SPC Dave St.Andrew 7387 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It seems to me that the SMA thinks that if you have visible tattoos, that it makes you a unprofessional Solider. Soldiers have had tattoos probably since the beginning of our military. Are they really that bad?&lt;br&gt; 2013-11-17T16:56:54-05:00 SPC Dave St.Andrew 7387

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It seems to me that the SMA thinks that if you have visible tattoos, that it makes you a unprofessional Solider. Soldiers have had tattoos probably since the beginning of our military. Are they really that bad?&lt;br&gt;

2013-11-17T16:56:54-05:00 2013-11-17T16:56:54-05:00 SSgt Private RallyPoint Member 7389

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>no

2013-11-17T17:07:49-05:00 2013-11-17T17:07:49-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 7395

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Some folks do judge based on appearance, and with the new regulations being implemented it does seem that a &quot;war on tattoos&quot; has begun within the military, but I am of the mind that a person should be looked at for all he is (full Soldier/Person concept), not just the way he appears. As long as it cant be seen in ACUS/ASUS, then it shouldn&#39;t matter.

2013-11-17T17:31:31-05:00 2013-11-17T17:31:31-05:00 SGM Matthew Quick 7398

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This isn&#39;t an &quot;SMA thinks&quot; thing...after a decade of relaxed standards, the Army needs to get back to the professional force we are.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Tattoos do not make a &quot;bad Soldier&quot;, but when someone outside the military/country sees tattoos in uniform, it does not present the professional Army we are getting back too.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;If anyone knows CSM Greca, FORSCOM CSM, he gave a brief and really brought to light that tattoos can cause distractions.

2013-11-17T17:42:51-05:00 2013-11-17T17:42:51-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 7455

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;p&gt;NOT even... truth be known it&#39;s a lot of people who have recently come under some major fire, been fired, or imprisoned and they&#39;re INK-LESS.&amp;nbsp; So again, not even.&amp;nbsp; Your bad tendencies have nothing to do with a tattoo.&amp;nbsp; That&#39;s inner evil you haven&#39;t disciplined and me inking a BB&#39;s name who I&amp;nbsp;lost downrange have no semblance whatsoever, IMO.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Now visible tattoos for SOME may present an unprofessional APPEARANCE (which of course can be judged at face value), but for me I see it as more of a distraction from your military appearance.&amp;nbsp; Instead of someone seeing you, they&#39;re paying attention to the 5 tattoos they see crawling out beneath your sleeves and your collar, so again distraction-yes.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;

2013-11-17T19:47:17-05:00 2013-11-17T19:47:17-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 8715

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I really do not believe there is a simple answer to that question. I do not think the SMA is attempting to convey the stereotype that having tattoos make you a &quot;bad Soldier&quot;, I believe he is trying to convey that not having them on particular parts of your body makes you more professional looking. No matter if anyone likes it or not you are judged on your appearance in the military and society as a whole. Back before the ACU era there were these things called &quot;BDU&#39;s&quot; that we starched the hell out of with spit shined boots. With that you were able to ascertain with a good amount of accuracy who the duds and studs were. A Soldier who cares about their appearance, cares about how they are perceived. When they care about how they are perceived they care about their quality of work. When they care about quality of work, they trainer harder, faster, and longer than the average trooper. This is very contagious and not only brings up morale and unit cohesion, but creates a better lineage of NCO&#39;s for Soldiers to emulate. It is all about perception my friend....&lt;br&gt;

2013-11-20T14:12:35-05:00 2013-11-20T14:12:35-05:00 SGT Ben Keen 8735

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Tattoos by no means define a service member as &quot;bad&quot;. &amp;nbsp;The decision of what to get and where to get it can get the service member in trouble sure but just because you have ink doesn&#39;t mean you are a bad Soldier. &amp;nbsp;As stated earlier, the history of tattoos and military service goes way back. &amp;nbsp;Roman soldiers were branded with the letters SPQR and this tradition carries on to this day. &amp;nbsp;I for one, have 14 tattoos. &amp;nbsp;Half of them are related to my time in the service. &amp;nbsp;They are not raciest, sexiest or any of the other &quot;ists&quot;. &amp;nbsp;Does that mean I&#39;m was a bad Soldier? &amp;nbsp;No, it means I have pride in my service and pride in the units I served with. &amp;nbsp;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I think the change in regulation is meant to deter those with facial, neck and other visible tattoos. &amp;nbsp;These could be considered as &quot;unprofessional&quot; by some. &amp;nbsp;I think the same idea can go towards the idea of ear gauging. &amp;nbsp;Would you really want a recruit with huge holes in their lower ear on your line? &amp;nbsp;The possible injuries that can result from that could be very bad.&lt;/div&gt;

2013-11-20T14:42:15-05:00 2013-11-20T14:42:15-05:00 SGT Chris Birkinbine 8736

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This, like many other things is simply a matter of social norms. It is not uncommon today to find Doctors, Lawyers, Judges, and other stereotypical &quot;Professionals&quot; with visible tattoos. &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;I worked in a hospital for 3 years while going to college, and the best doctor hands down, appreciated multiple times by the community had a full sleeve. He wasn&#39;t a better doctor because of it, nor was a great doctor in spite of it. It had zero affect on his professionalism, and ability to care for his patients.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;This is something that 15 years ago, you would not see, because society said it was &quot;Unprofessional&quot; Why? Because it is. Because it always was. However whenever you have a social norm who&#39;s reasons are justified by &quot;Because it is&quot; it will end up changing.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The military is historicaly slower to accept change in social norms than the rest of society. (Blacks, Women, Gays, etc etc), but they DO change too.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Society has already begun to accept tattoos as common place, it&#39;s only a matter of a decade or so before you start seeing top Brass with sleeves and neck tattoos.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Agree or disagree, it&#39;s the way it is, and you will see it soon enough.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;

2013-11-20T14:42:40-05:00 2013-11-20T14:42:40-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 8840

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would not say they are bad, I would say you should not be able to see them when in uniform. I have several and none are visible when in uniform. The biggest problem is the perception that is you have tattoo you are a thug, this is wrong for most people. However, it only takes one to ruin it for others. &amp;nbsp;

2013-11-20T17:47:29-05:00 2013-11-20T17:47:29-05:00 SPC Dave St.Andrew 9331

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Yes SGT Keen, This SPC will vote down your response if it does not go with his opinion.&lt;br&gt;

2013-11-21T17:51:12-05:00 2013-11-21T17:51:12-05:00 CMDCM Gene Treants 9516

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Tattoos alone do not make a &quot;bad&quot;&amp;nbsp;Sailor, Marine,&amp;nbsp;Soldier, or Airman. &amp;nbsp;It is perception that colors our belief in what people are not the reality of who they are. &amp;nbsp;If tattoos are visible in uniform, then others view the tats, and not the professionals wearing them. &amp;nbsp;As we leave the military and begin to try to find jobs, many of us will find that there is a prejudice against people who sport visible tattoos. &amp;nbsp;I am not even talking about piercings here, just tats. &amp;nbsp;As a Sailor with 30 years in the Sea Service, I should be a big supporter of tattoos and do enjoy looking at some of them, however, there has never been enough liquor in any port to allow a tattoo artist to sink a needle into my flesh. &amp;nbsp;Sorry, Tattoos do not make military members bad, but visible ones give the wrong impression in a Professional Military.

