Marine Corps Tattoo Policy 2021

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 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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Army Tattoo Policy In : Military Basics

The United States Army has strict regulations for tattoos. Tattoos that are visible in the Army Combat Uniform or on a military dress blue uniform must be approved by Military Reviewing Authority .

Soldiers are prohibited from getting tattoos that are cowardly, personally degrading, prejudicial to good order, and discipline or service discrediting. The Army regulations for tattoos are outlined in Army Regulation 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia.

The Marine Corps May Soon Allow Sleeve Tattoos Among Other Ink Policy Changes

If a leaked email is true, the Marine Corps may soon allow sleeve tattoos, an unlimited number of tattoos for officers, and allow future recruiters and drill instructors to sport visible ink.

An email with some details of a potential new policy was posted to the unofficial USMC Reddit page on Tuesday morning and since has been deleted.

Many Marines have long wanted a more relaxed tattoo policy, but citing professionalism and heritage the Corps has continued to enforce the strictest ink policy in the Department of Defense.

We are currently evaluating the tattoo policy and we will publish an update shortly, Maj. Jim Stenger confirmed to Marine Corps Times in a phone call Tuesday morning.

Stenger said the email on Reddit likely came from a Marine leader giving a heads up on possible changes coming to Marine Corps policy. He insisted that no decisions on the tattoo policy are final.

Thats all predecisional and nothing in there has been decided upon by the decision-makers in the process of approving any changes, he said.

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The email posted on Reddit appeared to be sent by a sergeant major, with the crest in the upper left corner appearing to belong to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina.

The email alleged that most restrictions on size, number and placement of tattoos will be gone and instead the Marine Corps will place a greater emphasis on the actual content of the tattoos.

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Tattoo Content Thats Prohibited

As far as the content of prohibited tattoos, here are guidelines to be aware of.

Similar to the U.S. Navy and Army, the Marine Corps does NOT allow any tattoo that is prejudicial to good order and discipline or any tattoos that are drug related, gang-related, extremist, obscene or indecent, sexist, or racist.

Also, its worth noting a recent development that was communicated by Marine Corps Service Recruiter Staff Sgt. Justin Eckersley in a social post titled Tattoo Leniency Alert!

He wrote that the Marine Forces Reserve will allow prior service Marines who have out of regulation tattoos to join the reserves in certain circumstances.

According to Eckersley, one of the caveats is that the tattoos cannot be egregious or racist or located on the face, hands, etc. And this lenient tattoo policy waiver isnt for everyone.

Rather, its specifically designed for the Marines who have left the service and have at least 12 months remaining in the Individual Ready Reserves and an actual billet at the reserve unit.

In the end, this leniency allows the Corps to bring back quality Marines who would have otherwise been disqualified from consideration.

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.

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Are Your Tattoos Stopping You From Joining The Marines Learn How You Can Get Them Removed

Thinking about joining the Marines but your tattoos are holding you back? If you have tattoos that go against the new tattoo policy, you may not be eligible to enlist. Learn more about the latest Marine Corps tattoo policy and how Astanza can help you find the laser tattoo removal treatments you need to get back on track with your journey to become a Marine.

On October 29, 2021, the Marine Corps updated its policy regulating tattoos, canceling the policy Marine Corps Bulletin 1020 created in June 2016. The decision to change this policy came after a months-long review of existing regulations, which were believed to have an adverse effect on retention and recruiting efforts. As a result, a panel of Marines from various backgrounds and ranks recommended changes to the policy reflected in the bulletin.

The Marine Corps is known for its strong legacy of men and women who are disciplined, physically fit, and ready to accomplish any mission. Hence, their updated tattoo policy reflects the balance between the need to maintain a disciplined appearance and the individual desires of each Marine.

Coast Guard Tattoo Policy

In case you were unaware, the U.S. Coast Guard is a military service that enforces maritime safety and regulates navigation on the seas and coastal waterways of the United States and its territories. You would be correct in assuming that their members are likely to uphold their duty out of patriotism for their country, but did you know that they also often uphold the policy of refusing to get tattoos? This doesnt just apply to new recruits either its also applicable to current members who do not wish to permanently get inked with an ink-heavy tattoo or an unprofessional one such as a skull or photo.

The Coast Guard is not the only military service to use tattoo policies. The United States Marine Corps, for example, has a tattoo policy that may be more restrictive than what many would assume. The Marine Corps forbids Marines from getting tattoos that are vulgar or derogatory or that do not have a direct correlation to the military. This means that they are almost always unable to get tattoos with profanities or obscenities, offensive symbols, names of illegal drugs, gang-related symbols, references to alcohol and tobacco products, and so on.

This Coast Guard tattoo policy has long been in place but it seems as if there are now more members of the Marine Corps who are aware of it now than ever before.

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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:

• The Neck
• The Hands

Otherwise, its fair game for size and location.

Unlike the Marines, 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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The is weighing a move to ease the services restrictive tattoo policy, but officials are warning troops to wait until any new policy is formally announced before getting more ink done.

An email with details about the possible changes was posted to an unofficial Reddit page, which has since been deleted.

The is currently considering making changes to its tattoo policy, said Maj. Jim Stenger, a spokesman at the Pentagon. We will publish an update if and when the policy is complete. The update will come via official correspondence.

Maj. Stenger said it appears the email on the Reddit page was part of a discussion from senior leaders, which made its way to social media.

I have not seen the policy revisions so I cannot specifically refute the information in the screenshot I saw,he said.

Under the policy that went into effect in 2016, tattoos arent allowed above the collar bone or to fall within two inches above or one inch below the elbow. Officers are limited to no more than four tattoos visible while wearing a standard PT uniform.

On Wednesday, Maj. Stenger said officials have not made any decision about possible tattoo policy changes, and the discussions were still evolving.

Something that might be in a policy draft today could very well be taken out tomorrow,he said.

Mike Glenn can be reached at .

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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:

• Face
• Neck
• Hands

All other branches prohibit neck tattoos visible above a crew neck shirt.

• Racist

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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What Kinds Of Tattoos Are Outright Banned

Per Marine Corps bulletin 1020 dates 29 October 2021:

Tattoos that are prejudicial to good order and discipline, or that are of a nature to bring discredit upon the naval service, are prohibited. Examples include, but are not limited to, tattoos that are drug-related, gang-related, extremist, obscene or indecent, sexist, or racist.

You can read longer descriptions about type of banned content in MCBUL 1020.

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.

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Laser Removal For Tattoos That Violate Usmc Policy

While these new policy changes have made it more acceptable to have tattoos and be a Marine, some tattoos may still keep you from being able to join. If you need to remove your tattoo in order to enlist, find a Removery location near you. However, it still has some restrictions. Removery offers a 10% discount to those who are in the process of enlisting or already enlisted in the Marines contact a Removery tattoo removal expert to learn more about your options.

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.

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Are Marine Corps Officers Allowed To Have Tattoos

Yes, under the new Marine Corps tattoo policy officers are permitted the same rights for body art as enlisted members.

It means that officers must also follow the same restrictions on arms, hands, and legs.

Officers are reviewed for tattoos during a physical examination, comparable to enlisted personnel.

Commanders are also given permission to make individual determinations for tattoos that are sported by other personnel under their supervision.

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