Posted on Jan 27, 2020
What will happen if I get a face tattoo while still active duty army?
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Chapter status. What discharge will I be looking at?
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Tattoos
Tattoos
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 28
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Good morning Dwahn, how are you doing today? I understand with this type of question, you don't plan to make the military a career. I use to be young like you and wanted to get the face tatts, gold grills, etc just to be cool. Only thing I can tell you is, don't fuck up your military career or the little time you have left by doing something silly..... You have to ask yourself, how do I explain to future employers asking why you have something other than honorable discharge. Your reply should be, because I can't follow rules, policy, or regulations. Or in civilian terms, I can't follow directions. I'm not here to bash you, but here to guide you on the right path. You are a grown man, it's your choice and future.....
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Actually, you'll be ordered to remove it at your own cost. The face tattoo itself won't generate a discharge, but refusing to obey a direct order will have numerous consequences.
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While I sincerely appreciate every one taking the time to give thoughtful insight, I’m leaning more towards believing that your maturity level is about the same as your ASVAB score. While others are trying to persuade you to be rational and not make life altering decisions, they are speaking to a brick wall. You have absolutely no regard for the work others have put into you. You’re not motivated, you posses every quality that I’d never want any of my soldiers to have, and you have no desire to truly hear anyone out. You’re disrespectful and if you want to go out in a fiery blaze of glory... let me know where I could come and watch that sh*t show.
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SGT (Join to see)
And you’re doing too much by addressing me in the first place. Inconvenience someone else on this thread, please and thank you. SGT (Join to see)
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There has got to be a better way than this to get on the commander's radar screen. This one is sure to draw fire that you won't want.
The most likely scenario is that they order you to get the tattoo removed at your own cost and you are left with an expensive and ugly scar. The CO might in turn process a failure to adapt chapter, depending on how long you've been in.
The obvious advice here is to stick it out and fulfill your obligations. Pretty much everyone will tell you that.
I want to know what has made it so bad that you are considering such an extreme response?
The most likely scenario is that they order you to get the tattoo removed at your own cost and you are left with an expensive and ugly scar. The CO might in turn process a failure to adapt chapter, depending on how long you've been in.
The obvious advice here is to stick it out and fulfill your obligations. Pretty much everyone will tell you that.
I want to know what has made it so bad that you are considering such an extreme response?
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1SG (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) - The Army is not corrupt, my friend. But sometimes the people in it are.
How were you affected personally? It must have been something to get you to contemplate such a permanent solution.
How were you affected personally? It must have been something to get you to contemplate such a permanent solution.
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SPC Richard Zacke
Get that tattoo on your face and you'll see just how quickly the discipline returns for you!!!
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Dawson Gilson
SPC (Join to see) - "The army is now corrupt for soldiers there is no discipline anywhere" So you want to choose something out of regs to make your point? The army is not corrupt. Sure some individuals in the military may be, but there are more than a few great leaders and soldiers. I would suggest instead to live out the change you want to see: be a disciplined and put-together soldier, and encourage your peers to do the same. After your contract is done, if you still feel like its pointless, then get out. Dont burn bridges if you dont absolutely have to.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
SPC (Join to see) - My humble opinion is a visit to behavioral health or the Chaplin before tattoo parlor.
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MSG (Join to see)
SPC Richard Zacke - Ok. Just checking. I am old and wear glasses. Just wanted to be sure.
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I feel sorry for anyone in the military that would contemplate getting such a tattoo!!’
Do you have that much hate for the system or is it our society?
What do you intend to achieve by getting such a tattoo?!
Do you have that much hate for the system or is it our society?
What do you intend to achieve by getting such a tattoo?!
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SFC Dennis A.
If you get what you want, think about how it can affect you after you get out. Not only are you dealing with the "General or Less than Honorable" discharge but you also have a tattoo on your face. My niece has tattoos on her arms and legs (very nice looking and tasteful tattoos) along with many piercings. In order to get a job with decent pay without having to work a assembly line or backroom type job she now has to wear long sleeves and long pants while at work. Plus had to remove most of her piercings. She was able to make adjustments to get the job she wanted. It's very hard to cover a face tattoo once it is there. As was said above, the choice is yours. Think about it and don't rush to a permanent fix to temporary situation.
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Maj John Bell
SPC (Join to see) - Here's the unvarnished truth. I ran a blue collar employment agency. Over a five year period I tried to place about 70(+/-) people with face tattoos, mostly relatively small tattoos.
Not one employer I worked with, would accept an employee with a face tattoo if the employee would have any public contact.
Four out of five would not accept an employee to work in the back (with no public contact) if the employee had a face tattoo. Of the employers that would accept a temp with a face tattoo, not one ever offered the person a permanent position, even if they really liked the candidate otherwise.
Times are changing, but I would be very hesitant to close the door at potential employers.
Not one employer I worked with, would accept an employee with a face tattoo if the employee would have any public contact.
Four out of five would not accept an employee to work in the back (with no public contact) if the employee had a face tattoo. Of the employers that would accept a temp with a face tattoo, not one ever offered the person a permanent position, even if they really liked the candidate otherwise.
Times are changing, but I would be very hesitant to close the door at potential employers.