2013-11-21T23:58:03-05:00 2013-11-21T23:58:03-05:00 SSgt Private RallyPoint Member 9517

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My father had a tattoo and he was in both the Navy and Air Force.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; He also had a tattoo of a Sailor on his forearm and yet,&amp;nbsp; that didn&#39;t make him bad.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; If the military has changed their policy then there probably is a reason,&amp;nbsp; even if we do not agree because we cannot pick and choose the rules and regulations that we follow.

2013-11-22T00:02:12-05:00 2013-11-22T00:02:12-05:00 CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member 11351

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Tattoos are really not that bad. It is an expression of who you are. Now if you go and get a distasteful tattoo, then I think there are problems that will follow.

2013-11-25T11:47:52-05:00 2013-11-25T11:47:52-05:00 SSG Robert Burns 11368

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>There are many thing that we use to express ourselves. Some people express themselves through their hairstyles. (Go to a highschool and look around, yikes) But just because I want to express myself in the Army doesnt mean I get to wear a pink mohawk. It doesnt have to be that extreme but I think I made my point.

2013-11-25T12:05:47-05:00 2013-11-25T12:05:47-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 11535

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;p&gt;To answer the question&amp;nbsp;(Do tattoos really define you as a bad Soldier?), point blank: No. A Soldier&#39;s actions define weather they are &quot;good&quot; or &quot;bad&quot; at being a Soldier. If the regulation states that a Soldier is not to get any tattoos that are visible in a long sleeve shirt, and he/she does so any way, then they are in violation of the regulation. Period. Regardless of content or intent.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The thing that bothers me the most about this discussion is that Soldiers (of all ranks) take what they read in the Army Times and other media outlets as regulation. Nothing is official until it comes out in an ALARACT or MILPER msg. This is especially troubling when leaders are guilty of this.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;When and if the Army changes the tattoo policy, it is almost certain that Soldiers who are already in, and have tattoos in violation of the new regulation, would be &quot;grandfathered&quot;, meaning they would not be forced out or into an tattoo removal process. They would, however, be prohibited from getting new tattoos in the restricted areas. New recruits would not be allowed to enter service if they do not meet regulations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As for the whole &quot;professionalism&quot; arguement, as a Soldier who has deployed mulitple times to combat (and otherwise), I can atest to the valor, courage and professional excellence of Soldiers who have tattoos and have&amp;nbsp;an appearance that would have the average civilian crossing the street to avoid them. I am also certain that&amp;nbsp; when a Soldier lie bleeding on a stretcher, he/she is not in the least concerned with the number of tattoos below the elbow on the medic who is caring for him/her. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I understand that the military, in general is trying to convey a more professional, clean image, but the bottom line is that we are the nation&#39;s warriors and trying to fit us into the mold of civilians will do nothing but deteriorate the warrior mentality. Just my thoughts. &lt;/p&gt;

2013-11-25T17:49:28-05:00 2013-11-25T17:49:28-05:00 CSM Private RallyPoint Member 26071

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>One of my greatest passions, I have sleeves and am as proud to wear them as I am to wear our uniform. Regulations come and regulations go lol I can still remember walking and smoking in the 90s and yet we were a professional Army, then cell phones came out and again we walked and talked with those! As times change so do the needs for regulations. I can fully understand why the SMA wants to tighten the shot group a bit, we&#39;ve been at war for more than a decade where there&#39;s no clearly defined rules! You go to one post and it&#39;s you can&#39;t do this, don&#39;t wear that, and that&#39;s not authorized here to another installation where there are different standards because that commander has different priorities. 670-1 has been pushed back so many times because of so many changes that I can&#39;t remember what ALARACT or MILPER we&#39;re on.&amp;nbsp;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I have had many leaders over the years give me that wandering eye and to be honest it tickles me to know my decions bother them just enough for them to take notice. In the end, it&#39;s all about work ethic and mission accomplishment.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;

2013-12-22T21:24:25-05:00 2013-12-22T21:24:25-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 26110

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Tattoos do not make a bad Soldier at all. &amp;nbsp;I am a leader and Soldier with no tattoos and I feel tattoos are a big part of the military. Services members get the to remember there fallen brothers and sisters in arms, and it also represents who they really are. With the way the regulation is now about no tattoos on neck or faces is they way it should stay, &amp;nbsp;but I would add no tattoos on hands. So with that being said the Military should let the Soldiers, Airman, Marines, and Sailors be them selfs and &amp;nbsp;express them selfs, but with in limits.&amp;nbsp;

2013-12-22T23:19:36-05:00 2013-12-22T23:19:36-05:00 MSgt Private RallyPoint Member 26116

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;p&gt;It all boils down to &#39;perceptions&#39; - and every single person on this great big world of ours has their own.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What is fine to the individual doesn&#39;t necessarily match military and/or corporate standards/thinking.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Personally,&amp;nbsp;My buddy and I both got a USMC &#39;Devil Dog&#39; tattoo on our upper arm when we were at Camp Lejeune, NC.&amp;nbsp; We got them high enough that short sleeve dress shirts would not show the tattoo - but it would when you wore a T-shirt (thinking ahead I guess).&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I think the bad &#39;perceptions&#39; come about mostly because of all the media coverage of prisons and convicts on various TV shows and news shows.&amp;nbsp; The prisoners for the most part have all types and styles at various places - so the &#39;perception&#39; of tattoos being related to bad things raises its ugly head.&amp;nbsp; Military members are not differentiated from convicts in this sense - it is perceived that convicts are bad and they have tattoos - so then military members that have them that you can see are thought of in the same way.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It is unfortunate, but that is how society is at present.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

2013-12-22T23:27:17-05:00 2013-12-22T23:27:17-05:00 SGM Matthew Quick 26131

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&quot;Possibly&quot; a bad idea...or a good one. &amp;nbsp;Hard to decide until released. ;)

2013-12-23T00:00:55-05:00 2013-12-23T00:00:55-05:00 1SG Steven Stankovich 26253

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;p&gt;Tattoos do not define an individual as a &quot;bad Soldier.&quot;&amp;nbsp; What can define an individual as a &quot;bad Soldier&quot; is if their tattoos are not in accordance with AR 670-1.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I have tattoos.&amp;nbsp; I have tattoos that are visible while in short sleeve ASU and APFU tops.&amp;nbsp; My tattoos are within the guidelines as outlined in AR 670-1.&amp;nbsp; No issues.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;

2013-12-23T08:31:10-05:00 2013-12-23T08:31:10-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 26330

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As long as I am grandfathered in I will be ok with it. I will never understand it but I do understand the neck, face and hand policies. We should all look professional in our perspective uniforms. As far as my forearms and legs..... Whats the problem? Nobody besides us are out at the crack of almost dawn in our PTs... Just a thought. &lt;br&gt;

2013-12-23T12:22:17-05:00 2013-12-23T12:22:17-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 26461

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I personally do not believe that tattoos shouldn&#39;t determine the personal outlook on any soldier. I personally am tattooed and I do not believe my outward appearance should determine my professional determinations. As long as we look professional in our dress and combat uniforms does our outward appearance ink or not should not dictate how we are viewed as soldiers.

2013-12-23T19:52:29-05:00 2013-12-23T19:52:29-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 26468

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Warriors throughout history have used tattoos as a way of expressing their cast, and striking fear into the heart&#39;s of their enemy.&amp;nbsp; I&#39;m not saying everyone should run out and get heavily tattooed, I just think that the regs should go as far as to say, no ink on face, neck, or hands. as long as it cant be seen in a DA photo, I don&#39;t think it should be an issue.

