Tattoos in the Marine Corps and the Military

The Marine Corps has revised its policy on tattooing as of April 1, 2007. The new policy prohibits large tattoos on the forearms and lower legs, as well as large tattoos on the upper arms that could be visible with a work-out T-shirt on. Previously small tattoos on the hands and any tattoo of an offensive nature were banned. Marines had the opportunity to get the tattoos placed before April 1, 200 to be grandfathered in. Failure to comply with the new policy could lead to jail time of 2 years, court martial, and dishonorable discharge.

The new policy on tattooing reads:

The Marine Corps takes a conservative approach to personal appearance. Uniform regulations stress that personal appearance is to be conservative and commensurate with the high standards traditionally associated with the Marine Corps. No eccentricities in dress or appearance are permitted because they detract from uniformity and team identity.

Marines are prohibited from:

a. Tattoos or brands on the head and neck.

b. Sleeve Tattoos. A sleeve tattoo is a very large tattoo, or a collection of smaller tattoos, that covers or almost covers a person's entire arm or leg.

c. Half-sleeve or quarter sleeve tattoos that are visible to the eye when wearing standard PT Gear (T-shirt and shorts). A half-sleeve or quarter-sleeve tattoo is defined as a very large tattoo or collection of smaller tattoos that covers, or almost covers the entire portion of an army or leg above or below the elbow or knee.

d. Tattoos or brands that are prejudicial to good order, discipline and morale, or are of a nature to bring discredit upon the Marine Corps. These may include, but are not limited to, any tattoo that is sexist, racist, vulgar, anti-american, anti-social, gang related, or extremist group or organization related.

Tattoos have a long tradition among our military personnel. They first became popular among sailors that brought the fad to our country. Subsequently, tattoos became popular among all the branches of the military. Soldiers often tattoo the insignia of the branch of the military, names of fallen comrades, or other symbols relevant to their military service. As with the general population, tattoos are often placed at times of stress or life-changing events. Military duty is both stressful and extremely life-changing, making it understandable for soldiers to try to both commemorate and to visually display some aspect of their experience. Many describe tattooing itself as a cathartic experience.

Due to the highly significant nature of the tattoos soldiers receive and the thought that they usually place into their tattoos, it is far less common for soldiers to have their tattoos removed than others, such as teenagers that get tattoos as part of the teenage rebellion. More commonly, soldiers may want tattoos removed that they had prior to their military service and that are no longer a source of pride or significance for them.

The Marine Corps’ revision of their tattoo policy will likely lead to marines being more cautious of what part of the body they get tattooed. It remains to be seen whether Marines will also be sent for tattoo removal by laser if they don’t comply with the new policy.

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