Can i join army with tattoos

Army Tattoo Regulations can be found here. Marine Corps Bulletin changed tattoo regulations for Marines in June of Tattoos on the arms must be two inches below the elbow or one inch below the elbow.

Full or half sleeves are not acceptable. Tattoos on the legs cannot be placed two inches above or below the knees. Marine Tattoo Regulations can be found here. Air Force Tattoo Regulations can be found here. Commandant Instruction Tattoos are prohibited on the neck, head, face and hands.

Coast Guard Tattoo Regulations can be found here. Active service members who enlisted before the new regulations are grandfathered in for their existing tattoos. Service members who add or alter tattoos that are in violation of regulations could face disciplinary action. That could be something as simple as being reprimanded, but it could also go as far as to include an administrative separation, depending on the tattoo and the circumstances surrounding your choice to keep it.

You will be required to have the tattoo removed at their own expense outside of government facilities. You will need to choose a private clinic and pay for the tattoo removal out of pocket. For recruits, you can request a waiver from your recruiter, but there is no guarantee of getting that waiver.

Even if you a get waiver for your tattoos, you still might want to have them removed to have a better chance advancing in rank. If your plan on making the military your career, it might make sense for you to have tattoos removed that are technically within regulations. The memorandum and enclosures will not be reviewed by promotion boards.

Commanders will perform an annual check for new tattoos or brands above the neckline, below the elbows, or below the knees. If any new unauthorized tattoos are found, the Soldier must be processed in accordance with paragraph 3—3h. See DA Pam —1 for further instructions regarding the memorandum and enclosures.

In addition to the tattoo and brand validation in paragraph 3—3e, commanders will also conduct a simultaneous check for extremist, indecent, sexist, and racist tattoos.

See DA Pam —1 for further instructions regarding this check. If such tattoos exist, the Soldier must be processed in accordance with paragraph 3—3h. The tattoo restrictions enforced in paragraphs 3—3c 1 through 3 apply equally to officers and warrant officers. Enlisted Soldiers who have tattoos that were compliant with previous tattoo policies grandfathered tattoos may request commissioning or appointment, if otherwise eligible.

Commanders will ensure that Soldiers understand the tattoo policy and comply with the requirement to document their tattoos. The DA Form Developmental Counseling Form will state that the Soldier is not in compliance with AR —1, paragraph 3—3, and will explain how the tattoo or brand violates the specific prohibition in the policy for example, the tattoo is extremist because it is a known symbol for a specific hate group; or the new tattoo is in a prohibited location.

Soldiers will receive a reasonable amount of time to schedule the necessary medical procedure s and pay for such procedure s if not available at a military treatment facility. Commanders must also determine if operational requirements will delay the medical procedure s. The commander will then initiate administrative separation proceedings.

This authority will not be delegated further. Appropriate authorities for accession determinations are listed in paragraphs 1 through 6 below. Military Academy cadets, prior to enrollment and prior to commissioning, that tattoos or brands comply with this policy. This authority may be delegated further. Determinations for accessions will be fully documented, in writing.

Back to Can I join. If your tattoo is offensive, obscene or racist it will stop you joining. Here is our quick guide to the basic rules. Some body piercings will stop you joining, or re-joining: Piercings that change the way you look, like a 4mm flesh tunnel or larger ones. Not sure where to start, or what you could do?