2013-12-23T19:59:36-05:00 2013-12-23T19:59:36-05:00 1SG Jeffery Bertram 26511

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I never forgot the words of my Drill SGT at MP Basic training...&quot;Never get a tatoo below the elbow, above the collar bone and below the thigh&quot; and I never did. A Soldier needs to present himself as a professional whether in ASU with short sleeves or the APFU. I agree with the SMA.

2013-12-23T21:29:13-05:00 2013-12-23T21:29:13-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 26553

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I agree with you. Why dose it matter if I have ink below my elbows or knees. No one will see any of it while I am in uniform anyways. And my ink didn&#39;t change who I am

2013-12-23T22:16:29-05:00 2013-12-23T22:16:29-05:00 SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member 26810

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Tattoos are a public expression of a private experience and reflect the emotions of the wearer. So long as the visible tattoos are not deemed offensive by societal norms, I see no reason to judge the Soldier based on tattoos alone. I have several myself and each has a meaning. I support the fact that we are to be professional Soldiers, but do not feel as though a tattoo should detract from that. The very nature of what a Soldier is required to perform dictates a special mindset, that of a warrior. Warriors from every historical era have adorned themselves with tattoos and other distinct items.

2013-12-24T11:54:02-05:00 2013-12-24T11:54:02-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 42319

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&quot; getting ink done &quot; lol , I say that we as military and the gov are worrying about the wrong things. I see no issue with tattoos&amp;nbsp;at all,&amp;nbsp;its art.

2014-01-22T17:24:33-05:00 2014-01-22T17:24:33-05:00 CW2 Private RallyPoint Member 43470

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I do not have many tattoos. Not because I am against them, but the cost to get a good one. I see the direction that the Army is taking. As we are shrinking down from the war and the force is shrinking, the&amp;nbsp;senior leaders are trying to keep the american people invested in the Army. By limiting the areas where Soldiers can have tattoos&amp;nbsp;they are ensuring that Soldiers have the professional look of a Soldier on and off duty, in and out of uniform. It is the same thought behind having Soldiers clean shaven while off duty. &amp;nbsp;

2014-01-24T14:03:03-05:00 2014-01-24T14:03:03-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 47114

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I don&#39;t think so, but with the era as it is and more people are getting tattoos even earlier in age, future recruitment is going to be very difficult, and if they cannot meet the objective numbers, it may just get waivered again.

2014-01-30T12:37:11-05:00 2014-01-30T12:37:11-05:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 47118

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think in my current platoon and troop more soldiers have tattoos than those that don&#39;t.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;Tattoos definitely do not make you a bad soldier and certainly not an unprofessional one.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;I am in agreement that some tattoos should be removed (i.e. Profane, vulgar and blatantly offensive material) but I am a believer in the self expression of Tattoos and the personal significant meaning behind them.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;It would be flat out wrong to try and state that having a tattoo makes you unprofessional. I work with a great group of soldiers, professionals and experts in their craft, with probably close to 70% having at least one tattoo.&amp;nbsp;

2014-01-30T12:40:37-05:00 2014-01-30T12:40:37-05:00 1SG Michael Minton 48997

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I have no problems with tattoos, i have some myself. However, we have uniform services (i.e we look alike) to help prevent bias&#39;s among other things. thats why we dont have beards, facial piercings, etc. .....the regulations should be the same as when i was in, no visual tattoos, that includes neck, face,,lower arm. rule does not apply in PT uniform or civilian clothing. and the regulation needs to be enforced by recruiters and MEPS.&amp;nbsp;

2014-02-01T19:52:57-05:00 2014-02-01T19:52:57-05:00 CSM Chris McKeown 49025

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As a Old Core Soldier and NCO, tattoos are apart of the US Military and have been since WWII. As long as the tattoos are not on the hands, neck and face area there shouldn&#39;t be any issue on this. I have my fare share of tattoos and I got them all while serving in the Military and they never have interfered with me doing my duty and serving my country. &lt;br&gt;

2014-02-01T20:14:16-05:00 2014-02-01T20:14:16-05:00 CW2 Private RallyPoint Member 49076

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think al long as you can not see the tattoo while in ACU&#39;s and the tattoos are not offensive it should not be a problem. we should be updating the regulation on what is considered an offensive tattoo. &amp;nbsp;

2014-02-01T21:26:25-05:00 2014-02-01T21:26:25-05:00 MSgt Private RallyPoint Member 49111

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I recently spent some extended time with the Army and met a lot of great soldiers, with tattoos on their necks. &amp;nbsp;The immediate impression I had of them though was not good because the tattoos did not look professional. &amp;nbsp;You can say that I am reading a book by it&#39;s cover - but don&#39;t we all judge service members with buttons on their uniform testing the tensile strength of the thread holding them on the uniform?&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;On a cultural note - tattoos have a very negative reputation here in Japan. &amp;nbsp;Do we want a service member with visible tattoos representing the US to a culture that dislikes tattoos?&lt;/div&gt;

2014-02-01T22:15:23-05:00 2014-02-01T22:15:23-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 49134

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This goes back to turning noses up at a pair of pressed, no-holes, clean blue jeans as being &quot;unprofessional.&quot;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To directly address the &#39;tattoos&#39; question, let me take away what I view as the &quot;only&quot; argument against them in this case. &amp;nbsp;We don&#39;t all &quot;look uniform&quot; if tattoos are showing on some of us and not on others.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Now.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Does that matter? &amp;nbsp;I mean, really?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Can anyone come up with a logical, thought-out, decent response to why they shouldn&#39;t be allowed in uniform aside from the above? &amp;nbsp;Or - for that matter - why jeans aren&#39;t acceptable with a button-up shirt, and nice shoes? &amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It seems to me that a lot of the decisions made by humans are purely arbitrary and many of them are traced back to outdated ways of doing business and/or thinking that don&#39;t apply to the here and now.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To back up what the SPC said earlier - I&#39;m more interested [far more interested] in your ability to do your job than what you look like. &amp;nbsp;You have tattoos? &amp;nbsp;Nice, but irrelevant. &amp;nbsp;Can you do your job?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;My analysis is that we can all expect to see things become more and more &quot;entertaining&quot; as the crunch occurs during this downsizing. &amp;nbsp;Many things will come down the pipes we don&#39;t agree with, but it&#39;s best to simply bite the bullet and press forward or risk winding up on the street.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I have a single tattoo and wouldn&#39;t mind getting more.&lt;/div&gt;

2014-02-01T22:46:32-05:00 2014-02-01T22:46:32-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 49240

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>All I have to say is this: Some of the most experienced and combat proven Soldiers I&#39;ve met have tattoos that could be construed as &quot;unprofessional&quot; simply because it&#39;s visible in the PT uniform or even in their dress uniform. However capability should trump visibility, that is sadly, above my pay grade.

