Tat’s all, folks? U.S. Army weighs new tattoo policy
(Reuters) - Tattoos are everywhere these days, with no body parts off limits. But the U.S. Army may be asking new recruits to roll up their tattoo sleeves as part of a new uniform policy.
A regulation to ban tattoos that are visible below the elbow and knee and above the neckline is under consideration, the armed forces newspaper Stars and Stripes reported.
Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler, the top noncommissioned officer, outlined the proposed rules to troops during a visit to Afghanistan, the paper said on Tuesday.
Existing tattoos may be grandfathered in, but all soldiers are still prohibited from having tattoos that are sexist, racist or extremist, it said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/25/us-usa-military-tattoos-idUSBRE98O0V620130925
For years the Air Force policy was nothing above the collar (no neck, face or head tats) and no more than 25% coverage on any visible part (forearms in short sleeves or calves when in PT shorts). Some guys who had been in for awhile who had shirt sleeve tats whould where a stretchy kind of spandex cover on their arm and it seemed acceptable.