Posted on Mar 31, 2014
Finishing tattoos the same as getting a new one?
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Last week, my BDE CSM hosted an NCOPD discussing the AR 670-1 updates. When we talked about the tattoo policy, and that no new tattoos can be acquired below the shorts and below the short sleeve of the summer IPFU, I asked if that included those die-hard ink getters who have an elaborate design that takes more than one sitting to complete. If the design is already there, and they go back to have it detailed, or colored in, does that count as a new tattoo, or still the same tattoo that is being completed. Once the CO takes a picture of it, documents it and uploads it, is anything after that considered new?
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Tattoos
Tattoos
Posted >1 y ago
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When the Marine Corps went through this a few years ago I knew a guy that was in the process of having his entire arms sleeved out in tribal. The outlines were there but they were not filled in yet. When he took pictures to have them documented he took a black sharpie and he and his buddies filled in the design. This way he had a picture with the "finished" look. He then proceeded to have the rest of his work filled in.
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Personally, I would say that if you have a preexisting tattoo and touch it up or have it filled in then that shouldn't count as a new tattoo. Now, what my personal opinion is and what the Army says are probably not the same thing. To be safe, I would say that if you want the tattoo filled in, you go get it done ASAP, PRIOR to the regulation being officially published. I have a feeling that once your CO does the memo and uploads a photo of the tattoo to your OMPF, then it very well could be considered a new tattoo if you get everything filled in. Its either that or you take the risk of UCMJ for violating the policy.
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SFC Vernon McNabb
MSG F,
Sometimes "getting it done" is easier said than, well, done. Some Soldiers out there have to schedule appointments to have so much work done, then have to reschedule for another appointment. I agree that Soldiers should get it done as soon as possible, but sometimes they are at the mercy of the artist rendering the tattoo.
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SFC (Join to see)
Well, you can call the tattoo artist up now to schedule the next available time, or find another artist too. Where there is a will, there is a way...
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SFC Vernon McNabb
SFC Tierney,
Good suggestion, but anybody with tats will tell you, "Not all artists are created equally". Artists vary as much as the tats, and not all artists can complete the work of another artist because their styles vary. That would be like saying Da Vinci could complete a Van Gogh.
Good suggestion, but anybody with tats will tell you, "Not all artists are created equally". Artists vary as much as the tats, and not all artists can complete the work of another artist because their styles vary. That would be like saying Da Vinci could complete a Van Gogh.
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SFC (Join to see)
I have tattoos as well and totally agree with you about that! I was lucky enough to get in with the artist I wanted to finish up my work before the new reg took effect. I will say that I wouldn't have wanted someone else to finish up the work that the original artist started.
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My understanding of the reg is that once it is documented any addition will be considered a new tattoo. This subjet is touchy for me as well as I want to touch up mine as well,
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CSM Michael Poll
I understand your argument, however, additions to a tatoo which is already documented will , (most Likely) be considered a new tatoo as the documentation will not show your additions. Understand what I am saying, I wish this was not fact but with experiance in such mattters this is the way it will be looked at
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