2014-02-02T01:16:51-05:00 2014-02-02T01:16:51-05:00 SSG Oliver Mathews 49296

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As much as i hate to admit it. I have to agree with at least part of the SMA&#39;s thought process. Tattoos should not be allowed on the arms. People make the arguement that &quot;You cant see them in Class A&#39;s&quot;. Well there is a Extreme Tropical Class A uniform thats in the new AR670-1, Prior to that it was the ALARACT : <a target="_blank" href="http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/uniform/docs/ALARACT%20message%20332-2010.pdf&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;That">http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/uniform/docs/ALARACT%20message%20332-2010.pdf&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;That</a> being said. Tattoos on the legs? i am on the fence.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;

2014-02-02T02:54:56-05:00 2014-02-02T02:54:56-05:00 SSG Ralph Watkins 49407

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>SMA is a political job. &amp;nbsp;Tattoos don&#39;t degrade a person anymore than any other factor. &amp;nbsp;I was in Iraq in 2004 &amp;amp; the highest ranking SOCOM officer stationed in country was a Navy SEAL O-6. &amp;nbsp;Under the new policy, this guy might get processed out if he were in the Army. &amp;nbsp;He had plenty of body art from his younger, more foolish days as he described it. &amp;nbsp;He was a damned fine officer &amp;amp; leader. &amp;nbsp;When our job is going to war, we don&#39;t need a pretty military, we need one that can fight. &amp;nbsp;The Army has an issue with soldiering. &amp;nbsp;Many commanders &amp;amp; CSMs want their troops to look like little toy soldiers on a board. &amp;nbsp;Looks become more important than capability. &amp;nbsp;It&#39;s the higher ups that need to be scrutinized not those fine troops who have body art.

2014-02-02T08:48:39-05:00 2014-02-02T08:48:39-05:00 MAJ Private RallyPoint Member 64177

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Tattoos are acceptable along as they are not extreme. We recently had an IG Inspection and one of the inspectors had tattoos of women (fully clothed) on both sides of his neck. Is that professional? Is it really necessary? I don&#39;t agree with people who state that tattoos are forms of expression or statements. What good is a tattoo that you yourself can&#39;t see? Defeats the purpose. Tattoos on hands, fingers, necks, and other places that can&#39;t be covered just look unprofessional. It&#39;s like saying I don&#39;t need to wear a suit as a politician or a CEO. I just wish people would stop trying to get organizations to accept them, it&#39;s the other way around. We all have to make compromises.&amp;nbsp;

2014-02-25T12:42:15-05:00 2014-02-25T12:42:15-05:00 SPC Private RallyPoint Member 74162

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As long as your tattoos are not offensive or inappropriate in any way they should not be considered bad.&amp;nbsp; Having tattoos does not make you a bad person or soldier.&amp;nbsp; If that was the case, 90 percent of our Special Forces soldiers would be considered &quot;Bad&quot;, or &quot;Unprofessional&quot;. I assure you, this is not the case.&lt;br&gt;

2014-03-12T03:40:53-04:00 2014-03-12T03:40:53-04:00 Sgt Matthew O'Donnell 74221

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This is crap. We shouldn&#39;t be judged by the art on our arms, but by the content of our character. I swear I have heard something like this before.... Just can&#39;t put my finger on it.&lt;br&gt;

2014-03-12T07:26:35-04:00 2014-03-12T07:26:35-04:00 PO1 Private RallyPoint Member 75005

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I do not believe so. If one has tattoos, all that means is they made a choice to have something permanently drawn on their body. The only way this could make someone a bad Soldier/Sailor/etc. would be the subject matter.

2014-03-13T02:58:09-04:00 2014-03-13T02:58:09-04:00 CW2 Traften Werenskjold 75012

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Professionalism is defined by us as a society. Generally in the military big decisions that change the way we are supposed to think are made by people who are not exactly in touch with what the societal norms are and have had too much exposure to whatever it is that the Good Idea Fairy seems to secrete. That&#39;s part of why things like the new changes to 670-1 take so long. They have to be evaluated and discussed with the people who they are actually affecting. Given the option based solely on appearance between a short haired clean shaven person with no tattoos, versus a long haired bearded person with visible tattoos; what image do you want impressed on the enemy? The question answers itself. Baby faced and wearing starched BDU&#39;s seems good for the people who start stories with &quot;Back in my day...&quot; and I fear as though we as a military fall into a perpetual cycle of &quot;well that&#39;s the way I had to do it&quot;, which is the wrong answer. Professionalism is not and should not be defined as how little hair or ink your body possesses. It is however, in my humble opinion defined by your actions and ability to accomplish a mission. Opera non verba, deeds not words.

2014-03-13T03:15:35-04:00 2014-03-13T03:15:35-04:00 1SG Private RallyPoint Member 76875

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I do not think Tattoos makes an unprofessional Soldier but I also understand visible tattoos can be seen that way.&amp;nbsp;

2014-03-16T09:39:01-04:00 2014-03-16T09:39:01-04:00 SPC David Wyckoff 76880

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;p&gt;My ink is my story. I have tats that represent my family and our service. I have memorial ink for brothers who have gone on to the Hall of Warriors. Each piece displays part of me and my life and my connection to my world. If someone wants to judge me as being a bad person because I have tattoos, then so be it. &lt;br&gt;I don&#39;t have them on my face, neck, hands or places that would interfere with a work place environment. I know we live in a world that requires a certain decorum in a professional setting and I abide by that.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I can&#39;t speak to the new regulation, since I don&#39;t know it and don&#39;t have to live by it. But if I had to make a choice between my service and getting another tattoo. I would put the tattoo off until after I got out. My dedication to my service in the military would take precedence. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

2014-03-16T09:49:17-04:00 2014-03-16T09:49:17-04:00 SPC(P) Delcina Myers 76951

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I have over 35 tattoos, and the tattoos do not defer me from doing my duties. Yes, I get a lot of comments, mostly compliments, about my tattoos, and yes, they show in Summer PTS. But all in all, it shouldn&#39;t make the soldier &quot;a bad soldier&quot;, just a very opinionated one, in the form of art. IMHO.&amp;nbsp;

2014-03-16T13:41:38-04:00 2014-03-16T13:41:38-04:00 SSG Ralph Watkins 76965

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Just remember that years ago the color of your skin or the slant of your eyes used to be used to determine who were good soldiers &amp;amp; sub-par soldiers. &amp;nbsp;Later on it was if you parted your hair in the middle you were a druggy. &amp;nbsp;I had a CSM that sat on the E-7 board in DC &amp;amp; told us he rejected every candidate who split his hair down the middle. &amp;nbsp;It&#39;s a form of prejudice &amp;amp; stereotyping. &amp;nbsp;Just because it is coming from the SMA, doesn&#39;t make him any different of using his own stereotypes in his professional duties.

