Tattoo's again...

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

In case you didn't catch it, as of April 1st, the Marine Corps will not be allowed to have tattoos below their elbow... They can still have still have a hal or quarter sleeve on the upper arm since it is covered by the t-shirt.

Just wondering if you think the other services will follow suit.

Marines that already have tats (below the elbows) must get them documented by July 1st... after that, if they get one they could face disciplinary action.

Thoughts?

Wray... :cool:

[ETC Pat Kaschube]

I don't have a single Tat and doubt I'll ever get one. The cost is too much for be to personaly justify and I've only ever ran across one idea that I would consider. That being said I think it sucks. There seems to be a trend where the appearance of a person is not just one aspect of their career but actually more important than their performance. Tattoo's are no big deal. I'm sure someone out there with more nautical history refrences that I have can go on at length about the history of the tattoo and it's symbolism/tradition with the seagoing world but is buisness really so slow in today's world that we have to worry about a tattoo? As long as someone doesn't get a tattoo that is obviously designed to piss off people like one design I saw that had artwork with the addage "ALL OFFICERS SUCK" (they were talked out of that one) or some other inflamatory remarks then what is the big deal. I think priorities need to get readjusted here.

[PACS Steve Carleton]

Pat,

It is all about appearance, no question!

Tattoos, in my opinion are no big deal, I have two and will probably get more someday. I do choose to have them in places where, unless I am wearing shorts or a tank top you won't see them.

I'll be honest here and say, that I judge a book by its cover sometimes. If someone has a bunch of tattoos all over their arms, I tend to not have a very high opinion of them, until they start talking and perhaps show a different side that changes my first impression.

I know there are people that will show the history of tattoos and how sailors of old got them to show that they had been all around the world, yadda, yadda, yadda -- but societal norms change, and the fact that the Marines and the Coast Guard have tightened up their policy to reflect that shift in norms is not a bad thing, because appearance does matter!

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

I'm still waiting for the Coast Guard to reverse the policy. I think that it's a matter of personal choice. As long as they're not offensive in nature......to each their own.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Stu, read the latest issue of Navy Times... It wont happen.... In fact it, I wouldn't doubt the CG will toughen up a bit.

Wray... :cool:

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

The services will toughen up the rules regarding tats until they can't meet their recruiting quota's ... then the rules will be relaxed. No one, and I mean no one, can predict what the future holds.

Of course, the services may choose to take felons over those obvious unsuitable people with visible tattoos. :rolleyes:

Needs of the Service will always rule. I wonder where on the recruiting food chain of acceptables are those with tats? Above or below felons? Above or below those with visible body piercings?

I don't have any store bought tats ... I did a couple when I was 17 with india ink, needle, and thread ... and they are still with me, and documented on my enlistment physical in 1972.

[ETCM Joseph Harold]

A lot of times felons and people with tats are one and the same.

I have tattoos and will get more. I have plans for my forearms for after I retire. I like tattoos, but see some people get carried away. I know a few younger POs that have forearm tattoos. I have asked them about them and they either got them before the rule change or snuck them in somehow.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

I see many at the VA clinic here in Daytona... On the younger guys that work here they don't look bad, but on the old vets that come in, they are faded & distorted.. hard to make out what the tat origionally was.

Some people just don't use their head when they get them... others look ok, & can be covered up if need be...

I don't think they make anyone more manly... it is just a fad, the those doing the tattooing are getting rich on..

Wray... :cool:

[YNCM Doug Squires (Ret)]

Many, many years ago, I had a lady friend that had a small little lizzard tatooed on her back side.

Many years later, it probably looks like a dinosaur! :p ::o :D

[ETCM Joseph Harold]

Too funny.

Ya know. There is one other thing I have noticed lately. When I was a wee Seaman it seemed an easy way for me to tell a mustang officer from an academy type (other than looking for a good conduct) was that the mustang probably had a few tattoos on them from their enlisted days and probably looked older. To me it seemed that academy officers didn't have tattoos. Now days it seems all those new LTjgs coming from the field to HQ have a number of tattoos on their bodies. Not visible in uniform, but on the volleyball court, there they are.

I don't mind, it is just an observation I have had. Anyone else notice that?

[MSTC Michael Schmidtke]

I personnally don't see a problem with tats. I currently have 3 and also have plans in the works to get the 4th. And, a personal choice of mine was that none of them are visable when in uniform. And the same will be said for the fourth.

