I'm kinda in the same boat. I am 26 and won't graduate college until next summer (@27) and will need a tatoo waiver for one on my lower leg/ankle area. I think I am going to submit a package for PLC this summer and see how it goes. The oso told me it would have been easier if I smoked a pound of weed a day than a tatoo waiver, but who knows.
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Tattoo questions
- Thread starter BRM21o
- Start date
Tattoos shouldn't be a problem. There were some new regs that came out a few years ago regarding how the Tattoos were allowed to be displayed (i.e. - what was allowed to show while in uniform). You should be OK tho as long as it doesn't have the remote chance of it being out of line.
When I was at OCS, the Colonel made a prior enlisted candidate who was a Force Recon Scout Sniper go out in town with a Sgt Instructor and get his "SS" - which stood for Scout Sniper - tattooed over because it could be construed as standing for the Waffen SS and therefore racist. So as long as it doesn't have any thing along those lines I think you should be ok. You'll have to write up a statement as to what the meaning of it is, why you got it and take pictures of it for your waiver, at least that's what I had to do and Im pretty sure it's still the same gig.
When I was at OCS, the Colonel made a prior enlisted candidate who was a Force Recon Scout Sniper go out in town with a Sgt Instructor and get his "SS" - which stood for Scout Sniper - tattooed over because it could be construed as standing for the Waffen SS and therefore racist. So as long as it doesn't have any thing along those lines I think you should be ok. You'll have to write up a statement as to what the meaning of it is, why you got it and take pictures of it for your waiver, at least that's what I had to do and Im pretty sure it's still the same gig.
LOSLOAR,
I was a "1N2" in the Air Force, Intel. What branch did you serve in? Did being prior service benefit you while trying to obtain an Air contract?
All,
Ok, well from the replies it sounds like the tattoos won't be too much of an issue. Has anyone here reveived a tattoo waiver? And as far as my age, I just turned 28 a few weeks ago. With four years of prior service could my age prevent me from being accepted for an Air contract? Anyone on this forum receive an age waiver? If so, how old were you when you did?
I know regs are constantly changing and what might have been waiverable a year ago may not be the case today. Does anyone know the most recent regs on age waivers?
I was a "1N2" in the Air Force, Intel. What branch did you serve in? Did being prior service benefit you while trying to obtain an Air contract?
All,
Ok, well from the replies it sounds like the tattoos won't be too much of an issue. Has anyone here reveived a tattoo waiver? And as far as my age, I just turned 28 a few weeks ago. With four years of prior service could my age prevent me from being accepted for an Air contract? Anyone on this forum receive an age waiver? If so, how old were you when you did?
I know regs are constantly changing and what might have been waiverable a year ago may not be the case today. Does anyone know the most recent regs on age waivers?
I dont know about the Marine side but I was recently accepted to the Navy BDCP for NFO (prior AF) and I have a few tattoos as well. I have two large tattoos, one each arm, both of which fall about 2-3 inches below my short sleeve shirt. They are above my elbow though and arent offensive but both are still large tattoos. My waiver consisted of filling out the form and making sure they can be covered with my hand (read the reg) when exposed in short sleeves. I didnt hear anything else about it but do a search, I know theres another thread thats very informative. Good luck.
I think the tattoo policy is hit and miss sometimes. I know of a prior enlisted dude who had to agree to receive laser treatments to have a tattoo removed that extended below the level of a short sleeve shirt. My roommate at TBS had a medium-sized tattoo on his forearm, and never heard anything from anyone about it. I also went OCS with a guy who was 34 (not an air contract). Obviously the main takeaway is to try your luck on both waivers..and post your results.
Just a quick question
Hello everyone, sorry if this is posted in the wrong forum I couldn't decide if it would be best to post here or in the OCS forum. I'm just curious about about what are the tattoo standards for Marine officers? I spoke with a officer recruiter a while ago and he told me that an officer in the Marines cannot have any tattoos below their elbows. Is this true? I've looked up regs on this and all it says was that no Marine can have sleeves of any sort(half, 3/4 or full). I couldn't find any documents or webpages that were officer specific, they all seemed to speak to both the enlisted and officer sides of the Corps. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm sure I'm probably screwed out of a potential Marine commission but if there's still a chance I'd love to know. Thanks in advance.
Colin Rawlings
Hello everyone, sorry if this is posted in the wrong forum I couldn't decide if it would be best to post here or in the OCS forum. I'm just curious about about what are the tattoo standards for Marine officers? I spoke with a officer recruiter a while ago and he told me that an officer in the Marines cannot have any tattoos below their elbows. Is this true? I've looked up regs on this and all it says was that no Marine can have sleeves of any sort(half, 3/4 or full). I couldn't find any documents or webpages that were officer specific, they all seemed to speak to both the enlisted and officer sides of the Corps. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm sure I'm probably screwed out of a potential Marine commission but if there's still a chance I'd love to know. Thanks in advance.
