Reminder: Tattoos will keep your kid out of the military

[GreenPartyVoter]

as discovered in this thread:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4189918

[sniffa]

1. 6 or more tats

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Yep. My lil bro will be safe enough. His entire back is one huge mural

now. :)

[Richard Steele]

3. But for how long? Standards are dropping like a rock...

...so I doubt the Military is very concerned with counting tattoos these days.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. True. I have my concerns about that as well.

[Old_Fart]

8. "I hate Bush" Tattoo that shows

Would that do the trick?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

20. I fear they may send you into combat with dud ammo if you do this (nt)

[Benhurst]

11. Maybe they should go in for anti-Bush or anti-war tattoos. That

might do the trick. Or how about just one "gay pride" one?

[XemaSab]

25. Or a slave tat...

Oh wait, isn't that what having USMC tattooed on your body means?

Never mind...

[Old_Fart]

5. Lets all start a "Save a young persons life" fund

I would be willing to pay for a couple of tattoos for any kid that didn't want to go to war.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Just think.. art can stop a war one person at a time.

[Old_Fart]

12. They did away with Art in Schools

We can rub it in their faces. The tattoos will have to show.

I would start with the neck and arms. :)

[Richardo]

7. This will be news to thousands of sailors since the dawn of time

:eyes:

[Old_Fart]

10. My uncles were sailors

They both had tattoos.

[jackster]

9. are you sure this is true?

my son got tatoos while IN the army!!! I think as long as they don't show while in uniform it's okay - or at least that what I remember.... I think.... hmmmmmm!

[happyslug]

15. That Is what I was told...

But like another writer said, how long will this rule last? As to "I hate Bush" Tattoo, I do not think it will stop someone from being enlisted, the Tattoo would have to be something that is intimidating (I hate N-----".

[stanwyck]

22. Not true.

Like I said below, my son has four -- three before he became a Marine and one more after.

[AllegroRondo]

18. I got one while in the Army

As long as it doesnt show while in uniform, you can get a tattoo while on active duty.
If you already have a tattoo that shows while in uniform, you can get a waiver to join the Army. I knew a couple people who had tattoos on their forearms but still were able to enlist.
But if you are already in, and get a tattoo that is visible, you can be punished.

[DS1]

33. Not quite true

You can get punished if your inking puts you in a situation where you can't perform your duties - for example you can't do situps if you get a backpiece.

Then you'll get a citation for destruction of government property (not kidding), but they can't do shit to you for whether or not it's exposed.

head and neck tats can be punishable, but oh well, it's still not gonna get you kicked out

[theboss]

13. Then why does every Marine I know have a tat?

I don't think this is true at all.

[Walt Starr]

14. I think that standard is Marine Corps only

I don't think that standard applies to the Army.

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. Dang!

[unrepuke]

17. I was in the Navy - there were guys with tats all over

their bodies, on their faces, on their upper lip, inside their lower lip, on their hands - and some left no parts un-tattooed. Tatted up like gang bangers, and nobody seemed to notice.
Except the ones with "Fuck You" on their lip - they made them wear a mustache.

Maybe a full face Maori design would help, but it would probably take 4 years to process the paper work to get you out.

[soup]

