What is the best and worst military tattoos you've ever seen?

1LT Shawn McCarthy — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 22:16:39 -0400

There are some great ones out there...and some terrible ones.
For me -
Best - A guy incorporated a battle scar into a "freedom isn't free" tattoo.
Worst - A female went out on family day from Basic and got our BCT Company logo tattooed on her bicep. D-1/48th for LIFE!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2014 11:37 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 23:37:25 -0400

Have seen plenty of great military tattoos. However the worst I have seen are military tats on spouses. (IE "Proud Army Wife of -insert name here-" in the typical tramp stamp area)

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2014 8:19 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 08:19:43 -0400

I think mine takes the cake, I got drunk one night and got the Chevy Tattoo on my (L) Forarm lol

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2014 12:19 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 12:19:15 -0400

D 1/48th? Those guys just sat in the HMMWVs and got high off the carbon monoxide. D 1/40th is where it's at!

That aside, the worst tattoos are the ones you cannot cover up in business casual.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Aug 9 at 2014 3:44 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 15:44:02 -0400

Sir, I remember a few years back when I was a 1SG at Fort Huachuca. One of my battle buddies had an AIT Soldier in his company who had a scroll that said "Infantry" on his forearm. When my battle asked him if he was prior service, the PVT responded with "no, I couldn't get MOSQd so I had to reclass." He got the tattoo before he washed out...

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Oct 9 at 2014 7:48 AM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 07:48:18 -0400

One of the Scouts in my first unit has a tattoo of the guidon on ankle. He was going to get one for every unit he would serve in. He only served for 4 yrs and then ETS from the Army.

Response by SPC(P) Nick Bondgien made Oct 10 at 2014 10:54 PM

SPC(P) Nick Bondgien — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 22:54:05 -0400

I'm Cav. I have the 8th Cav,though slightly modified Reg.Crest on my left shoulder. To me it looks great.
I also have a Scout returning from "Fiddler's Green" on my back. That one is Boss.

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Nov 3 at 2014 12:30 PM

Capt Brandon Charters — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 12:30:06 -0500

I thought the members of this thread and RallyPoint would appreciate hearing about a documentary called 'War Ink'. It's a virtual exhibit that combines original video, photography and audio interviews to present the stories of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in their own words. For these veterans, the tattoos express the impact of combat experiences. The 24 featured veterans are men and women from each branch of the military, and all now reside in California. My hometown bud Noah is featured in this story and am really proud of his professional and spiritual journey since coming home. He's an inspiration to everyone who knows him. Thanks for sharing this TSgt Grant Kohler.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Dec 11 at 2014 9:02 AM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:02:35 -0500

TSgt Joshua Copeland , this one is all you buddy!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2014 9:14 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:14:09 -0500

The worst one I have seen was of the 11 th sig patch. Straight out of AIT 25 series was so proud to of gotten to the unit. He went and got the unit patch tattoed, less then six months later he went AWOL cause he hated the unit that much. Lol epic fail.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2015 2:31 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:31:18 -0500

I have 2 half sleeves (on on each forearm) that I have received quite a lot of compliments on.

My left arm has the Statue of Liberty, Uncle Sam carrying the flag and directing WWII dough boys charging into battle (with Captain America) and the NDSM with a star. It signifies my service in the Army as well as giving a shout-out to the Greatest Generation (and because my grandparents served during WWII).

My right army signifies my service in the Navy and is primarily under-sea themed (with the obligatory mermaid and a somewhat hidden Aqua-Man). I have the silhouette of an Aircraft Carrier, the 3-bladed screw for my rate (Machinist's Mate), a dragon curled around a trident, and my Submarine Dolphins.

I might try to post pics at a later date.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2015 1:35 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 01:35:09 -0400

I'm just going to focus on the ridiculous tattoos my eyes have seen in the Corps and don't ask me how or why I saw them, they're stories just in itself...

1. Lower back colored tattoo - Luigi having sex with Princess Peach while Toad is recording it and Mario standing off to the side

2. Shoulder tattoo - flaming unicorn

3. Penis tattoo - In bold letters "EAT"

4. Foot tattoo - In bold and in stencil font "DRILL" on top of his left foot symbolizing the Drill Foot

5. Forearm tattoo - In old english "SEMPER FIDEDIS" spell fail

Had to share this one...

http://terminallance.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Strip-21_TATTOO-IMAGE-FILE_small.jpg

Yeah it's a M240 wielding grim reaper being spit out by a fire breathing eagle sitting on a skull with two eagle globe and anchors for eyes and spitting out baby Jesus

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2015 2:36 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 02:36:58 -0400

1LT Shawn McCarthy. For God's sake don't get a tattoo . . . that is so wrong!!! Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2016 3:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 May 2016 15:26:14 -0400

Just outside of Ft. Stewart in the Early 80s there was a little tattoo shop. One day a friend an I decided to get us a tattoo, so we bought a case of beer and went to the shop. About an Hr after I got it, I see another friend and decided to show off my new tattoo, My friend looked and asked, What in the Hell is an ARTILARY, I said no no it says ARTILLERY! He laughed and said no it don't........
So on my right arm I have an eagle that says artilary underneath.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Jan 12 at 2017 7:04 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 19:04:33 -0500

Went into some shit hole tat parlor in Fayetville maybe 1977 or so, guy says he's got a cool tat. Guy pulled out his dick he had a smiley face tattooed on to it. Army guys....