I had a young MK3 work for me that got one on his forearm before joinging the Coast Guard. He spoke of having it removed because he thought of going into the medical field after the Coast Guard. Well, he is now making the CG a career and he still has it. By the way, he is an officer now. Like MC spoke earlier, I think that you're going to see a trend of more "O"s getting them. Now everyone is limited on where and how big/many you can have.

[BMC John Phillips III]

Many, many years ago, I had a lady friend that had a small little lizzard tatooed on her back side.

Many years later, it probably looks like a dinosaur! :p ::o :D

that reminds me of this video - SNL - one its few and far between funny moments in recent years.

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1101271750&fr=yfp-t-501

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

I'd lean towards how it affects recruitment or retention more than anything else. I've also read enough of the Navy Times to make me realize I don't want to read the Navy Times.
We had a couple of visitors down here about a year ago that lead me to believe our "new" tatoo policy might be up for review. I still think that it will be.

[BMCS Burt Ford]

We had a couple of visitors down here about a year ago that lead me to believe our "new" tatoo policy might be up for review. I still think that it will be.

How so Stu? More like the marines?

I have 6, only one visible uniform, wedding ring. May get more may not. The Navy relaxed thiers and it never made the news.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Burt, I think the restrictions on the amount you can have on your forearms and which jobs you can apply for are going to go away. If there was any connection to the policy and problems with ascension or retention, I think the policy would have already been changed.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

The Navy relaxed thiers and it never made the news.

From what I saw in the Navy & Marine Times, I think you can expect the regulations to be tightened up, rather than loosened up... As I said earlier, the Marines will have to have their stuff documented, I think it was prior to 1 July.

Wray... :cool:

[HSC Schon C. Russell]

It is funny how much this topic gets brought up. A friend of mine, was at a Dinner where the Commandant was, and my friend has over 25% on one arm. The Admiral, started chatting with him, and pretty soon our Commander started showing off his tattoo's. Nothing significant came out of the conversation except for the Admiral asking my friend how he felt about the current policy. Long Story short, our current policy is hindering some of the jobs alot of our crew would like to have. CC, Recruiting, and Command Master Chief, arejust some of them. I would like to see it relax so that it wouldn't look like the Tattoo'd person is not getting the job only due to the fact of Tattoo's. Who knows what is coming, just let it come, and we will go from there, eh?

[CMC Bruce Bradley]

I don't think that the tattoo policy hinders the CMC program, guess I'm proof of that. I'd say that one all depends on the officer who is doing the choosing. I answered you on the CC one in the other thread. But I'm guessing that it might be a roadblock for Recruiting, considering that they have far more applicants that positions every year. They can be picky.

[PACS Steve Carleton]

HSC,

I have no sympathy if someone CHOOSES to get a full sleeve and then COMPLAINS when they can't get a special assignment like Company Commander, Recruiting or CMC.

If people want those types of jobs or wish to consider them in their future and they want to have a tattoo, they should CHOOSE to have to have the tattoo in a place where it will not hinder that opportunity.

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Just for the record.... I don't mind tats at all.... some look quite good... BUT....

working at the VA, here in Daytona Beach, I see several old folks with 'em... I hate to tell you.. they look terrible.... particularly when those wearing them are loaded down with them... (one or two aren't bad)

Just an opinion.. definately not trying to change anyones mind about 'em... keep in mind, one day you too will be old with wrinkled skin.

Wray..... :cool:

[BMCS Dave Considine]

Just an opinion.. definately not trying to change anyones mind about 'em... keep in mind, one day you too will be old with wrinkled skin.

Wray..... :cool:

You have to watch the video in post #12 - addresses that issue!

[HSC Schon C. Russell]

SC,
You are right, but when you had full sleeves before the new policy and get Grandfathered, you should be Grandfathered for everything. I have heard of two instances, where a Chief could not be the CMC, because as MC stated the OFFIcer told him he had Tattoo's on his arm, and the policy stated he could not be inthat job. Also another for recruiting. I can see the recruiting job restriction, and agree, I don't agree with the other restrictions as stated by the policy. My opinion for the record.

Side note, I can't wait to see what my art looks like when I am older, where else can you see a painting, evolve? haha

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Schon, you need to watch who is telling these stories. People get turned down from taking those jobs for all kinds of reasons. I would be willing to bet that there was something in their record before it was something on their arm. We have CMCs that have lots of visible tatoos. We have CMCs who have tatoos on their hands. I don't know what Officer is saying that someone can't fill one of those positions. If an Admiral wants someone as their CMC, odds are that person is going to be their CMC.
The MCPOCG wants people he knows can do the job. He has looked past people's tatoos this last year. I'll bet we have some extremely qualified people taking those position again next year that have visible tatoos.