19. Army Uniform Regulation - AR 670-1

AR 670–1
Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia

e. Tattoo policy
(1) Tattoos or brands anywhere on the head, face, and neck above the class A uniform collar are prohibited.
(2) Tattoos or brands that are extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist are prohibited, regardless of location on the body,
as they are prejudicial to good order and discipline within units.
(a) Extremist tattoos or brands are those affiliated with, depicting, or symbolizing extremist philosophies, organizations,
or activities. Extremist philosophies, organizations, and activities are those which advocate racial, gender or
ethnic hatred or intolerance; advocate, create, or engage in illegal discrimination based on race, color, gender, ethnicity,
religion, or national origin; or advocate violence or other unlawful means of depriving individual rights under the U.S.
Constitution, Federal, or State law (see para 4–12, AR 600–20).
(b) Indecent tattoos or brands are those that are grossly offensive to modesty, decency, or propriety; shock the moral
sense because of their vulgar, filthy, or disgusting nature or tendency to incite lustful thought; or tend reasonably to
corrupt morals or incite libidinous thoughts.
(c) Sexist tattoos or brands are those that advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on gender,
but that may not meet the same definition of “indecent.”
(d) Racist tattoos or brands are those that advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on race,
ethnicity, or national origin.
(3) Counseling requirements.
5 AR 670–1 • 3 February 2005
(a) Commanders will ensure soldiers understand the tattoo policy.
(b) For soldiers who are not in compliance, commanders may not order the removal of a tattoo or brand. However,
the commander must counsel soldiers, and afford them the opportunity to seek medical advice about removal or
alteration of the tattoo or brand.
(4) If soldiers are not in compliance with the policy, and refuse to remove or alter the tattoos or brands, commanders
will:
(a) Ensure the soldier understands the policy.
(b) Ensure the soldier has been afforded the opportunity to seek medical advice about removal or alteration.
(c) Counsel the soldier in writing. The counseling form will state that the soldier’s refusal to remove extremist,
indecent, sexist, or racist tattoos or brands anywhere on the body, or refusal to remove any type of tattoo or brand
visible in the class A uniform (worn with slacks/trousers), will result in discharge.
(5) Existing tattoos or brands on the hands that are not extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist, but are visible in the
class A uniform (worn with slacks/trousers), are authorized.
(6) Finality of determination.
(a) Recruiting battalion commanders or recruiting battalion executive officers (0–5 or above) will make initial entry
determinations that tattoos or brands comply with this policy for Active Army and Army Reserve soldiers. This
authority will not be delegated further.
(b) Unit commanders or unit executive officers will make determinations for soldiers currently on active duty. This
authority will not be delegated further.
(c) Recruiting and retention managers (O–5 or above) will make initial entry determinations that tattoos or brands
comply with this policy for National Guard soldiers. This authority will not be delegated further.
(d) Professors of military science (O-5 or above) will make initial entry determinations that tattoos or brands comply
with this policy for ROTC cadets. This authority will not be delegated further.
(e) The Director of Admissions will make initial entry determinations that tattoos or brands comply with this policy
for the U.S. Military Academy cadets. This authority will not be delegated further.
(f) Determinations will be fully documented in writing and will include a description of existing tattoos or brands
and their location on the body. A copy of the determination will be provided to the soldier. Unless otherwise directed
by the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, these determinations are final. If a tattoo or brand is discovered to violate this
policy after an initial determination has been documented, commanders must submit requests for an exception to policy
or for discharge through the soldier’s chain of command to the MACOM for approval. Appeals to the MACOM
decision will be forwarded to the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 for decision.
(7) Soldiers may not cover tattoos or brands in order to comply with the tattoo policy.
http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r670_1.pdf

note: pdf file - Adobe Acrobat reader required

[soup]

23. Marine Corps Uniform Regulations

7. Standards of Dress

a. Marines are associated and identified with the Marine Corps in and out of uniform, and when on or off duty. Therefore, when civilian clothing is worn, Marines will ensure that their dress and personal appearance are conservative and commensurate with the high standards traditionally associated with the Marine Corps. No eccentricities of dress will be permitted. Marines are prohibited from:

(1) wearing earrings (applicable to male Marines), and;

(2) attaching, affixing or displaying objects, articles, jewelry or ornamentation to or through their skin, tongue or any other body part. Female Marines, however, may wear earrings consistent with paragraph 3009. (MARADMIN 199/01)

b. Tattoos or brands on the neck and head are prohibited. In other areas of the body, tattoos or brands that are prejudicial to good order, discipline and morale or are of a nature to bring discredit upon the Marine Corps are also prohibited.
http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/mcub/library/MCUR/URCh1.htm

on edit: sorry, didn't mean to SHOUT the title, it was a copy and paste. corrected the all caps.

[GreenPartyVoter]

24. Thanks, Soup! You're "souper" *g*

[soup]

29. *chuckles, *groans, you're welcome. n/t

[XemaSab]

26. So a nekkid lady tat

is verboten?

[DS1]

34. seen plenty of those

:shrug:

[stanwyck]

21. Really? My son has four

and he's a Marine on his second tour in Iraq.

[theboss]

27. So basically, your kids need a racist tattoo on their foreheads

I'm not sure that's a good trade-off, considering they don't actually have to join the military.

[Deja Q]

28. A tattoo of two gay guys would work on two fronts...

A tattoo

The gay thing. (especially if the tattoo is provocative in position, LOL!)

[liberalitch]

30. INK UP YOUR CHILDREN!!!!!!

[Obamarama]

31. READ CAREFULLY PEOPLE! It applies to ENLISTEES....

If you carefully read the article, it clearly states:

"Compounding the unlikeliness: According to Marine Staff Sgt. Larry Thomas, six or more tattoos disqualify applicants. Here, that would eliminate many."

Key word: APPLICANTS. What did you people get in reading comprehension??? :-)

If they initiate a draft, I really don't think they're going to reject you if you have more than six tattoos. Dream on...

On the other hand, if one of my nephews ever expressed the slightest interest in enlisting, I'd be dragging his ass to a tattoo parlor if I had to strap him up like Hannibal Lechter and wheel him in on a hand cart.

[DS1]

32. hahahahahahahahahahaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaa

It'll keep you out the FBI, the militay LOVES tattoos

Besides, what if I put a single dot tattoo on 3 toes on each foot?

[bikebloke]

35. Pentagon joggers have them

I've seen plenty of military types out of the Pentagon, jogging with tattoos ablazing.


Edit: This is my evil posting - 666.