Army announces big changes to the tattoo policy

Army Times — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:46:30 -0400

From: Army Times

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A newly revised tattoo policy that will remove the limit on the number and size of soldiers' tattoos is coming very soon, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno said Wednesday.

The new revision to the appearance policy still prohibits soldiers from having tattoos on their necks, and the ban will remain on tattoos that are extremist, racist or sexist, Odierno said at the AUSA conference here.

The more lenient tattoo rules are based on input from soldiers, he said. Many soldiers have told Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey they want fewer restrictions on tattoos. Some saw their tattoos as a hindrance to advancing in their careers.

Odierno said he and other Army leaders have listened to soldiers.

"Society is changing its view of tattoos and we have to change along with that," Odierno said. "It makes sense. Soldiers have grown up in an era when tattoos are much more acceptable and we have to change along with that."

The rules won't be official until the regulation is updated, which is expected in the "very near future," an Army spokeswoman said.

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/2015/04/01/army-tatoo-policy-change/70783186/

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Apr 1 at 2015 5:31 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 17:31:51 -0400

No problems with most tattoo's here, I'd like to see a pre-surge return to policy.

.....and SMA Daniel A. Dailey, he not only has street credibility, he also has common sense!

http://www.army.mil/article/144229/Dailey_discusses_revised_tattoo_policy_on_Fort_Bragg/?from=RSS

Dailey discusses revised tattoo policy on Fort Bragg

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey revisited Fort Bragg to conduct a town hall meeting with Soldiers to gain an understanding of Soldiers' and Family members' concerns, March 9.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Apr 1 at 2015 5:37 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 17:37:21 -0400

I came back from weekend pass in Fayetteville with a bright new pair of jump wings tat'd on my lower left arm.

The 1st gave me a very heated introduction into the concept of "unauthorized modification of and damage to Government Property"

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 5:59 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 17:59:51 -0400

That's good news. SMA Dailey got things done after getting feedback from Soldiers. I'm impressed.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 11:52 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 23:52:04 -0400

YES!!!! I'll be calling my boy Nick to schedule an appointment the day the change goes into effect.

http://www.precisionbodyarts.com

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2015 2:36 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 14:36:35 -0400

I already had one leg covered before this policy, and had no plans to do my lower arms. But I know a bunch of Service Members who got tattoos on their lower arms when the current change was announced and before it was implemented. The current reg created more of a problem rather than fixing anything.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2015 4:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 16:20:44 -0400

And...it's good to go :)

http://www.thedaonline.com/opinion/article_3c70bb90-dcbc-11e4-9c19-f72017a6db5e.html

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 11:46 AM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 11:46:18 -0400

Now if only the AF would follow... I guess it remains slacks for me while in Service Dress... ((le sigh))

Side note: if you are in Tampa, Jeff S. at Red Letter 1... I will go to no one else! :)

Response by SSG Paul Ellis made Jul 6 at 2015 12:37 AM

SSG Paul Ellis — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 00:37:20 -0400

Good. The only thing the tattoo policy is about now is finding a reason to kick soldiers out of the Army. I hate to say it, but it sounds like an officer-led policy. I say this because in my experience, NCOs don't really care about tattoos (unless they're racist, Nazi, etc....)

I knew a SGT in Korea in the '80s who was tatted like a yakuza. He was one of the best NCOs I have ever known. For the most part, tattoos don't matter.

Response by TSgt Don Dollinger made Nov 11 at 2022 5:14 PM

TSgt Don Dollinger — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 17:14:19 -0500

I disagree, I believe tats are more acceptable now than they were in the past. I see so much body art now-a-days then I ever did growing up. I got mine nearly 50 years ago and were a sign of rebellion then. I have experienced them becoming more acceptable as time went on. A woman with a full sleeve doesn't even draw more than a cursory glance...