Has your military experience inspired you to get a tattoo?

I had 1 tattoo before joining. I am currently sitting at 9 with more to come. Of the 8 I got while in, I actually got a unit symbol on my right forearm while deployed to Iraq. I remember being a kid and being told that tattoos were bad. However all the cool old guys had tattoos on their forearms at the church I was attending. When I asked them about it, they said they got those when they went to war and if I ever went to war, I should get a tattoo there. Being 7 it made perfect sense, being 24 and deployed it made even more sense. One day I am hoping to be an old man telling a 7 year old kid the same thing.

Had one going in. Got a few while I was in, and even more since I got out. I got my mandatory "OhhRah" tat back in 97, just got it touched up a few months ago. Will be adding more to it soon.

The Corps didn't inspire me to get inked, but has inspired some of the choices of what to get.

"Has your military experience inspired you to get a tattoo?"

My military experiences have inspired a great deal over the years.. A tattoo has never been one of them. I don't look down on those that have tattoos....and can appreciate the art, and in meaning of them, so long as they have meaning to the wearer.

Both my adult sons have ink... both designed there own, both have much thought into what the ink means... That i can respect.

I've come close, but not yet. It must speak to me and be special to me. When I find the tattoo I want for me I will get it. I've got Soldier's who have small tattoos that are hard to see and I've got Soldier's who have full sleeves that I think look good and I'm good with that too. Again, when I find what I want, I'll get it, and I don't care what others think.

I think if you feel that it's important and it means something to you than get one.

Nope, never got one. My grandfather, Navy in WWII on a sub, had them all over his forearms. They were mottled by the time I saw them and couldn't really tell what they were.

I have seen a awesome ones and awful ones. If I were to ever get one I would take the time and spend the money to get an awesome one.

losing a buddy is hard. losing one of your own is tough. you try to honor their memory by making a permanent mark on yourself. i respect that, i honor that, i agree with that. if you allow a muslim chaplain to have a beard how can you possibly deny any soldier to honor his fallen comrade with a tattoo. again, the military has changed. not the people in it, not the discipline, it is the leadership that shapes the military much like the administration shapes the country. one's belief should not be forced on everyone. one day we will stop caring about what the anti-military Jane Fonda followers out there say about us. we can quit looking all skinny and pretty and business like we can grow hair, have tattoos, wear non cattlehide boots!!!. until they have walked a mile in the afghan mountains, driven a CLP in the green zone, shot a rifle at a target that shoots back, walked into hell smoked clouds to pull a fallen battle out of a burning vehicle, or held your best friend in your arms as he takes his final breaths, i say you have no vote. i dont care if you think tattoos dont represent a professional appearance. im not a wall street puke. I am an American Soldier. many like me have died. many of those heroes had tattoos. that didnt make them less the soldier.

I want one. I want the 101 patch on my right shoulder where the combat patch would be.

When I was a teenager, my dad told me that I should only get a tattoo that means something to me. To this day, he doesn't remember those words because he was totally against it. However, each tattoo I have has meaning. The only military tattoo that I have is a small "Semper Fi" inscription on my upper back. Not many ppl know about it. At the same time, it's not for them.

It's for me to remember that although my service in the Marine Corps is behind me, the Marines I have served with and continue to service as a transition counselor will always have my back; and that sentiment will forever be reciprocated.

Hell no. I was never so inclined to draw pictures or have writings forever forged on my body. We once got drunk and all went to a tattoo parlor off base back in the day. When asked what I wanted I said nothing. Then he asked if I wanted one what would I get and I told him I would get the Army Air Corp wings circa 1942. He drew it up on paper and it was beautiful, EXACTLY what I was saying. However, I am so thankful even through my drunken stupor I had enough respect for my body not to defile it in any way shape or form. Hopefully my five sons (two of which are US Marines) follow my lead. Hopefully my grandchildren also follow with respecting their bodies.