2014-03-16T14:14:47-04:00 2014-03-16T14:14:47-04:00 MSG Jose Colon 76971

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;p&gt;It is not whether tattoos define the Soldier or not. It is about the appearance of being a professional. Society as a whole will never agree to anything, even less to what is &quot;looking professional&quot;, what is &quot;adequate&quot;, and &quot;respect&quot;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Example: would you freely accept financial advice and invest your money from a guy with expanded holes in his ears, a surgically split tongue, a Mike Tyson tribal tattoo in his face, wearing flip flops when he goes to your house to discuss your financial future?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

2014-03-16T14:28:29-04:00 2014-03-16T14:28:29-04:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 77149

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Just saying I would bet that at least 90% probably way more of our SF force has tattoo&#39;s and sleeves and all that, I know the reg won&#39;t be enforced with them and by all means shouldn&#39;t but your saying the soldiers who have these tattoo&#39;s don&#39;t need to be in the army? Those ones do. On the hand and above the neck got it and agree they shouldn&#39;t be visible in our uniforms minus the IPFU, pt&#39;s while they are one of our uniforms they aren&#39;t for wear out and about so that in my opinion should be the exception.&lt;br&gt;

2014-03-16T20:25:13-04:00 2014-03-16T20:25:13-04:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 77675

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I feel that is a military staple. My own are representative of the two Soldiers that I lost. For the SMA to say they are unprofessional is somewhat unprofessional in my opinion and if he&amp;nbsp;truly feels that way&amp;nbsp;I think he may be &quot;of&quot; the Army but not &quot;in&quot; the Army.&amp;nbsp;

2014-03-17T16:57:26-04:00 2014-03-17T16:57:26-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 77695

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I don&#39;t have any tattoos, nor do I want one.&amp;nbsp;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;As long as it is not visible with sleeves down. I have no problem with them.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If visible on hands, wrist or neck…thats a no-go as it looks un-professional.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If the tat is racist or inflammatory, thats a problem!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;We are still at war, we appear weak to the world and our budget is shrinking. The Army has allot worse things to worry about than tattoos!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;

2014-03-17T17:13:30-04:00 2014-03-17T17:13:30-04:00 SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member 77714

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It&#39;s matter of where and what are the tattoos. You SHOULD NOT have any face tattoos in the Army. Neck and Hands: very simple. You want to stay in, remove them; if not, thank you for your service, I will always be here for you sister or brother.&lt;div&gt;This what the Army is going for and it might change as it always do.&amp;nbsp;&lt;div&gt;Now remember, THIS IS NOT APPROVED YET. So before we jump the gun and start going all crazy about regulations, let&#39;s all wait and see what happens.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I&#39;m currently in Recruiting school and we have people, including myself, that have tattoos in arms and legs that can be see in short sleeves and shorts. I made it to the screening process for the school and so did my peers.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;I have see a lot of Recruiters already that have tattoos like this before I came to USAREC and in the few months I was in my station before the course and they are very successful Recruiters and some of the most intelligent and knowledgeable NCO&#39;s I have met in my almost 9 yrs in the Army.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I have also met SNCO&#39;s, SGM&#39;s and Officers in my old unit and other units in Korea with full sleeves tattoos and this didn&#39;t took away from them being outstanding leaders. Even a old CSM(RET) from my old Division in Kansas have tattoos in his lower arms&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Era of judging because you have tattoos is long gone.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;13 yrs of war memories can be told just by looking at some soldiers, marines, sailors and airmens arms and legs.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;My opinion, feel free to agree or disagree.&lt;/div&gt;

2014-03-17T17:46:57-04:00 2014-03-17T17:46:57-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 78508

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;p&gt;Bad soldier no not truely. To me if you have tattoos on your neck or hands then you are indeed just that UNPROFESSIONAL. You don&#39;t represent the military in a good way when people see this.&amp;nbsp;People assume you look like someone who wants to be rapper, gang member or inmate(said for sleeves, etc&amp;nbsp;too). I say this and yes&amp;nbsp;I do have tattoos. I have both arms sleeved, big one on my chest, side and back, along with my lower legs done. But I can cover them all up when in ASU&#39;s. Also when I get out I can wear a long sleeve shirt and pants to cover them up for another profession. How many Judges, Cops, Lawyers, CEO&#39;s of Fortune 500 business have&amp;nbsp;you see with tattoos on their necks? Sure pro athletes have them all over their body. But lately even some of them catch flak for it for sending the wrong message. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Yes tattoos have been a part of the military they was always abled to be covered when in Dress uniform. They wasn&#39;t seen on the neck or hands. Even then in the 50&#39;s and 60&#39;s tattoos was looked at as a bad thing. Only&amp;nbsp;inmates and&amp;nbsp;bikers&amp;nbsp;had them along with soldiers. &lt;/p&gt;

2014-03-18T17:33:53-04:00 2014-03-18T17:33:53-04:00 SSgt Travis Baker 78736

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Of course not I have 12 and I was always one of the most squared away troops everywhere I went.

2014-03-18T22:42:16-04:00 2014-03-18T22:42:16-04:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 81151

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I completely disagree with it.&amp;nbsp; I have ink as well.&amp;nbsp; I actually have an American Flag sleeve with lady liberty, and the Bald Eagle.&amp;nbsp; I guess my pride for my nation has screwed me.&amp;nbsp; Looks like I will be held back for being a proud American.&amp;nbsp; Oh well.&amp;nbsp; :)

2014-03-21T15:55:43-04:00 2014-03-21T15:55:43-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 85082

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think that those in the National Guard and Reserve are going to have an extremely hard time enforcing the new policy. With the way that units are trying to retain as many soldiers as possible to stay relevant and not lose force structure I don&#39;t see a whole lot of Tattoo related discharges from this side of the house. That all being said I also have ink on my forearms and I on one side see the Army&#39;s point reducing the force for one but also because if you give a Soldier an inch someone will take a mile and then use the very reg you are trying to enforce against you. Some of the 670-1 changes are crazy, not in the sense that they are unreasonable, but the very fact that the Army had spell it out. Such as the part about not altering you teeth. I am sure some SM had fangs or sharpen their teeth to points and then when they got in trouble for it, pointed to the 670-1 and said &quot;there is nothing in here that says I can&#39;t&quot;. I am very glad that they tightened the Hair standards.

2014-03-25T21:03:43-04:00 2014-03-25T21:03:43-04:00 1SG Private RallyPoint Member 87386

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;p&gt;SPC St.Andrew, I have not read all the posts in regard to your question/assumption. So I will offer you this...... &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;SMA Chandler (to my knowledge) has never said that &quot;tattoos define you as a bad Soldier&quot;. It is in his opinion as well as many people that certain tattoos in certain places on ones body create an unprofessional look (again not an unprofessional person). I have tattoos as well, however because I had the same view as SMA Chandler (way before he was the SMA)&amp;nbsp;while getting mine, none of&amp;nbsp;mine are visible when wearing the Class B uniform.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;He has never said that tattoos (in general)&amp;nbsp;are bad, on the contrary if you ever get the chance to talk to him (as I have) he has a son that has sleeves but this still doesn&#39;t change his outlook as far as the professional apperance goes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You have to understand a little more in depth then just thinking about yourself. It is his overall responsiblity to provide the best guidance and leadership that he can for our Army. And just like when you were growing up your parents did the same. While you may not have liked some of the things your parents did or made you do, as you grow older you will appreciate those things (I have anyways). This is an attempt by the SMA to&amp;nbsp; help our Army show the American people and the whole world&amp;nbsp;that we are professionals. Most of the people that will ever judge you in life will not know you. They will see you and immediately judge you based off of what you look like. The haircut generally tips them off that you are either military or in some cases people have even asked if I was a police officer (mostly when open carrying a pistol). So they assume you are military based of your haircut and then begin to judge you on the rest of your apperance. Tattoos may in their eyes distract from a professional apperance. I have read so much complaining on here about this &quot;new&quot; policy that it is getting old quickly.&lt;/p&gt;

2014-03-28T12:03:49-04:00 2014-03-28T12:03:49-04:00 TSgt Private RallyPoint Member 87569

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Fair points, all.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I&#39;m just pissed I&#39;m stuck here in Korea. If I was back in America (where I wouldn&#39;t be worried about hepatitis) I would finish my sleeve time now. I&#39;ve got about a handspace of blank space on my left forearm, and it&#39;s going to look really goofy for the next two years.&lt;/div&gt;

2014-03-28T15:58:57-04:00 2014-03-28T15:58:57-04:00 SGM Matthew Quick 95285

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Regardless of personal opinions, tattoos do not convey a professional appearance in a professional workplace.

