Military Tattoo Policy: Do the rules and regulations keep warfighters from being unprofessional or are the policies outdated?

The military used to be an “exclusive” institution with set rules and strict regulations, especially on tattoos.
I have three “tats” but are a bit conservative, military and discreet.
That being said, many warrior brothers have extensive inking. Tattoos doesn’t make the soldier. It’s a form of expression and as the saying goes “my body, my choice”. In order to fill the ranks with talented minds, the military services need to be “inclusive” and not “exclusive”. I’m good with they’re choices to be inked as long as it’s not “gang” related or facial tats. And after all, God forbid, it would possibly help for identification purposes.

do you mean that Lev 19:28 has nothing to do with it?

Frankly, I believe tattoos should be mandated, so when you complete basic you'll get one, than after every NCO course, or airborne, Ranger, et al., you'd get more. We need more more tattoos because it provides a measure of uniformity to all the troops. You are only unique if you DON'T have tattoos, and that is disgraceful...you're out of uniformity, and that's contrary to good order and discipline. But...enough of the sarcasm.

People get tattoos for all manner of reasons. Many believe their tattoos show them as tough, more experienced, having "seen the world"...or affiliations and totemic superstitions, so the reasons are manifold. Some people are just masochists. But then, where is the point of restraint? Neck tattoos, hand tattoos, scalp tatt's? Someone will complain about that limitation and probably claim some religious reason for any or all of it.

Yes, I do have ONE tattoo...and it's coming off with some laser treatment. I got it during Vietnam, it's patriotic and all that, but it's still coming off. I don't need tattoos to tell my story and I prefer the skin that the Man Upstairs gave to me. The scars tell the real story. Your mileage may vary.

My grandad said something about Tattoos, "not good" My USA uncle said "not in his unit" he was CO USASAP and E. And My in 1956 you needed a written letter from CMC to see if a Tat was ok??? Out of sight out of mind. Sailors need them it is a swabbie thing.

I don't have any tats, but I don't think people should be judged by their outward appearance cause that has no bearing on how well a person can do their job, and hopefully society is moving more in the direction of acceptance - just my personal opinion/belief.

Outdated. I would have re-joined as prior service but I am ineligible due to hand tattoos. The services are having a hard enough time getting bodies so because I have hand tattoos you are going to rule out someone who is otherwise qualified. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I can see not having tattoos on the face, neck and head but anywhere else should be allowed assuming they are not vulgar or offensive

Once upon a time, tattoos were viewed as being for undesirables- prisons, biker gangs, etc. But they've come into acceptance in today's society. There will still need to be restrictions, but I think the policy should be loosened. For one thing, if they keep the current standards, the way I'm seeing more and more people with tats, they're liable to run out of candidates!

And I would suggest that folks getting a tattoo think about what it will look like when their 70 yo and wrinkled. :)

Never really had an interest in getting tattos. The idea of someone having to sit there and poke my skin with a needle an unlimited number of times to get an image on my skin was not my form of pleasure or self -identification. I seen some that were very nice and liked them. Having tattos on your hands or other areas of the body that are highly visible to the public eye maybe deterimental to the individual. People still do "PROFILING" of everyone around them including employers, custormers, and all that see you. You may say that this is not politically correct these days but it is the absolutel truth and no one will say anything to you about it, but will express their thoughts by not selecting you or just avoiding you all together.

The issue is not so much tattoos, but isn't it that of individuality? The choice to use our skin as a billboard or canvas to show what we like, support?
The military discourages individuality for obvious reasons but let's say that the DOD allows tattoos so long as it is not racist, supporting illegal activity, etc. Who then decides what is wrong? The commander? the base command or do we put a list of unapproved items on a policy note?

Take this situation:
What if an individual has an "OK" symbol tattooed on his/her hand or webbing thumb? What if he or she puts a swastika on the other hand? Obviously these are racial symbols. The commander should say they have to be removed.

But the individual then informs the commander that he/she is buddist and the swastika is a religious symbol and the other is to remind him or her everything will be ok.

What if this person has a facial deformity and decides to hide it with a tattoo? Maybe he or she was in a fire and places a dragon breathing fire (scar tissue is the fire) on his/her face. Not religious so does the commander have the right to state that the "art" is not approved when his/her prior commander thought it was great?

Individuality is not something the military celebrates but rather uniformity. Uniformed Services does not just mean the clothes we wear to work each day, but that we are similar. If hidden from view, why complain. But if visible... I see problems arising.

I have thought of getting a tattoo but my ever changing life experiences have erased any possible selection. I was a Navy corpsman, lab tech assistant and field med that was attached to the 3rd Marine. You will always carry the pride in your service and unit. A tattoo is a physical. Identity that feeds ones ego in anticipation of perceived outside responses. I also am a retired 29 year street cop. . I suggest using unit patches and hats so it frees your body to be clean to return to the creator the same as in birth. Label free. If I remember when I first went in I remember the saying that your body is no longer yours. It’s now property of the Government. When stationed in Okinawa I assisted a surgical tech. when he removed tattoos through abrasion or surgically cutting dermal pattern. No two people are genetically alike and as you leave your service you will again regain your individuality and grow personally if you chose to look towards the future.