Do tattoos really define you as a bad Soldier?

My opinion is it is a bit absurd. Tattoos for many of us is out way of remembering the things we have done throughout our careers and life. At no point could you look at my tattoos that are visible could you question my commitment to my family and country. Why should that affect my ability to become an officer? The answer is it doesnt again another situation of someone trying to leave their footprint on the army. Your opinion doesnt matter we just have to do what we already do, take it enforce it and drive on.

It ties in with new accessions. Just as a Soldier coming into the military can't have tattoos on the forearms, if you apply for OCS, WOCS, or Green to Gold, you are being accessed as a new Officer. The same standards apply. I don't think it affects my ability to lead, but it can still be viewed as appearing unprofessional. Personally, I don't think that most of America feels that tattoos are uncommon or unprofessional anymore, but in the Army we don't just deal with Americans.&nbsp;<div>I think I echo a lot of sentiments in believing that we should allow tattoos on the legs and forearms.</div>

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</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Calibri">It is not about being a good or bad soldier. It is about
being professional. As soldiers we like to say that in the civilian world I
would make $XXX as _____(insert your MOS). However what we forget is that we
also have different standards in all kinds of areas. Yes you may make 3 figures
a year is an accountant in the civilian world, but you could get past the
interview. There is nothing wrong with tattoos, I have several myself. It is
all about how we as a professional organization present ourselves to the world.
One individual with a bunch of tattoos could ruin it for everyone. I dont think
that is likely. Let’s not forget SMA just says no more than four visible in PTs
and not sleeves. If that is too strict for a soldier then that soldier needs to
decide what is important to them. Tattoos or service to country? sacrifices
have to be made in our profession. Look at it like this. Most males are just
waiting to get out to grow a beard. Being that a tattoo is permanent you would
in theory want that same tattoo when you got out. Think of it as Uncle Sam
making sure you really want that Tat.</font></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">

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Of course not I have 12 and I was always one of the most squared away troops everywhere I went.

I do not believe so. If one has tattoos, all that means is they made a choice to have something permanently drawn on their body. The only way this could make someone a bad Soldier/Sailor/etc. would be the subject matter.

As long as your tattoos are not offensive or inappropriate in any way they should not be considered bad.&nbsp; Having tattoos does not make you a bad person or soldier.&nbsp; If that was the case, 90 percent of our Special Forces soldiers would be considered "Bad", or "Unprofessional". I assure you, this is not the case.<br>

<p>It all boils down to 'perceptions' - and every single person on this great big world of ours has their own.&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>What is fine to the individual doesn't necessarily match military and/or corporate standards/thinking.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Personally,&nbsp;My buddy and I both got a USMC 'Devil Dog' tattoo on our upper arm when we were at Camp Lejeune, NC.&nbsp; We got them high enough that short sleeve dress shirts would not show the tattoo - but it would when you wore a T-shirt (thinking ahead I guess).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I think the bad 'perceptions' come about mostly because of all the media coverage of prisons and convicts on various TV shows and news shows.&nbsp; The prisoners for the most part have all types and styles at various places - so the 'perception' of tattoos being related to bad things raises its ugly head.&nbsp; Military members are not differentiated from convicts in this sense - it is perceived that convicts are bad and they have tattoos - so then military members that have them that you can see are thought of in the same way.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It is unfortunate, but that is how society is at present.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>