Your Simple Guide To Military Tattoo Policies For 2021
No military regulation has been more closely watchedand more frequently changedthan the dos and donts of tattoos. Last week, the Marine Corps revised its policy, allowing the sleeve tattoo and also permitting officers more than four tattoos visible in uniform. Both officers and enlisted can now tat themselves up as much as they want, as long as its not on the face or neck. And hands may sport only one finger ring tattoo. The reason for the change is simple: recruiting and retention. Nearly half of young adults have tattoos, and many have several. The new Marine Corps Bulletin 1020 emphasizes balance between decorum and practicality: The American people expect Marines to be disciplined, physically fit, and ready to accomplish any mission. They also expect Marines to represent the nation they are sworn to protect.
The new policy, the bulletin goes on to say, ensures that the Marine Corps maintains its ties to the society it represents and removes all barriers to entry for those members of society wishing to join its ranks.
With the new Marine Corps policy, the service branches regulations on tattoos are now nearly identical. If youre curious about these rulesand the slight variations among themheres an updated comprehensive guide:
All five major branches of service agree that there must be no tattoos on these body parts:
Neck: The Navy is the only branch to allow a single neck tattoo. One neck tattoo, no larger than 1-inch in diameter, is permitted.
Tattoos Not Allowed Because Of Content
In addition to the location on your body, the Marine Corps will also extensively study the content of the body art.
The Marine Corps has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to offensive tattoos comparable to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
The Marine Corps tattoo policy for 2022 states that ink is never allowed which is prejudicial to good order and discipline.
Furthermore, tattoos that are drug-related, gang-related, extremist, obscene or indecent, sexist, or racist are not authorized under any circumstances.
In order to remain compliant with the Marine Corps tattoo policy, use common sense.
Ask yourself, Would your mother approve of this type of tattoo?
If the answer is no, the Marine Corps isnt going to like obscene or indecent tattoos any more than other professional organizations.
Recruits that are interested in joining the U.S. Marines and already have tattoos can speak with a recruiting officer to determine if any of the body art is in violation.
There are waivers granted in certain situations, especially for former Marines wishing to join the Reserves, yet the military branch generally bends its rules more for tattoo placement than content.
Why Can’t Marines Have Elbow Tattoos
The Marines call this espirit de corps. Though tattoos are still allowed over broad swathes of a Marine’s body, certain areas, specifically around the knees and elbows are off limits, thus disrupting the ability to blanket ink from armpit to wrist or groin to ankle. … In the past, tattoos on the hand were not allowed.
Read Also: Best Way To Fade A Tattoo
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.
Can A Sailor Get A Tattoo On His Neck
As of April 2018, seamen will be allowed to wear a tattoo on their neck , as long as it does not exceed 1 inch in diameter. Also, tattoos below the knee and elbow will work regardless of their size or number. This means that full registrations are allowed. Tattoos on hands and rings are also allowed.
Recommended Reading: Laser Vs Non Laser Tattoo Removal
Final Word & References
As youve learned in the article, tattoo rules for Marines have been changing in recent years, but there are still some guidelines that all Marines must follow. When getting a tattoo, be sure to do your research and choose a design that will not get you into trouble down the road.
With the constantly-evolving world and the growing acceptance of tattoos, we can expect the tattoo requirements for Marines to keep easing in the future. For now, stick to the rules, be respectful of the Corps history and tradition, and enjoy your ink!
All the information included in the article is based on official sources, including but not limited to Pet Marine Corps Bulletin 1020.
Unauthorized Usmc Tattoo Locations
All Marines may have unlimited tattoos on any area of the body that is covered by the properly fitting standard physical training uniform . Officers may have no more than four tattoosvisible in the properly fitting PT uniform.
Head & Neck Tattoos: Tattoos on the head or neck, including in or around the mouth area, are prohibited. The following locations are also prohibited:
- 2 from the Elbow
- Hands, with the exception of wedding ring tattoos
- Within 2 of the Wrist
- 2 from the Patella
- Below Ankles and anywhere on Foot
Recommended Reading: How To Become A Medical Tattoo Artist
What Tattoos Are Allowed In The Marine Corps
According to Marine Corps General Robert B. Neller, the tattoo policy over the years has:
Attempted to balance the individual desires of Marines with the need to maintain the disciplined appearance expected of our profession.
Therefore, the Marine Corps tattoo policy seeks to find a balance between individual representation and old-school values.
A waiver is granted by a commanding officer and offered on a case-by-case basis.
Is There A Tattoo Policy
The Navy’s tattoo policy is adapting to a changing society in which body art is becoming more and more socially accepted. The new standards allow for small tattoos on the neck as well as larger tattoos that reach below the elbow or knee. The new 2021 guidelines are a minor change from the massive body art reform across branches of the military that began in 2016.
Read Also: Who Played Tattoo On Fantasy Island
Rules About Tattoo Locations
Head: Tattoos on the head or neck, including in or around the mouth area, are prohibited.
Chest and Back: Tattoos on the chest or back must be below the collarbone and seventh cervical vertebrae . Tattoos on the chest or back must be covered by wearing a properly fitting crewneck t-shirt with no portion of the tattoo showing.
Lower Arms: Lower arm tattoos may extend down no further than a line around the circumference of the wrist measured at the wrist bone.
Hands/Fingers/Wrists: Tattoos are prohibited on the hands and fingers with the exception of a singleband tattoo of no more than 3/8 of an inch in width on one finger of each hand.
