.
Learn about pricing your tattoo removal here
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Coast Guard Tattoo Regulations
In the Coast Guard, you can have full sleeve and half-sleeve tattoos, full back and chest tattoos, and tattoos elsewhere on your body, including your legs.
Members of the Coast Guard arent restricted at all when it comes to tattoo size or percentage of coverage. However, any branding cant be larger than a 4-inch by 4-inch area.
Additionally:
- No tattoo can be visible above the Coast Guard crew neck t-shirt.
- You can have one single band ring tattoo on each hand.
- You can also have a finger tattoo that can run the length between the first and second knuckle. You can also have one small hand tattoo, per hand, between the wrist and first knuckle, but it cannot extend one inch in any dimension.
- The Coast Guard also allows Ultraviolet or black light tattoos. The restrictions on these are the same as for regular tattoos.
As far as donts, the Coast Guard also prohibits the tattoos listed above. Other than that, you have free rein to use your body as a canvas.
For more details on the Coast Guards policy on tattoos, review its memo on uniform regulations and visit its website.
Eagle Globe And Anchor
The eagle, globe, and anchor is by far the most common Marine tattoo.
The eagle perched atop a globe is the official emblem and insignia of the U.S. Marine Corps.
The eagle symbolizes America, and is part of the emblem that associates the Marine Corps to the United States. The eagle is typically depicted carrying a banner in its beak with the Corps Moto, Semper Fidelis.
The globe symbolizes the worldwide commitment and the responsibility of the Marines to serve in any climate.
Youll notice the anchor too, which represents the Marines ties with the Navy .
Who wouldnt want a shredded bulldog dressed out in uniform tattooed on their arm?
The bulldog is another go-to Marine tattoo that symbolizes brute force and unrelenting authority.
Notice the USMC scrolled out in big, bold letters. And for bonus points, check out that eagle-perched-on-globe tattooed on the bulldogs arm.
Yes, the tattoo has a tattoo.
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Coast Guard Tattoo Policy
The coastal defense and maritime law enforcement branch of our Armed Forces The US Coast Guard is one of our countrys uniformed services.
And as such, they hold their personnel and service members to a high standard.
Like the other branches of military discussed in this article, the Coast Guard periodically reviews and updates their tattoo and branding policy to keep up with the times and our changing culture.
The Coast Guards latest tattoo policy was unveiled late 2016.
And according to Kurt B. Hinrichs /s/ Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve Director of Reserve and Military Personnel, the changes to the policy are minimal but important.
The report released by Hinrichs explains that the policy update is to ensure our workforce presents a sharp, professional military appearance to the public while also allowing individual expression through authorized body art that is consistent with the Coast Guards core values.
It seems as though the Coast Guard is keeping in step with the trend thats being followed by all military branches.
That is, theyre loosening up to attract recruits from the largest recruiting pool possible, without sacrificing core values.
But these changes in their tattoo policy arent for new recruits only.
Rather, according to the report, All Coast Guard unit commanders, commanding officers, officers-in-charge, deputy/assistant commandants, and chiefs of headquarters staff elements shall comply with the provisions of this Instruction.
Will The Air Force Pay To Remove Tattoos
The Department of Defense recently passed rules that stipulate the military will not cover expenses related to tattoo removal.
The only exception is if a commanding officer orders the removal, in which the soldier may potentially receive compensation if he or she is struggling to finance the operation.
Your best bet to get a tattoo removed the right way is laser surgery from a qualified laser tattoo removal treatment facility.
With that said, we have reviewed alternative Laser Pen Kit Removal options in the past, with limited success.
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Us Army Tattoo Ideas And Meanings
Unlike the more cryptic and subdued tattoos popularized by Navy Sailors, Army Soldiers traditionally get tattoos that are bold, bloody, and rich with images of wartime battle.
For instance, you might see a soldier with a tattoo depicting a bomb dropping, or two soldiers fighting for their lives in a foxhole.
Tanks, helicopters, and fighter jets are the norm as are machine guns spitting bullets down a leg or an arm.
