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Us Army Updates Tattoo Policy To Allow Some Hand Ear And Neck Tattoos

Everything You Need To Know: Army Tattoo Policy | U.S. Army

The U.S. Army is updating its tattoo policy.

According to a memorandum issued Wednesday from the Secretary of the Army, effective immediately, Army policy surrounding tattoos now allows some tattoos on the hand, ear and neck.

The updated guidelines can be found below:

Hand:

  • One visible tattoo on each hand , not to exceed one inch in measurement in all directions.
  • An unlimited number of tattoos between the fingers as long as they are not visible when the fingers are closed and one ring tattoo on each hand.

Neck:

  • One tattoo on the back of the neck, not to exceed two inches in measurement in all directions.
  • Tattoos are still prohibited on the head and face ) of the memorandum and inside the eyelids, mouth and ears. Previously documented tattoos on the neck or hands, for which Soldiers have a tattoo validation memorandum, remain authorized.)

Ear:

  • One tattoo behind each ear, not to exceed one inch in measurement in all directions, not to extend forward of the ear lobe.

Prohibitions on the type of tattoo or brand are still in effect. Exceptions to the policy will be submitted in accordance with reference 1d, paragraph 3-3.

Soldiers may still submit religious accommodation requests for a waiver to Army regulations using the procedures outlined in AR 600-20.

to read the entire memorandum.

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.

Off Duty On A Military Installation

Members are prohibited from attaching, affixing or displaying objects, articles, jewelry or ornamentation to or through the ear, nose, tongue, or any exposed body part . Pierced earlobes on women are allowed but should not be extreme or excessive.

The type and style of earrings worn by women on a military installation should be conservative and within sensible limits.

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British/uk Army Tattoo Policy

In the British Army, there are some general guidelines for tattoos. If a tattoo is offensive or threatening in nature, it will be judged as unacceptable for the army. The policy also states that tattoos may not be displayed when in uniform and members must cover them up if they are displayed while out of uniform. There are also guidelines about types of tattoos that may not be accepted due to religious or cultural sensitivities, such as Japanese characters or images associated with gangs.

The British Army does have some rules regarding tattoos, which may affect your decision whether to get one. When you join the British Army, the soldiers have to provide you with a copy of their tattoo policy. It says that if your tattoo is offensive or threatening in nature, it will be judged as unacceptable for the army. The same goes for any tattoos that are religiously or culturally sensitive.

The policy also states that tattoos are not acceptable on men while they are serving in uniform and the soldier must cover them up if they are displayed while out of uniform. You should also ensure that your tattoo has no religious or cultural significance before bringing it to the attention of your commanding officer, who may object to its display.

If you have a tattoo that will restrict your movement, then youll probably have to try and hide it from your commanding officer, as it may prejudice their decision whether to allow you to go on operations or deploy to areas where the climate is hot.

Piercing While Not In Uniform

Awesome soldier military style tattoos

Members are prohibited from attaching, affixing or displaying objects, articles, jewelry or ornamentation to or through the ear, nose, tongue, or any exposed body part .

There is an exception women are authorized to wear one small spherical, conservative, diamond, gold, white pearl, silver pierced, or clip earring per earlobe and the earring worn in each earlobe must match. Earrings should fit tightly without extending below the earlobe. If the earring is a clip, the band can show.

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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.

Why Does It Matter

Being in the Army can be challenging both physically and mentally.Therefore, a history of health problems or the presence of health conditions that usually donât affect your everyday life, can mean that youâre not able to join, or you might have to wait to join.

You will be sent forms asking about your medical history once youâve submitted your application.

The medical team assess everyone individually, and make their decisions based on their professional opinion in keeping with prescribed army standards. These standards and guidelines are reviewed and amended regularly.

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An Updated Approach To Tattoo Policy

Under new guidelines enacted during Iraq and Afghan combat in 2015, the seemingly arbitrary number of four tattoos on the arms and legs was replaced with a more detail oriented approach. Under the new policy, the number of tattoos isnt specified instead limits are focused on where the ink can be located and its subject matter.

The following graphic shows where tattoos are and are not accepted in the US Army in 2020.

On the visible part of the arm tattoos must be one inch below the elbow and tattoos cannot extend onto the wrist or hands. For upper arm pieces, tattoos must start two inches above the elbow.

