The Marine’s ban tattoos below the knee and elbow. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway announced the policy change last week. Some Marines have taken the liberty of tattooing themselves to a point that is contrary to our professional…

AP thanks for the pic!

;)

In general, I tend to think ink for the sake of ink is kind of dumb. Gen Conway is the Commandant and has the right to make that kind of rule if he thinks it enforces good order and discipline. However, I believe in the old Marine Corps maxim that in tattoos, just like in everything else, “there is a waiver for everything.” At least, there should be.

I can understand the military wanting a sharper image, they’ve taken a lot from the press and from these anti war pukes. What a lot of people don’t understand is when you put a uniform of any branch of the Military, it’s not JUST a job it’s who you are. You stand taller, shoulders are back, your chest is out (some more than others), you are a part of something that goes beyond just yourself.

ChrisIansNana on March 29, 2007 at 2:38 PM

Nicely put.
Each service has some set of core values they impress on its members. AF is Integrity First,Service before self and excellence in all we do.

I’m sure the other branches have similar phrases and impress them on the troops from day one.

Wow. That must have felt strange

Yes, it was embaressing especially when he bent down and took a closer look at my ankle but not as bad as the girl with a hickey on her neck. If I remember it right the Lt’s comment was “I won’t ask about the mark on your neck but I don’t think you were working on a car or vaccuuming. It is unbecoming of the uniform and what it stands for.”

I can understand the military wanting a sharper image, they’ve taken a lot from the press and from these anti war pukes. What a lot of people don’t understand is when you put a uniform of any branch of the Military, it’s not JUST a job it’s who you are. You stand taller, shoulders are back, your chest is out (some more than others), you are a part of something that goes beyond just yourself.

Though as others have stated, it is beyond insane that they would do this while a war is in progress. If the tats are causing a problem, make the soldiers cover up. They do it at fast food places all the time. It could even work as an incentive to keep soldiers from getting tattoos that show.

Especially if they’re stationed down south in August.

When I was in the Navy (in the late 70’s) I went out with a couple of Marine friends and ended up with a tatoo on the inside of my ankle. During a dress inspection I WAS wrote up for DEFACING GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. Nothing really happened over it except I wore dark panty hose and no more tatoos.

ChrisIansNana on March 29, 2007 at 11:11 AM

Wow. That must have felt strange.

After reading all the comments, my mind has changed several times over. In the end, I agree that it’s a little lame but completely understand the policy.

Though as others have stated, it is beyond insane that they would do this while a war is in progress. If the tats are causing a problem, make the soldiers cover up. They do it at fast food places all the time. It could even work as an incentive to keep soldiers from getting tattoos that show.

Inevitably someone will get a tatoo that is plain silly and may regret it later. Imagine a crusty old Drill Sergeant trying to be taken seriously while he has a smiley face tatooed on his head. One of the top enlisted AF chiefs about blew a gasket when he went to the mideast and some airman had a porpoise tatooed on the side of his head.

Much ado about nothing IMHO. They can get all the tatoos they want after their time in service is up. Whether at war or not is not the issue — e.g. one has to be 21 to drink. Military leadership is responsible for the safety and well being of its young troops and sometimes just has to enforce some rules that while not popular are prudent. A professional looking force is the desired goal.

Me? I always wanted to get a tatoo of a winking eye on the back of my head if I went bald. Thankfully I still have hair.

Do you mean like the tone of that is snarky?

Quite. I never said we all lost the ability.

I also wouldn’t have put the ban in place during a period of war.

E5infantry on March 28, 2007 at 9:20 PM

There has to be a reason for this ban to happen now….

Tattoos are tacky.

Connie on March 28, 2007 at 11:32 PM

My tatoo is cute

When you are in the Military, you ARE government property

When I was in the Navy (in the late 70′s) I went out with a couple of Marine friends and ended up with a tatoo on the inside of my ankle. During a dress inspection I WAS wrote up for DEFACING GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. Nothing really happened over it except I wore dark panty hose and no more tatoos.

How is Allah different then the generals you insulted back in 2006?

F15Mech on March 29, 2007 at 12:29 AM

That is funny. If you can not see a difference I will not try to point it out. Anyway, ya all have a good time, I have to finish my breakfast of nails.

None. Why does it matter, since I have offered no opinion of the subject at hand?

Slublog on March 29, 2007 at 10:59 AM

Oh.

This is harder to do now that some readers and writers both have devolved into infantile netspeak

Do you mean like the tone of that is snarky?

SluBlog. What Marine unit were you in?

None. Why does it matter, since I have offered no opinion of the subject at hand?

How do you read tone in text or are you assuming tone?

Used to be, people who wrote did so with an eye toward imparting a certain tone to their readers that could be discerned by their choice, meter, and order of words. This is harder to do now that some readers and writers both have devolved into infantile netspeak and annoy-o-cons where the substitution of a painfully obvious graphical representation has seriously retarded our literary abilities. However, it is still possible to determine tone from words alone if one maintains a healthy distance from the SMS plague.

When I see you toting hardware and volunteering to defend the right to associate Marines with tinkerbells, I might have a different opinion of you.