2014-04-06T21:45:58-04:00 2014-04-06T21:45:58-04:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 95347

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;font color=&quot;#000000&quot; size=&quot;3&quot; face=&quot;Times New Roman&quot;&gt;<br /><br />&lt;/font&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 10pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=&quot;#000000&quot; size=&quot;3&quot; face=&quot;Calibri&quot;&gt;It is not about being a good or bad soldier. It is about<br />being professional. As soldiers we like to say that in the civilian world I<br />would make $XXX as _____(insert your MOS). However what we forget is that we<br />also have different standards in all kinds of areas. Yes you may make 3 figures<br />a year is an accountant in the civilian world, but you could get past the<br />interview. There is nothing wrong with tattoos, I have several myself. It is<br />all about how we as a professional organization present ourselves to the world.<br />One individual with a bunch of tattoos could ruin it for everyone. I dont think<br />that is likely. Let’s not forget SMA just says no more than four visible in PTs<br />and not sleeves. If that is too strict for a soldier then that soldier needs to<br />decide what is important to them. Tattoos or service to country? sacrifices<br />have to be made in our profession. Look at it like this. Most males are just<br />waiting to get out to grow a beard. Being that a tattoo is permanent you would<br />in theory want that same tattoo when you got out. Think of it as Uncle Sam<br />making sure you really want that Tat.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;font color=&quot;#000000&quot; size=&quot;3&quot; face=&quot;Times New Roman&quot;&gt;<br /><br />&lt;/font&gt;

2014-04-06T23:01:04-04:00 2014-04-06T23:01:04-04:00 MAJ Private RallyPoint Member 101579

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would say it&#39;s not the first requirement that has people have questioned, all we can do is follow it and press for change until such time.

2014-04-14T12:43:57-04:00 2014-04-14T12:43:57-04:00 SGT Ben Keen 101581

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I agree with you. &amp;nbsp;I get the whole thing about appearance and professionalism but you are right. &amp;nbsp;Tattoos do not effect your ability to lead Soldiers. &amp;nbsp;

2014-04-14T12:47:57-04:00 2014-04-14T12:47:57-04:00 SGT Donald Croswhite 101590

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>These are rules for rules sake. How did they come up with the tatoos only being the same size as your hand? So many other real problems could be the focus instead of 670-1. Welcome to Garrison...

2014-04-14T13:02:16-04:00 2014-04-14T13:02:16-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 101595

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It affects my ability to lead&amp;nbsp;the same way it prohibits me from going warrant unless I get selected by July the 1st, hopefully one of these days the craziness will stop, in the meanwhile as always, I will just follow the regulations

2014-04-14T13:06:03-04:00 2014-04-14T13:06:03-04:00 1SG Private RallyPoint Member 101613

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;p&gt;OK so here is a question to your question...... you say &quot;I understand the no neck, face, and hands part of the tattoo policy&quot; and the very next sentence you say &quot;how does the tattoos below my elbow, but above the wrist affect my ability to lead?&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;So here is my question... Purely from being able to lead, (despite the profession and appearance) why would tattoos on your hands neck or face make you any less of a leader than one with them?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I do not have tattoos that are visible while in the summer APFU or in the class B uniform. I got three of my four tattoos while in the Army and did so with looking professional in mind. I see way too many of these threads here on Rallypoint about the new tattoo policy. If it were a policy that supported ones way of life but not anothers then would you be happy about it? (clearly what is going on here with the tattoo policy)&amp;nbsp;The change was made based solely off of visible perception of what a leader should look like. Profession of Arms!! It is one of a few true professions in the world. The leaders of such a profession are expected to look presentable and like professionals at all times. Personally I like tattoos and will likely get full sleeves after I retire. These are just my thoughts and thought I would share.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

2014-04-14T13:38:42-04:00 2014-04-14T13:38:42-04:00 SGM Matthew Quick 101691

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It doesn&#39;t ACTUALLY affect the ability to lead...it affects the ability to be commissioned.&lt;br&gt;

2014-04-14T15:29:04-04:00 2014-04-14T15:29:04-04:00 CSM Private RallyPoint Member 101696

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;font color=&quot;#000000&quot; size=&quot;3&quot; face=&quot;Times New Roman&quot;&gt;<br /><br />&lt;/font&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 10pt;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=&quot;#000000&quot; size=&quot;3&quot; face=&quot;Calibri&quot;&gt;I don’t think it would affect your ability but could affect<br />your credibility. There are some people out there (I won’t mention Rank or<br />Names) that feel if you don’t look a certain way you could not be taken seriously<br />at all. I personally don’t think this way (the proof is in the pudding) if you<br />uphold the Army Values and have the appropriate leadership skills lead on.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;font color=&quot;#000000&quot; size=&quot;3&quot; face=&quot;Times New Roman&quot;&gt;<br /><br />&lt;/font&gt;

2014-04-14T15:34:58-04:00 2014-04-14T15:34:58-04:00 1SG Private RallyPoint Member 101712

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Just have to embrace the &quot;suck&quot; and drive-on!

2014-04-14T15:49:59-04:00 2014-04-14T15:49:59-04:00 PO2 Rocky Kleeger 101783

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Ooh Rah tattoos.&amp;nbsp; They are a staple of the military.&amp;nbsp; Do they affect the ABILITY to lead?&amp;nbsp; No.&amp;nbsp; Thre are certain jobs and promotions that you cannot get if you have them, but I don&#39;t think that tattoos affect leadership qualities.

2014-04-14T17:15:17-04:00 2014-04-14T17:15:17-04:00 MSgt Keith Hebert 101798

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It does not affect your ability to lead. I just think as long as they are visible in any uniform then there is no problem

2014-04-14T17:44:27-04:00 2014-04-14T17:44:27-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 102025

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It ties in with new accessions. Just as a Soldier coming into the military can&#39;t have tattoos on the forearms, if you apply for OCS, WOCS, or Green to Gold, you are being accessed as a new Officer. The same standards apply. I don&#39;t think it affects my ability to lead, but it can still be viewed as appearing unprofessional. Personally, I don&#39;t think that most of America feels that tattoos are uncommon or unprofessional anymore, but in the Army we don&#39;t just deal with Americans.&amp;nbsp;&lt;div&gt;I think I echo a lot of sentiments in believing that we should allow tattoos on the legs and forearms.&lt;/div&gt;

2014-04-14T21:58:29-04:00 2014-04-14T21:58:29-04:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 102307

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My opinion is it is a bit absurd. Tattoos for many of us is out way of remembering the things we have done throughout our careers and life. At no point could you look at my tattoos that are visible could you question my commitment to my family and country. Why should that affect my ability to become an officer? The answer is it doesnt again another situation of someone trying to leave their footprint on the army. Your opinion doesnt matter we just have to do what we already do, take it enforce it and drive on.