Tattoos on the legs must be either two inches above or two inches below the knee, leaving the areas of skin on the knee untouched. As long as these placement rules are followed no number limit for tattoos is specified.

Tattoos on the back and torso are less restricted regarding size and placement as long as they dont pass the shirt collar and extend onto the neck.

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The Army doesnât allow recruits or soldiers to cover disallowed tattoos with bandages or makeup.

Before soldiers decide to obtain a new tattoo, the regulations advise speaking with a unit leader to make sure the tattoo thatâs envisioned will abide by Army rules.

If a soldier is found to have a tattoo that breaks the rules, the commander is instructed to take several steps, beginning with counseling of the soldier about the tattoo rules. If a soldier with a disallowed tattoo or brand refuses to have it removed, then the commander is instructed to initiate administrative separation proceedings.

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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.

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.

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Military Tattoo Rules In One Graphic

To understand just how far the military has come on tattoo tolerance, check out below the comprehensive graphic GAO created. It shows side-by-side depictions of areas of the body that were off-limits to tattoos prior to 2020, and the much more limited restrictions now in effect. The graphic also contrasts the various services policies on tattoos.

Under old regulations, every service prohibited tattoos on the head and face most services substantially restricted ink on the hands and fingers. All services had limitations on how much ink could show on the arms, torso, and legs, though no service completely barred tattoos on these areas.

Under new policies, four out of six services permit tattoos on the neck, with some limitations. Previous limitations on the arms, legs and torso have been lifted for all the services. . All services now permit tattoos on the fingers, with some limitations, and three of the six now allow hand tattoos as well. With only head and face tattoos still banned across the board, its clear that advocates for ink are winning their fight over the more conservative military establishment.

That said, some services have come farther than others. The Marine Corps, which takes special pride in its professional image, has historically been among the most conservative on the subject, limiting size and placement of tattoos and restricting certain special duties, such as embassy security guard, to those without large visible ink designs.

This Is What You Need To Know About Tattoos In The Army

Six Army Tattoo Failures [UPDATED]

The Army tattoo regulations, which can be found in detail here, were updated and relaxed in 2015, though they are still some of the most stringent in all branches of the military. Prior regulations limited the number of visible tattoos to four, and none of those could be any larger than the soldiers hand.

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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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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
  • 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.

More Tattoo Policy Changes May Be On The Way

Roma Army Speaks On Her Tattoos & Why She Advocates For Men.

The military services each generally agreed with GAOs recommendation that they clarify the information they provide about available tattoo waivers and how to apply for them. The Coast Guard specifically stated that it planned to update its own guidance and requirements by the end of November.

The Navy may be on the verge of rolling out a more substantial change, however. The GAO report said that, while the service doesnt now offer waivers for current service members, Navy officials indicated possible changes to the tattoo policy for service members are under consideration.

If youre a sailor with a prohibited head, neck, or face tattoo, perhaps you should stay tuned.

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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.

Advice For Your Civilian Career

Some federal agencies do not have strict or even explicit policies on tattoos. The CIA even notes that tattoos will NOT disqualify you from gaining employment, and all professionally qualified people are encouraged to apply still. While organizations like the FBI have stricter regulations on physical appearance in regards to remaining clean and professional, they dont specifically ban tattoos for employees.

But like the military, the general what, where, and how big questions apply. Could the content be deemed as offensive? Is it derogatory to a certain group of people? Would your mom wince at the sight of it? Ask yourselves these questions before branding yourself.

Is the tattoo covering your face? Are there distracting markings visible on your neck? These are questions that highlight what would stand out to a potential employer in an interview.

Coming from a millennial whos covered in them, whether you agree or disagree with throwing some paint up, Ive never had an issue obtaining employment in national security due to my ink. I love that my tattoos tell my story or what is important enough to keep on my body forever. But I can also cover mine with long sleeves during an interview. Best bet is to sit on the idea for six months to a year, and if youre still game for sitting under a needle, go for it.

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Popeye The Sailor Man

While Popeye is a Sailor Man, and therefore a card-carrying member of the good ol U.S. Navy, hes a go-to for Coast Guardsmen who are looking for a great tattoo.

Dont be too surprised if you come across loads of Popeye-themed tattoos on Coasties young and old.

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What Can You Do If Your Tattoo Doesnt Meet Military Standards

Top 91 Army Tattoos For Men Ideas

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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