Here are a few of the more popularized Army tattoo designs
What Tattoos Are Not Allowed In The Air Force
Along with creating a more liberal tattoo policy the Air Force also introduced defined locations that are not permitted in the military branch under the 2017 changes.
The Air Force does not allow tattoos on the face, head, scalp, neck, tongue, lips, or eyelids.
Hands are also limited to one ring tattoo on one of the two hands unless grandfathered through an existing policy.
Outside of the seven body parts that are a major no-no, the Air Force essentially allows tattoo placement elsewhere.
The second aspect of military tattoos that the Air Force assesses is the content of body art.
The Air Force, like every other branch, prohibits tattoos with content:
- Considered obscene under USAF guidelines.
- Associated with gang activity.
- Extremist or supremacist in nature.
- Sexist or racist tattoos.
- Ethnic or religious discriminatory tattoos.
Inappropriate tattoos listed above are not authorized on any part of the body, even if the soldier can cover up the offensive content in uniform.
It is difficult for the Air Force to list every type of obscene or offensive tattoo.
Therefore, commanding officers are assigned the privilege of determining which tattoos violate the Air Force tattoo policy.
If you are unsure if your tattoo constitutes a violation you should bring the subject up when speaking to a recruiter.
Waivers are sometimes granted to military personnel that would otherwise violate the USAF tattoo policy.
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The Message Of The Tattoo
For safety reasons, the Army does not allow tattoos that are rude, obscene, or vulgar or which contain symbols or religious emblems that could represent a religious belief.
But the Army allows some tattoos that promote good citizenship. The Army allows tattoos on soldiers after theyve received the requisite counseling and after the paperwork is approved by their chain of command.
Army Regulation 670-1 states: If you have a tattoo and it so happens to be visible in an official way, such as visible in a photograph of your Drill Sergeants School class photo, then it must be reported to your commanding officer for approval prior to getting it done. If the tattoo is visible in a photo of your unit in your official ABU or other Army Uniform, then it must also be approved by your MRA.
If the commanding officer approves the tattoo, then you must go to a Military Arts Tattoo Studio to get ink or mechanical drawing of that design. If you are giving the tattoo artist an idea of what you want, be sure they can produce an accurate rendering. The Army requires that imprints of approved tattoos be submitted to the unit historian for permanent records.
A person who is 18 years of age or older and has been in the Armed Forces for less than five years can get a tattoo if he or she has consulted with his military chain of command and the Military Reviewing Authority and obtained written approval.
Air Force Relaxes Tattoo Policy Allows Sleeves Militarycom
- https://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/01/10/air-force-relaxes-tattoo-policy-allows-sleeves.html
- The same goes for singular finger tattoos, she added. Airmen cannot tattoo themselves with symbols linked to hate groups, gangs, extremist or supremacist organizations, or anything the Air Force classifies to be obscene, or which advocates sexual, racial, ethnic or religious discrimination, the policy states.
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Permanent Body Tattoos Rule Of Iaf
This is one of the important criteria that you need to fulfill before joining the Indian Air Force. Discipline is one of the important things that you cant ignore in defence force.
Why are Tattoos checked?
It is important to know that you maintain proper military discipline before joining defence force. Any tattoo on your body must not hurt anyones feeling or provoke anyone. Tattoos are accepted only if they are acceptable in the military environment and complementary to value and image of IAF.
Many candidates are unaware of the tattoo rule of IAF and they are subsequently rejected during the medical examination. Here you can get details about permanent body tattoo rule of IAF.
Permanent body tattoos are only permitted on inner face of forearm i.e. from inside of elbow to the wrist and on the reverse side of palm/ back side of the hand. Permanent body tattoos on any other part of the body are not acceptable. Tribes with tattoo marks on the face or body as per their existing custom and traditions will be permitted on a case to case basis.
Tattoos on the following parts are permitted.
Inner face of forearms i.e. from inside of the elbow to the wrist of both the hands Note:- Tattoos on the Area between 4, 5, 6 is not permitted.
Reverse side of the palm/back side of both hands .
Only small innocuous tattoos, that are not prejudicial to good order and military discipline are permitted e.g. religious symbols or names of near and dear ones etc