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.
Also Check: Cheyenne Hawk Thunder Tattoo Machine
An Expanded Definition Of Offensive
Restrictions on offensive tattoos also apply to extremist tattoos. Several enlisted military personnel were involved in the January 6th Capitol incident, including an active duty Marine Major.
Since then, the Biden administration has put pressure on the military to combat anti-government extremism within its ranks.
As a result, the new Marine tattoo policy lists extremist tattoos as any that Advocate, engage in, or support the forceful, violent, unconstitutional, or otherwise unlawful overthrow of the government of the United States.
What Air Force Tattoos Are Allowed
Well, for starters, Airmen can sport tattoos that are nearly 100% the size of their body.
As previously mentioned, the Air Force has lifted the 25% rule , and for good reason.
Recruiters were aware of the fact that nearly half of all millenials had a tattoo.
But what they quickly realized was that 1 in every 5 of the recruits who did have tattoos had tattoos that required review and were potentially disqualifying.
And the #1 disqualifier turned out to be the 25% rule.
Go figure.
Today, with that rule out the window, Airmen can have virtually any size tattoo, or grouping of tattoos, anywhere on their chest, back, arms, legs, and feet.
Ah, yes, the feet! Here is where the Air Force differs from other branches as well.
They allow tattoos on the feet below the ankle line.
In other words, Airmen can get inked up to their hearts content .
Sleeves anyone?
Its true, this means the USAF now allows sleeve tattoos full-sleeves or half-sleeves, or anything in-between is now perfectly acceptable.
Hand tattoos are technically allowed, but as mentioned, theyre limited to one ring tattoo on one hand only.
According to one news report, Current Airmen with existing hand tattoos that were authorized under the previous policy will be grandfathered in under the old policy standards.
Related ArticleAir Force PT Test Standards
Read Also: Tattoo Removal Scars Before And After
What Is The Tattoo Policy For The Marine Corps
They also expect the Marines to have helmet spirit and a boxy, well-groomed appearance. Over the years, tattoo policy has sought to strike a balance between the individual needs of the Marines and the need to maintain the disciplined appearance expected of their profession. 2. Cancellation. MARADMIN 198/07, MARADMIN 494/08 and MARADMIN 029/10.
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:
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!
Don’t Miss: Studio 28 Tattoos And Body Piercing
What Stayed The Same
Below is what stayed the same with the new policy.
- Head or neck tattoos are still not authorized. Any tattoo above the collarbone or seventh vertebrae.
- Tattoos on the hand, fingers, or wrist are restricted except for one band on one finger.
- Extremist, obscene, sexist, and racist are still not allowed. There is a zero-tolerance policy for the above content. Tattoos will be reviewed routinely.
- Special Duty Assignments may deny selection for high visibility units.
Can You Join Marines With A Felony
It’s possible to join the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard with a felony conviction. With that said, it is an uphill battle. In general, the 5 branches of the military are looking for candidates with a sound moral character. Often, a felony is looked at as a failure to meet that standard.
Recommended Reading: How Long Between Tattoo Removal Sessions
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.
What Tattoos Are Not Allowed In The Marine Corps
The Marine Corps tattoo policy breaks down what is not allowed on a Marine in two different ways, just like other military branches.
Recent amendments have created a fairly liberal tattoo policy with the intention to remove barriers for potential recruits.
As previously mentioned, there are places like above the collar bone and below the wrist that are still restricted .
The Marine Corps has aligned with the other services and now allows sleeve tattoos.
The Marine Corps defines tattoo sleeves as the full coverage of the skin by tattoo ink which is generally located on the arms or legs.
Related Article
You May Like: Tattoo Removal Cost Per Square Inch
What Is The 11 General Order Of A Security Guard
a. I will take charge of my post and protect personnel and property for which I am responsible, until properly relieved. GENERAL ORDER #11: To be especially watchful at night and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.
What Is Allowed In The Marine Corps Tattoo Policy
This means full sleeve tattoos were back on the menu for Marines for the first time since 2007. Furthermore, Marines are now permitted to get tattoos anywhere on their body that isnt visible when in full uniform. All size and placement restrictions have been lifted.
If you fancy a butt tattoo or tattooed feet, a giant back piece, or even coloring your whole body blue like a smurf, its up to you, as long as they remain hidden by your uniform. A single band or ring tattoo on one finger of each hand has also been given the green light.
Likewise, there is also no distinction between the ranks in the new policy. The same rules apply to both enlisted Marines and officers.
Read Also: How Painful Is It To Get A Tattoo Removed
What Tattoos Are Allowed In The Coast Guard
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 body branding cannot be larger than a 4-inch by 4-inch area.
The Guards old policy detailed that tattoos werent allowed to be visible at all above the v-neck undershirt, and they have since expanded to the crew neck t-shirt.
No tattoo can be visible above the Coast Guard crew neck t-shirt.
Hand tattoos are allowed with certain restrictions. 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. On top of that you can also have 1 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 exactly the same as for regular tattoos.
Cosmetic tattoos are also permitted.
Cosmetic tattooing is defined as a medical or surgical procedure conducted by a trained and licensed medical professional.
Some people get cosmetic tattoos to cover up scar tissue, or to otherwise make a medical issue less prominent in appearance.
The Coast Guard is perfectly fine with these types of tattoos.