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2017 12:52 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 00:52:33 -0500

U S M C --------Had a special kid get this tattoo on his chest during our 4th week of Field Medical
S ------------------Training with the Marines ... he washed out and never earned his caduceus
N ------------------shield. The dashes are only here to space tattoo from the message body.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2017 11:02 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 11:02:42 -0500

I had a Soldier get his address tattooed on his forearm. He said that would be so if he got too drunk he could tell the cabbie, "Take me here." I said what happens when you move?

Response by PO1 Christine Bilyeu made Oct 11 at 2019 1:35 PM

PO1 Christine Bilyeu — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 13:35:26 -0400

A guy I knew in the Navy got bullet entry wounds tattooed on his chest. When he turned around the were large exit wounds with gears, synchro and servos showing.

Another guy (Bosonsmate) had a ships propeller tattooed on each butt cheek. (So I was told).

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2019 5:41 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 17:41:33 -0400

Our E4 Mafia got tabs that day “dream team”

During a rotation to Hohenfels we had a couple guys get “Thug Life” in German on there stomach. (Also same guys as above mentioned Dream team tab)

Response by PFC Daniel Wendland made Oct 11 at 2019 7:55 PM

PFC Daniel Wendland — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 19:55:20 -0400

A former coworker of mine got a duck (no idea why he chose a duck) with the c-co 1-16 IN slang "bandito" except he spelled it wrong and it said "bandido".

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2019 9:21 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 21:21:23 -0400

I served with a dude who had a tattoo of the Kool-Aid man choking out the Hawaiian Punch mascot.

Response by SSG David Stafne made Oct 12 at 2019 2:19 AM

SSG David Stafne — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 02:19:00 -0400

After 13 years in the US Army Infantry I never got a tattoo, nothing worth a Tattoo. Years later I’m driving a Shuttle Bus from a Navy Base and a Sailor was all Tatted Up with Navy Tattoos And was getting Chaptered out before completing his first tour! Try explaining those Tats to your kids and grandkids, Sucks to be him!

Response by SPC Greg Campbell made Oct 12 at 2019 8:16 AM

SPC Greg Campbell — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 08:16:17 -0400

had fire guard on our first night of freedom during AIT. 7 or 8 came back with tattoos. during the week half got infected. I noped out of the tattoo kick quick

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2019 10:20 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 10:20:08 -0400

Got assigned to C company 2/69 C. A. B. 3 BDE 3 ID in Jan 2007. Ended up get a new soldier straight out of OSUT who had a 3 ID patch tattooed to his forearm. Stupidest tattoo I ever seen

Response by PO2 Carl Menger made Oct 12 at 2019 10:27 AM

PO2 Carl Menger — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 10:27:08 -0400

Worst: "Death before Dishonor" on a sailor. I was giving him an immunization, when I had him take his jumper off, I saw it. I asked if he used to be a Marine. He said he hadn't been. So I asked, then why...? "Because I didn't know, ok?"

Response by GySgt David Barber made Oct 12 at 2019 6:45 PM

GySgt David Barber — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 18:45:42 -0400

Maybe she thought that was as far as she would go.

Response by SPC Patrick Mitchell made Oct 13 at 2019 10:59 AM

SPC Patrick Mitchell — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 10:59:43 -0400

A leg cook in Iraq with an “Airborn” tattoo across his back.

Response by SrA Joel Wilcox made Oct 14 at 2019 9:33 PM

SrA Joel Wilcox — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 21:33:05 -0400

there was a guy when I was in tech who had a tattoo of daphne from scooby doo sitting on the floor almost in the fetal position with her legs open and a ghost coming out of her crotch on his calf. Never understood the motivation behind that one.

Response by SrA Joel Wilcox made Oct 14 at 2019 9:34 PM

SrA Joel Wilcox — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 21:34:31 -0400

there was also another guy in tech who got the new air force logo tattooed completely across his back on his shoulder blades. I understood the motivation on that one, just not the reasoning for getting it so large.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Jun 25 at 2021 4:19 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 16:19:06 -0400

Was at Benning during jump school, I drove I had my POV , and out in the bars we walked into a tattoo parlor, and a guy says you want to see something? Then he whipped out his dick with a smiley face tattooed at the head. We just laughed, I’m tat free I personally don’t like them. But I bet that hurt as in hurt. If there was phone camera then I’d probably have taken a picture of his junk, lol, he was proud of it, always wonder what Mrs Right thought about that the first time she saw it.

Response by PO2 Ron Gunsolus made Jun 25 at 2021 4:40 PM

PO2 Ron Gunsolus — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 16:40:17 -0400

Just out of bootcamp back in the 80's... just so I could say I have pooh on my butt :p

Response by PO3 Diana Rogers made Dec 1 at 2022 2:00 AM

PO3 Diana Rogers — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 02:00:47 -0500

Worst - A gal in my company from A school had a large, 10 inch tattoo on the side of her calf. It was an elongated heart, wrapped with a rose vine with a bleeding dagger through it. It read "Daddy".
Gee, I wonder what her father-daughter relationship was like!!!