How many of you have service tattoos? And what are your thoughts on them?

Never got one never wanted one!

I don't have any though I of course understand the reason SVC mbrs get them, of course, it's just thay with all the potential worry over whether they'd be acceptable now, I freq wonder whether, in reading stuff about them on here, whether those who get them ever wonder about the necessity and or mechanisms to possibly have them removed, at some point, you know? Just a thought, hope was of interest, I realize many on here I've asked that say they'd never have them removed, just was curious as to the thoughts of those who might see this, many thanks. Removing them is often lengthy, complex, and can be painful, that's the only other reason I'd also been curious, honest.

I have 9 tattoos total, and all have a story or meaning behind them for different achievements or ventures in my life (equator crossing, circumnavigation, drug bust, overseas time, etc.) Not necessarily service related, but definitely wouldn't have happened without my time in. There are some people on here that say tattoos are unprofessional. Of course they are unprofessional, that's obvious, but it doesn't someone any less of a person. However, they are not a fad. Tattoos have been around for ages. All the way back to when tribes were running around in loin cloths catching wild boar trying not to get killed for the village feast. Tattoos are indications of rights of passage (achievements) in one's life. Since they are considered savage or barbaric nowadays, they get looked down on even more by a lot of people mainly because there is a choice on what someone gets inked on. I've seen some questionable tattoos, but questionable to me. That person is fine with their ink, who am I to judge them? As far as service tats, there are some really nice ones out there, and the way tattoo artists are getting now, there will be some even better ones in the future.

I am a retired Navy Dental Officer who served 20 years, active and reserve time in the U. S. Navy. I am 81 years old and have never had any positive thoughts about having a tattoo placed on my body. I have been to many foreign ports on liberty with my shipmates. I drank my share of alcohol with them on every liberty spree. I watched friends go into tattoo parlors and get all kinds of crazy tattoos put on their body parts when they were drunk. I never once during all of those liberty sprees ever had a desire to have a tattoo placed on my body. I always felt that once you did, you were marked for life. Today children's parents both have tattoos on their bodies. I cannot think of a way to be a poorer role model to their children than to have tattoos that children can see and believe are okay to have because their mom and dad have them on their bodies. I could not be happier about my lifetime choice to not have tattoos. I look around today and see 70-80 year old men and women with these old wrinkled tattoos on their bodies. There is nothing uglier.
I think parents owe it to their children to be the best role models that they can be. We all have the right to have our own personal opinions about things in life. These are mine about tattoos.

B. J. Mc Farland LT. DC, USNR (ret.)

I have about 10 or so...My Dragon tat is pretty much the only one that would be considered as "military".

I've got 2nd Armored CAV. Nothing but sand here. I don't see a problem.

I have 3...they mean everything to me..I want people to look at me and see what I have done.

I think it's fine. We've earned the right to wear them.

I have some Submarine Force Dolphins on my left upper arm. They are a memorial to my favorite submarine, USS Casimir Pulaski. http://www.usscasimirpulaski.com