2014-04-15T09:14:33-04:00 2014-04-15T09:14:33-04:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 107411

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;p&gt;I love the fact that&amp;nbsp;you will see people talking on their cell phone or facebooking non-stop while at work&amp;nbsp;but, it&#39;s that the tattoos that matter. Even though they have nothing to do with work and you see mine 1 time&amp;nbsp;during the day, which is&amp;nbsp;at PT. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;There&amp;nbsp;are going to be a lot stupid rules coming out in the&amp;nbsp;next couple years as they start the draw down...cause lets be honest,&amp;nbsp;the easiest way to get rid of people is to put a stupid rule out there that forces people to leave.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I have been in the&amp;nbsp;National Guard&amp;nbsp;for 10 years, done two deployments, and worked&amp;nbsp;full time for the last 6 years. I am just hoping they come out with&amp;nbsp;a 10 year early retirement plan&amp;nbsp;so I can pop smoke before people go full retard&lt;/p&gt;

2014-04-21T12:51:45-04:00 2014-04-21T12:51:45-04:00 SFC Christopher Walker, MAOM, DSL 107498

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Yes, I agree that this isn&#39;t fair for some of us. Tattoos, in no shape or fashion, affects your leadership. I think the Army is trying to prepare us for the civilian world. Most employers have strict tattoo policies that are similar to the new&amp;nbsp;AR 670-1. Believe it or not, we get tattoos not thinking about the future. The Army is trying to be proactive and make these changes now for the new Soldiers trying to get in.

2014-04-21T15:00:20-04:00 2014-04-21T15:00:20-04:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 112481

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think everyone will agree with me that perception is factor that goes a long way when first meeting new soldiers especially in this &quot;Call of Duty&quot; generation. Not saying all new soldiers think alike when they do but if they do see tattoos then some would be more incline to follow your direction faster than others. Tattoos today kind of act as that icebreaker buffer. To some soldiers if you have them, then I&#39;m more incline to follow your lead. To others, if you have them, I&#39;ll follow your lead because as a soldier that is what I&#39;m suppose to do but I&#39;ll choose not to get to know you as much personally because your tattoos either turn me off to a point where I can&#39;t really approach you or because they frighten me which makes me think you&#39;re really not that approachable. I see where the Army is trying to do but at the same time its going to be a negative effect because numbers are going to drop across the board in enlisted, Warrant &amp; Commission causing the Army to critique the policy

2014-04-26T23:26:51-04:00 2014-04-26T23:26:51-04:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 112956

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I am for certain parts of the new policy and against some of it.<br /><br />The parts that I agree with are not new. No extremist tattoos, no racially biased/hateful tattoos, no hand, neck, or facial tattoos. Those aren&#39;t new rules. I agree with them since they take away from our professional image. No need to beat that horse to death.<br /><br />Limiting how big a tattoo is on someone&#39;s body is ridiculous! If someone wants to get a full back piece, who cares! You aren&#39;t going to see it when he&#39;s in uniform, so why worry about it?<br /><br />Sleeves? Why are these an issue if it stops at the wrist? I honestly don&#39;t get it.<br /><br />These are costly, and unique works of art that soldiers for centuries have been using for self expression. Why change something that is a voluntary tradition?<br /><br />Honestly, going back to the pre-2006 policies would have served just fine to suit the reduction in force, and maintain the professional look required of us.

2014-04-27T14:43:47-04:00 2014-04-27T14:43:47-04:00 CW3 Private RallyPoint Member 114782

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>16,000 signatures just prompted a look into the recently changed regulation on grooming standards. What the signatures pertained to doesn&#39;t matter, what does is the fact that people keep going on about this, but aren&#39;t doing anything about it. I&#39;m sure there are more than 16,000 service members with tattoos... just my two cents.

2014-04-29T19:18:09-04:00 2014-04-29T19:18:09-04:00 CW3 Private RallyPoint Member 114791

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>16,000 signatures just prompted a look into the recently changed regulation on grooming standards. What the signatures pertained to doesn&#39;t matter, what does is the fact that people keep going on about this, but aren&#39;t doing anything about it. I&#39;m sure there are more than 16,000 service members with tattoos... just my two cents.

2014-04-29T19:26:40-04:00 2014-04-29T19:26:40-04:00 MAJ Private RallyPoint Member 116789

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>How does having extra weight effect your ability to lead? I have seen Soldiers bust tape and score a 300 on the PT test. The Army says you will look a certain way and this is another aspect. Does having a Mohawk or crazy haircut effect your ability to lead. Probably not but you are supposed to look professional and this is the standard.

2014-05-01T21:53:28-04:00 2014-05-01T21:53:28-04:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 116826

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>ABSOLUTELY.NONE.WHATSOEVER<br /><br />This is the politically correct garbage that is going to sink us as a military. Again-everyone in the US military has trained on a rifle to some form or fashion, and while they cant take up arms, Chaplains are still in the fight. We are killers when it boils down to it, and the Marines have it right, riflemen first, MOS second.<br /><br />With that being said, we need to stop being so politically correct and proper with our enemies. Look how well it worked out for the British and how &quot;gentlemen&quot; fight warfare. It was unconventional tactics that worked-and while uniforms were barely heard of for the Continental Army, every man was a fighter. <br /><br />I leave you with two quotes:<br />&quot;Lean from the mistakes of others as you will not live long enough to make all of them yourself&quot;<br /><br />&quot;Be careful, a small leak can sink a great ship.&quot;<br /><br />Mark my words-stupid policies based on tattoos and haircuts should be the last of our worries when budget crisis&#39; and the loss of critical assets from all branches of service are at an all time high.

2014-05-01T23:09:20-04:00 2014-05-01T23:09:20-04:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 117835

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I dont think tattoos affects anyones ability to lead. The Army keeps beating the drum about image, image, image. But like the camera commercial w/ Andre Agassi once stated, &quot;IMAGE IS NOTHING&quot;. I can understand the importance of a professional image and all, but clean cut image will not make you smarter, and shoot, move, and communicate better. Why cant the Army apply this much effort into more important things such as updating body-fat measurements, and updating AR 600-9

2014-05-03T14:34:02-04:00 2014-05-03T14:34:02-04:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 117850

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This is what the Vice Chief of Staff GEN Campbell said yesterday, &quot;They need to fix the reg, and they should be doing so in the near future.&quot; From what he said, I don&#39;t believe the intent was to bar current tattoo holders that are grandfathered in, but to prevent future ones from taking those positions. Additionally he said something about Soldiers currently having a year to drop OCS/Warrant packets before they will be targeted by that reg. I understand that&#39;s not what most folks are getting out of it, so I&#39;m wondering if there&#39;s a typo.

2014-05-03T14:49:41-04:00 2014-05-03T14:49:41-04:00 SFC Michael Garutti 118081

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>When I first joined in &#39;88 the same policy was in affect and was until the standards had to be lightened to get numbers up for the War on Terror. No one complained or argued back then about! It was how it was and if you didn&#39;t like you didn&#39;t need to join. Now with the draw down it back to how it was, at least you&#39;re grandfathered in if you have a sleeve. But again if you want it now and don&#39;t like the regs, get out. <br />People seem to forget this is not a new policy! It&#39;s just BACK in effect.

2014-05-03T21:21:05-04:00 2014-05-03T21:21:05-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 134602

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Let me try to answer this as a former civilian employer who hired vets. Your tattoos are an individual choice and albeit very personal to many however I must consider the public view. You as an employee represent my company to the public and that image portrayed must be professional. Do I agree with the tattoo stigma? No, but it is there regardless and when I need someone to represent my company professionally to customers their view of you matters.

