Has your military experience inspired you to get a tattoo?

I always told myself the only way I would ever get a tattoo is if I joined the military, thinking I would never join because I've never been surrounded by the military at all. No one in my immediate family served and I didn't live near a military base. I always thought so highly of the military and didn't think I had the balls to join. Sure enough after a year of college, I decided to join the Army National Guard. A year later I got a tattoo that incorporates my religion and a little bit of woodland camouflage in the outline. So yes, the military has inspired me to get a tattoo.

Thought about it and decided against it. One of my neighbors growing up, he and his six brothers all served in the Navy in WWII. They got covered with tattoos. When these gents got old, they got really fuzzy and looked like heck. Most of them said, "Don't get tattoos. You'll hate it much later in life. The only ink marks on my body are three blue dots so the doctor knew where to aim the radiation guns when I had cancer.

I got one when I was in the Philippines. I have never regretted it and would like to get a few more.

I got my first ink during my first deployment. Inspired by my service? definitely! A flying dragon holding an anchor. Doesn't scream NAVY but does represent it in many ways.

Much more ink came later - none that I regret.

More ink to come.

No!! Hate needles!! But I was on a base ball team with a young lady that had several tats and we were on a bus going to Groton CT. for a tournament and she was telling us about what other tattoos she wanted to get and I piped up and said "Ya, I'm going to get Heman on my Chest holding up my TITS!!" Well when we got back the story was told several times and eventually it got back around to my Division Chief and he thought I really had this tattoo!! Guess you had to be there. LOL

I have always admired those who had tattoos; especially if it looked complicated and took a painful process to complete. I just never saw myself with one and not sure I could pull it off. I am just not cool like that.

NO !

No I always wanted a tattoo of a sparrow cause it reminds me of my father and then I found out it was also a navy tat so now I really want it.

I always felt that during my career I would get a tattoo at some point, but over time just never followed through. I had even spent a lot of time working with someone on the design, but have just finally decided not to get one done. I have always been fascinated by them and will usually stop and ask questions when I see a really unique one that grabs my interest.

I had tattoos before I joined the military, but I was inspired to get some after I joined based on the traditions and history of my service. Before I was only interested in Religious tattoos, after joining the Coast Guard, I started leaning more towards the nautical themes. So the military is not the reason I started getting tattoos but it did inspire some of the tattoos that I have.