Posted on 04/03/2014 9:48:49 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
If you want to sign on the dotted line to serve Uncle Sam in the Army, it’s going to get a lot harder to make the cut.
By the end of April, new recruits will be held to the Army’s new grooming standards–which include stricter rules on tattoos.
“Tattoos are cool thing today, 70-80% of people who come into our office have tattoos. I’ve seen 15-year-olds with tattoos,” said Sergeant First Class Robert Black with the Army Recruiting Command in Norfolk, who says these new policies will cut down on the number of enlisted they can take.
If you have a sleeve tattoo–you are eliminated.
If you have a tattoo on the face, neck, head, hands or fingers–forget about it.
If you have ink below the elbow or below the knee, you are limited to 4 tattoos, none bigger than the size of your hand.
“We have over 50 future soldiers in waiting, holding for basic training, and as of right now, 30% would not be able to qualify based on those standards,” said SFC Black.
The Army is allowing those new recruits already under contract, as well as current active duty soldiers, to be grandfathered in under the old rules—but if any of those enlisted soldiers want to try and get their commission to become an officer, they would be barred if their tattoos don’t match the new policy.
“A situation like that would definitely be disheartening to someone who wanted to be an officer and now the tattoo policy is going to stop them from being able to do it, but once again, they have to adapt to the situation to go forward,” said SFC Black.
According to the Sergeant Major of the Army, who came up with the new standards, it is all meant to keep up a more professional peacetime force.
Those exposed face and neck tattoos have always been banned, not all tattoos. I served with a 1stSgt who had shoulder and large chest tattoos as well as a memorial to his service on Guadalcanal and Peleliu with the 1st MarDiv on his forearm. Nobody had even a second thought about those exposed tats including any general or our battalion commander who had been a private in a different battalion during the same campaigns and had several of his own.
If you don’t like tattoos of any kind that’s your business and nobody cares about your opinion even though guys like them fought to protect your right to your opinion.
“Watch for a run on tattoos to avoid the military if there is ever another draft.”
That regulation will get flushed if the Draft is ever reactivated.
Now that’s an interesting premise. I like it.
...some smoking anyway, POLE smoking is now tolerated...
I agree with your assessment.
Actually no they can’t
and for the record I don’t care if a gangster wants to join the army. They don’t have the right stuff and I question their motives
If it were just up to me, they could.
When I was in the USMC, people could have tattoos as long as they weren’t visible when in uniform. No face, neck, or hands tattoos were allowed, but it was rarely enforced. Guys got tattoos all the time with their wife or girlfriend’s name, or the USMC logo. My daughter’s friend from HS went into the USMC, and eventually became a Drill Instructor at Parris Island. He had the Marine Corps Emblem tattooed all across his chest, from shoulder to shoulder.......................
I don’t care if people have tats...I admit it is not my thing.
I was specifically addressing the full sleeve and neck tats that some think are so wonderful.
For those who have served and have tats that met all the rules I say good for them. And thank you for your service. Won’t get judgementfrom me
And have you seen what the gangsters wear and are proud of even though they now want to join the service.
The description of the tat your daughter’s friend had sounds far different than what a lot of the tats out there are.
I admit tats aren’t my thing. I don’t care if someone else wants to do that but don’t expect everyone to think that it is just a delightful thing. I have seen too many gang tats and junkie tats that are more than a little disturbing
I have repeatedly said that while tats are not my cup of tea, as long as the guys (and it is more guys than gals) are within the rules (guidelines) so be it.
The kinds of tats that the rules seem to be against are the well known gangster and druggie style tats that some folks have. Not everyone should be in the armed forces
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