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SGT Ben Keen
SPC (Join to see) - Let me add to some of these great words of advise some amazing leaders have already given you. First off, know that I'm coming from a place of understanding. I am "heavily tattooed" with over 24 tattoos on my arms, torso, and legs. I've had these tattoos while in the service and added a lot since getting out. I've held jobs with some very conservative companies such as banks and law firms working within IT. Even now, in my current position, where shorts and flip flops are the norm in the summer, I keep any new art pieces to places that can be covered because you never know. When I worked at the law firm, I had to keep all my tattoos covered, so that meant long sleeves during the summer. This is what you are facing. What you are planning to do is a sort term solution with long term fall out. Not only will you find landing a good, meaningful, well paying job difficult with the tattoo on your face, but if they pull your DD214 and see the downgraded character of service that will surly be there, you will find yourself working at places that may pay $12, $13, or $14 dollars an hour if you are lucky. All because at this moment in your life, you are pissed off, frustrated and ready to go home.
Do yourself a favor, pause for a second. Sit back and take an assessment of what lays before you. Yes, it sucks right now, but taking any sort of quick knee-jerk reaction, will impact you for the years to come. Listen to what Maj John Bell and SGM Erik Marquez are saying. I know SGM Marquez personally through RP and I will tell you, he is someone that I consider as great counsel.
Do yourself a favor, pause for a second. Sit back and take an assessment of what lays before you. Yes, it sucks right now, but taking any sort of quick knee-jerk reaction, will impact you for the years to come. Listen to what Maj John Bell and SGM Erik Marquez are saying. I know SGM Marquez personally through RP and I will tell you, he is someone that I consider as great counsel.
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Let me first answer your question with a question:
What kind of job are you hoping to get when you get out?
Because a face tattoo will close off about 90% of those opportunities.
With a face tattoo, most of those interviews will end in 5 minutes with a "thanks for coming in".
You think you hate "the system" now, but that "system" is any job you get.
The only two differences are:
1. in the Army, you can get by with someone telling you what to do and how to do it every day if you don't want to apply yourself and be proactive. In most jobs other than fast food and construction, the private sector doesn't have the time or patience for that, they'll just let you go and hire someone else.
2. in the Army, it takes 3-6 months to chapter someone out, in the private sector, you are fired that day and the paperwork is complete that day.
Like SFC Boyd said, you would be ordered to remove a face tattoo, and that is more painful and slower than getting the tattoo. Refuse the order and you will get kicked out.
Instead of limiting yourself with a face tattoo, take some time to really understand what you want to do on the outside, take some time to plan how you are going to get there, and start that process of getting there about six months from your ETS.
What kind of job are you hoping to get when you get out?
Because a face tattoo will close off about 90% of those opportunities.
With a face tattoo, most of those interviews will end in 5 minutes with a "thanks for coming in".
You think you hate "the system" now, but that "system" is any job you get.
The only two differences are:
1. in the Army, you can get by with someone telling you what to do and how to do it every day if you don't want to apply yourself and be proactive. In most jobs other than fast food and construction, the private sector doesn't have the time or patience for that, they'll just let you go and hire someone else.
2. in the Army, it takes 3-6 months to chapter someone out, in the private sector, you are fired that day and the paperwork is complete that day.
Like SFC Boyd said, you would be ordered to remove a face tattoo, and that is more painful and slower than getting the tattoo. Refuse the order and you will get kicked out.
Instead of limiting yourself with a face tattoo, take some time to really understand what you want to do on the outside, take some time to plan how you are going to get there, and start that process of getting there about six months from your ETS.
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The fact that you’re asking what kind of discharge you would get makes me wonder if you’re pursuing a face tattoo as an easy out. As a SPC that is so junior in their career, there are so many things personally and professionally that you could be focusing on instead of focusing on a tattoo. Do some soul searching on why you’re so hell bent on getting a tattoo in a very specific place. If you think you’re doing this to get out, an old Chief always told me, “The fastest way to get out is to do your time”. Trying to cheat the system will anger enough people to deadlock you in administrative red tape. That will be far more painful than executing the contract that you signed.
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As soon as you replied with: "I hate the system man I just wanna go home I’m miserable"
I support you getting a face tattoo. Its not a "system" there are rules and regulations, and if you follow them and do your best then you will succeed.
There will always be bad leadership (not just in the military) and learning to 1) deal with them, and 2) knowing that eventually it will pass is how to adapt to it.
Others have already said that this course of action may lead to additional expenses and extended time in the military, but hey that's the "system". Want to do something so drastic and not fulfill your commitment you made shows that this is not the path for you. Which is fine, but there are smarter and less "permanent" ways (eating your way to freedom.)
I support you getting a face tattoo. Its not a "system" there are rules and regulations, and if you follow them and do your best then you will succeed.
There will always be bad leadership (not just in the military) and learning to 1) deal with them, and 2) knowing that eventually it will pass is how to adapt to it.
Others have already said that this course of action may lead to additional expenses and extended time in the military, but hey that's the "system". Want to do something so drastic and not fulfill your commitment you made shows that this is not the path for you. Which is fine, but there are smarter and less "permanent" ways (eating your way to freedom.)
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