U.S. Marines Reject Recruits with Confederate Flag Tattoos!

The Silent Majority ^ | 05-06-10 | J. D. Longstreet

[Lexluthor69]

"A widely regarded Southern symbol of pride and states' rights is standing in the way of would-be Marines in their quest to serve their country – a Confederate battle flag.

Straight out of high school, one 18-year-old Tennessee man was determined to serve his country as a Marine. His friend said he passed the pre-enlistment tests and physical exams and looked forward with excitement to the day he would ship out to boot camp.

Shortly before he was scheduled to leave Nashville for boot camp, the Marine Corps rejected him.

Now, the young man, who wishes to remain unnamed and declined to be interviewed, has chosen to return to school and is no longer an aspiring Marine.

"I think he just wants to let it go," said former Marine 1st Lt. Gene Andrews, a friend of the man and patriotic Southerner who served in Vietnam from 1968 through 1971. Andrews is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a group of male descendants of Confederate soldiers. He counseled the young man when he decided to become a Marine.

[mrmeyer]

Though I’m sure a rainbow flag tattoo would be perfectly acceptable given the nature of the current regime.

[Bean Counter]

The Marine Corps changed their dress rules a year or more ago, and do not allow any tats that will show when you are in uniform. A lot of Marines don’t like that, but it’s still the rules.

[rockrr]

Priorities people!

You spend all of your dough on a gnarly tat and you’re gonna wanna show it off!

[ransomnote]

Several years ago, a southern state capitol came under condemnation for flying the confederate flag. THe vigorous objection was from black citizens who felt the flying of the confederate flag was racist. I listened to the uproar and came to the conclusion that the confederate flag should not be flown on the capitol because the confedracy lost and I see no point in memorializing a prior deep division. I think racism is in the eye of beholder - some may have valid reasons for finding it racist as it was the symbol of the side objection most visibly to freeing the slaves. Others simply see it as a feature of the right of states to decide for themselves regardless or even in spite of the issue of slavery etc. - not a position I support personally but I know it is out there among traditionalists. If the marines dictate that a tatoo cannot show - well that makes sense as some recruits would see it as tolerating racism and others might see it as an issue of free speech.

[Bean Counter]

That’s why I joined the Upper Half of the Department of the Navy, instead of the lower...

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

What bullsh!t.So at some point open fags can serve but no tat of a confederate battle flag?The senior officer corps has gone over to the dark side.

[DesScorp]

The Marine Corps changed their dress rules a year or more ago, and do not allow any tats that will show when you are in uniform. A lot of Marines don’t like that, but it’s still the rules.

That isn't the issue here. See the excerpt below. The article plainly states that the tattoo wasn't even visible with a t-shirt, let alone a uniform (and the Marines wear even their fatigue sleeves down to the elbow). The quote from the Marine recruiter states that the Corps considers the Confederate flag to be a "hate symbol", and thus banned the young man on that basis.

I don't know if this is true, but the best thing we can do is call an actual Marine recruiter in our local area and ask if there is indeed such a policy... and if there is, then document it, and go to our senators and congressmen over it. James Webb professes to be a proud redneck and a proud Marine. If this is true, he'd be interested in it.

"Shortly before he left Nashville for boot camp, he was told he could not serve his country because he had a Confederate Battle Flag tattooed on his shoulder in an area that would be completely covered by a t-shirt, and certainly by his uniform."

[Doohickey]

Though I don’t normally sympathize with those who choose to deface themselves with tattoos, piercings and the like; this is a really stupid regulation.

[MadJack]

Tattoos have been under fire for years. Confederate ones are probably considered gang related.

These young men simply need to make a choice:
A. Service to the country and removing the tattoo,
or B. Staying home with cousin Billy Bob and complaining.

What’s more important to them?

[meyer]

Given the choice, I’d stay home. If the Marines really need people, they’ll relax these silly rules.

[Caesar Soze]

Let the kid join the Confederate Marine Corps.

[rockrr]

Thank God there are still patriots who value their country over an ink stain...

[central_va]

Duplicate Thread

[Lil Flower]

* Staying home with cousin Billy Bob and complaining.*

How original

[doublecansiter]

Too bad there are people so narrow minded as to reject a
good man over something so trivial as a tattoo.

By the way, who are you to question that
young man’s patriotism?

Mike

[MadJack]

Not intended to be.

My point is this - if the kid in fact wants to serve and this is a legitmate proviso based on USMC regulations then he needs to comply. That’s part of what being in uniform is about.

As noted above in one comment, maybe he needs to speak with someone else, even the Commandant’s office, to get the straight skinny.

[5thGenTexan]

Actually, the rule is a tat can not show when in the PT uniform (80's shorts and t-shirt).

I know a girl who was rejected for this and is int the Army. The rest of her family are Marines.

[5thGenTexan]

Two words: laser removal.

[ASOC]

LOL

Last I heard the Corps has never had a problem with recruiting over the few decades.

IMO Tats are dangerous - in many cases, easier to remember than a face.

Bad deal if that someone who wants to remeber has a rifle....