Posted on Sep 24, 2014
Has your military experience inspired you to get a tattoo?
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36% of service members and veterans have tattoos, and more than half of them got their tattoos before deploying. Did you get a tattoo after you joined the military? What inspired you to get one or more?
Tattoos
Infographic
Art
Command Post
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 207
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No ink tattoos for me ever. My tattoos are in the form of body scars and mind imprints. Nice thing about a scar over a tattoo is that you can lie about it to the grandchildren: "and this one is from the time saved your grandmother from being eaten by the lions and the hyenas. I had a lion in this hand, a hyena in this hand, and I was choking them both. This scar is where grandma bit me for not doing it fast enough."
Honestly; I don't want pictures on my body reminding me or anybody else of some of the things I've done and experienced. However, I respect those of you who do.
Honestly; I don't want pictures on my body reminding me or anybody else of some of the things I've done and experienced. However, I respect those of you who do.
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MAJ Joseph Parker
Thank you, SGM Coberly. You are correct about that. The usual contact with the Soviets for us went blonde-brunette-redhead (they were sooooo predictable), then Mr. Gruff and Ugly.
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SGM (Join to see)
SGT Hastings, remember them well...no one messed with gangsters. Navy was fair game.
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If there's a trend for military members to get tats, then I'm the one who is bucking the trend. I've never been one to follow the pack, especially when it comes to skin art. Don't miss understand me, I like the creativity of tattoos, they are just not my style.
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I was a Naval Combat Corpsman, and I became disabled so I couldn't serve anymore. I REALLY miss being a Navy Corpsman. It was my life. I now have a tat on my right shoulder that say Combat Corpsman forever, with a pic of a Caduceus .
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LTC Hillary Luton
SSG Laureano Pabon, I can understand that and you sound exactly like me when I was younger. I was firmly against tats. But as I got older, I decided if the tat had a definite meaning, it was ok. My brother has LOTS of tats, and I will never go that route, but as long as a tat is tasteful, I can accept it. I have one and only one and it will be the only one I ever get, but it means something to me and it is well hidden. I look at it as a splurge event, but just can't justify spending that kind of money on ink again. :-) Never, ever do anything like that unless you are doing it for real purpose or meaning. OH, and by the way, I was 46 when I got a tat. That tells you how long it took me to convince myself it I could do it.
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SSG Laureano Pabon
LTC Hillary Luton Tat never really got my attention. I seen many people have one, but I personally never saw any real meaning behind them much more on my physical body. I'm 56 years old now and I find my body is the way I like it. Eve during my service time I never found any real interest. I have meet some people whom had tat with there husbands name or initials in there bodies with regrets because there no longer together. I figures clean I came, clean I go.
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LTC Hillary Luton
SSG Laureano Pabon, I certainly don't blame you. I agree with not putting a name as a tat. Can't see doing that. Good for you for sticking to your guns. I don't regret my choice, but I won't do it again. :-)
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I have wanted to get one for years, and I told myself that once I retired I would. I still do want one, but I just haven't decided on WHAT (it won't be 'stock' and it will be meaningful to ME). As to whether or not my military experience was (or will be) and inspiration, I would have to say yes.
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MSG Wade Huffman
TSgt J.D. Hall , agreed! Once I have decided on the WHAT, there is a very short list of WHO will be doing the work... I want a good piece of ART.
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MSG Wade Huffman
PFC Kenneth Koepke , I completely agree... I've kicked around some ideas (several times actually) but I still haven't found IT. I'll know when I do though!
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tattoos are permenant which should be personalized and have a special meaning to the owner. not be in your face obscenity or something picked out off a shops wall display
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SGT Robert Hawks
I have never felt the need for a tattoo plus I promised my Mother 40 years ago I would never get one my Dad had two that he deeply regreted
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1SG Frank Boynton
Just the opposite. I got a tattoo just before joining the Army in 1972. My father had so many tattoo's I thought they were cool. Both his arms and his chest and a couple on his legs long before tattoos were cool. Anyhow, I got the one on my upper arm and had considered getting a couple more, but my desire to advance to higher grades kept me from doing it. I was counseled a few times by wise old NCO's not to get anymore. That's the reason I didn't, and it turned out for the best. After getting the one at 17 I have never desired to get another one and I turn 60 this month.
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SFC Istvan Nagy
No. Although, most of my army buddies and even some of my relatives have tattoos, especially the ones that served in the military. I personally don’t have anything against them; it was a personal decision.
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Yes, it did. I got me an Army tattoo after I retired. I joined up in 1975, just about two weeks after the Army's 200th birthday, so my "Army 75" tattoo is something I'm proud of.
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Infantry cross rifles on my left shoulder. Got it after graduation from AIT.
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