2014-05-25T08:12:26-04:00 2014-05-25T08:12:26-04:00 SFC Kevin Doody 134692

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>No, having Tattoos doesn&#39;t and shouldn&#39;t define you as being good or bad. And I personally feel it is disgusting that the Army is subjecting Soldiers to the humiliation of having their tattoos photographed and uploaded for &quot;identification purposes&quot;. And the attitude of many people is &quot;what&#39;s the big deal&quot;. well, how big of a deal would it be if the Army decided that for the safety of those Soldiers that have come out as Gay, Lesbian or Bi; that they need to have them identified in a special file, and their records annotated as such. You know, just to be able to identify them in case some sort of violence is directed at them, so the command can more easily direct any potential investigation. Or, maybe we should identify those children whose parents are gay; that way if they are picked on at school we will have a better idea as to why they were targeted; you know just for the kids safety. And of course we should have photos and identify those Soldiers who are members of organizations like the Masons, or Demolays, or other &quot;secret&quot; organizations so we as an Army can better ensure that people who are involved in underground organizations are known to their commands. I was looking at a WWII site and it showed pictures of members of the SS doing the same thing; taking pictures of Tattoos on Jews, so that they would be easier to identify if they needed to pick them up. So, I guess we should be glad that at least our leadership is taking its cues for &quot;how to best identify people&quot; from another highly professional organization.

2014-05-25T11:57:39-04:00 2014-05-25T11:57:39-04:00 MAJ Private RallyPoint Member 135054

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I do not have tattoos. I do not believe in them. I do not think having them makes you a bad Soldier. I do take them on a case by case basis when I see them on Soldiers. I have to believe that because people say perception is everything, that it can be deemed as unprofessional in a lot of situations on the Soldier wearing them. Officers probably should be held to a higher standard where they are concerned in my opinion.

2014-05-25T22:22:48-04:00 2014-05-25T22:22:48-04:00 SSG Maurice P. 283348

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>i bet the sma would have felt intimidated if he was to go back to the late 69 early 70&#39;s military<br />we were mostly high school dropouts that the courts had ordered to go in the military<br />rowdy drank hard smoked pot and fought like dogs in the barracks we werent politically correct sma but we had your back if need be

2014-10-18T16:18:10-04:00 2014-10-18T16:18:10-04:00 SGT Richard H. 283353

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Question with a question: Does the LACK of tattoos define you as a GOOD soldier?

2014-10-18T16:25:21-04:00 2014-10-18T16:25:21-04:00 SGT Marvin "Dave" Bigham 283451

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I do not think they are &quot;bad&quot; and are not so much unprofessional as &quot;indicative&quot;. Depending on the artwork, words and colors used, and placement/visibility a tattoo certainly &quot;marks&quot; the wearer/owner. The problem is not the tattoo but what others think about it. I have met professionals (military and civilian) with horrid &quot;works of art/expression&quot; that permanently mark their bodies but have little impact on their ability to perform their assigned and personal tasks. Hell, a uniform &quot;marks&quot; a person but cannot make them good at what they are expected to do.<br />Bottom line is, the military is to follow orders; that means a haircut twice a month for most of us and what we are to wear on duty. If we are restricted from getting a tattoo or piercings, that&#39;s the way it is. Drive on!

2014-10-18T18:18:34-04:00 2014-10-18T18:18:34-04:00 1LT Private RallyPoint Member 313620

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think as long as it doesn&#39;t show in your ASU/ACU and isn&#39;t hateful to another group, it shouldn&#39;t matter.

2014-11-06T11:19:44-05:00 2014-11-06T11:19:44-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 429883

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Tattoos do not make us bad soldiers. Not being able to follow regulation after its been published, and not documenting like we are supposed is whats making us bad soldiers due to a lack of discipline.

2015-01-21T22:44:43-05:00 2015-01-21T22:44:43-05:00 SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr. 429983

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Tatoos do not define who you are unless you want them to. Otherwise getting a tatoo is like going to a party an drinking whats there.<br />I have 3. The last done in 92. I want more as does my wife who has 3 but family and life trump ink.<br />Right arm is MILITARY left is musician.<br />Ill be not fond of for this but I dont like sleeves. Too much. And less than half I know who have them is in definition to them versus I want a sleeve.<br />Worse is foot and ankles and any thing neck throat and behind the ears along with tear drops are a &quot;really&quot; moment. Drop your pants below your buttocks while your at it.<br />Tats define you and stay with you. Bad choice now makes the blob 40 years later worse. Some regret it. Its a choice, be sure its the right one because unlike a summer tan that goes away, ta5s dont nor do the scars after chosen removal.<br />My 2 Bits

2015-01-21T23:48:41-05:00 2015-01-21T23:48:41-05:00 SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr. 430021

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Hell be gone soon. <br />My opinion but he tried to make the army too much in the way he imaginged it despite popular opinion.<br />Imagine if he was Gen Shinsekis (SP) SMA.<br />Ill shut up now:)

2015-01-22T00:14:44-05:00 2015-01-22T00:14:44-05:00 CW5 Private RallyPoint Member 780290

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>So what defines professionalism? In ADRP 1 - The Army Profession, it states that what is considered professional is determined by the culture. The next question is what defines our culture in the military? Is it top driven or led by the masses? <br />You may not like the answer but from where I sit, it is top driven through the use of regulations. It changes as the years go by through lessons learned and the culture shift from the general population (and some political decisions too).

2015-06-30T10:12:28-04:00 2015-06-30T10:12:28-04:00 David Wawrzyniak 2085625

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It did with me and my past...but no regrets other than I could wear the uniform and hopefully help someone some were

2016-11-17T20:55:15-05:00 2016-11-17T20:55:15-05:00 SGM Bill Frazer 7490842

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>use to be having just 1 tat, but no, now you want dozens of tat&#39;s. Are you a soldier or a gang banger? Now, does someone have to take pics and exam the tat&#39;s to ensure no gang-related or extremist connections

2022-01-22T20:30:36-05:00 2022-01-22T20:30:36-05:00 CPL Earl Kochis 7491061

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>So attacking tattoos is okay but saying that a person who can’t decide what sex they are is wrong? I am so over this new army and these social experiments! If you can’t control your emotions or mentally figure out that biology 101 states tgere are only two genders but omg tattoo guy is bad gtfo! Seems to me we need a change in leadership!

2022-01-22T23:20:05-05:00 2022-01-22T23:20:05-05:00 MAJ Ken Landgren 7491193

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It means you have too much money.

2022-01-23T00:49:27-05:00 2022-01-23T00:49:27-05:00 CSM Darieus ZaGara 7491643

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Ratios have been controlled in the Army since at least post WWII. Tattoos often represent something and often nothing. Like spoken language some are offensive to others. Unlike the spoken word you cannot stop the message of an exposed tattoo. The rules were as refined in the 90s, tattoos not to be visible above the collar, or on the arms below the sleeve. <br /><br />What this will come to is offensive exposed tattoos will be the issue. Next it will be that if X cannot be viewed than neither can Y. Therefore all must not be visible based on Z. <br /><br />The SMA is a great leader and very principled man who is even keeled and decisive. I am sure whatever he and his boss decide will be best for the forces.

2022-01-23T09:52:31-05:00 2022-01-23T09:52:31-05:00 2013-11-17T16:56:54-05:00