research post 4: Rules and Regs
Tattoos have been a part of war since they were crudely etched into skin with coal or other natural elements. Often serving as tribal indicators of strength and virility, they were worn into conflict as permanent war-paint, driving fear into the hearts of the adversary. This tradition still thrives in the US military, as many soldiers adorn their epidermis with often war-themed tattoos, so much so that each branch has had to introduce regulations and restrictions as to how many and where the soldier can decorate his vessel of warfare. And they are as follows;
Marine Corps: While the Corps allows tattooing of its men, the tattooing of the face, hands, neck or any tattoos deemed extremist, racist, or distasteful are strictly prohibited. Marines with tattoos that fall into these categories can be “counseled” towards medical removal of the in question body art, but cannot be forced to undergo any surgical treatment. However if they refuse they can be discharged. Also a recent amendment to policy forbids the full “sleeve” tattoo, in which the entire arm or leg is covered in tattoos.
http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/Public/InfolineMarines.nsf/(ArticlesRead)/13A525120D7E6592852572BC0046BC0B
Navy: the navy goes along the same lines as the USMC, keeping the idea of “Prohibiting any body art deemed prejudicial to good order, discipline and morale or of a nature to bring discredit upon the [naval] service”, typical of the branches.
http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=23274
Air Force: Again the same regulatory line is towed by the US Air Force. Neck, hand and face tattoos are prohibited. Also banned are “extremist, racist or tattoos otherwise deemed inappropriate”, as with the Navy and Marine Corps.
http://www.airforce.com/contact-us/faq/eligibility/#policy-tattoos
Army: Interestingly the Army has recently relaxed its tattoo policy to make room for a generation that is “35 percent more likely to have body art than the baby boomers preceding them. Neck and hand tattoos are allowed as long as they do not advocate the familiar extremism, racism, or unprofessional tact that the other branches also prohibit. The Army has made quite a progressive step in my opinion, as the millennial generation is one living without the strict taboo on tattoos as criminal or deviant, which generally was associated with the art.
http://www.army.com/news/item/1404