Colin Rawlings
torpedo0126
Member
i think thats right. My best friend was PTAD at an OSO and I remember him talking to me about how tattoos were much more strict than they used to be. also, I think DIs are now being subjected to more stringent standards.
also, be careful "looking up the regs." A lot of the stuff out there contains inaccuracies that either haven't been corrected or are updated in some other instruction. Example: Marine's used to wear collar insignia like the Navy did but in the relatively recent future it was changed to parallel to the deck. a lot of the online uniform regs still indicate the old way of wearing insignia.
also, be careful "looking up the regs." A lot of the stuff out there contains inaccuracies that either haven't been corrected or are updated in some other instruction. Example: Marine's used to wear collar insignia like the Navy did but in the relatively recent future it was changed to parallel to the deck. a lot of the online uniform regs still indicate the old way of wearing insignia.
Here is the official MARADMIN:
http://www.marines.mil/news/message...HANGES TO THE MARINE CORPS TATTOO POLICY.aspx
And a picture version if you're not into the whole reading thing:
http://www.marines.mil/news/publications/Documents/Marine Corps Tattoo Poster.pdf
http://www.marines.mil/news/message...HANGES TO THE MARINE CORPS TATTOO POLICY.aspx
And a picture version if you're not into the whole reading thing:
http://www.marines.mil/news/publications/Documents/Marine Corps Tattoo Poster.pdf
I can tell you that you were allowed a waiver for tattoos visible in PT gear that were no bigger than your hand. It's my belief that those waivers have become a rarity. I know the MARADMIN pertains to all Marines. The reason you can't find the publication is because it is issued by Marine Corps Recruiting Command and it's called the MPPM. Your selection officer and every recruiter should have a copy of it.
pwdbyhrses
Registered User
No visible tattoos, guys and gals.
Long time lurker here and decided to share my story. I'm a little older (24) and a little wiser than when I first thought I was going into the Marines. I'm about three years late due to some ankle surgeries among other things.
If you are thinking about getting a tattoo and are not commissioned yet..my advice is don't do it. I'm $600, as of today, out of pocket into the removal of a $75 BLACK (and not very dark) tattoo on my wrist. Colors are harder to remove, black is the easiest. It is just now starting to turn brown after three months. I have at least another session left to go before I ship to OCS in May. Even then, I can't be certain it will be gone, but they have my receipts for it and pictures with blisters and such, so they said ok. I also ran into an issue because it is not in english. It is a phrase written in Gaelic.
Not only did I have to jump through hoops to get it removed, I had to have it translated. I sent definitions off the web. Not good enough. A friends father is an Irishman and fluent in Gaelic - his letter was not good enough. Finally, I got lucky. My OSO had found that a local university had an Irish studies department, and they were able translate it. That finally satisfied the translation.If not, I'm sure I would have had to pay a linguist to translate it for me. The same goes for Kanji symbols, Arabic etc. - they will all have to be translated.
Hoops, yes, but worth it since this is what I want to do. I'm trying to save you the hassle.
As far as pain: It hurts like hell having it removed to put it mildly. They also say black is the easiest color to remove, and does not hurt as much as colors. I'd rather get another one over my other ribcage than get another one removed. There are blisters, potential for scarring etc. I have had blisters, and it is starting to scar a little. If you want a tattoo, get one after you are in, and in a place where it won't show in PT gear. That's my suggestion if you absolutely have to have one.
I didn't want it gone, but the Marines said it had to go. They are becoming very picky about tattoo waivers. Thank God the one on my ribcage is a-ok and I received a waiver for it. It's pretty big.
While I like my tattoos, hindsight is always 20/20. In my mind, it was a bad decision to make knowing I'd be going into the military.
Hope this story helps someone make the right decision.
Long time lurker here and decided to share my story. I'm a little older (24) and a little wiser than when I first thought I was going into the Marines. I'm about three years late due to some ankle surgeries among other things.
If you are thinking about getting a tattoo and are not commissioned yet..my advice is don't do it. I'm $600, as of today, out of pocket into the removal of a $75 BLACK (and not very dark) tattoo on my wrist. Colors are harder to remove, black is the easiest. It is just now starting to turn brown after three months. I have at least another session left to go before I ship to OCS in May. Even then, I can't be certain it will be gone, but they have my receipts for it and pictures with blisters and such, so they said ok. I also ran into an issue because it is not in english. It is a phrase written in Gaelic.
Not only did I have to jump through hoops to get it removed, I had to have it translated. I sent definitions off the web. Not good enough. A friends father is an Irishman and fluent in Gaelic - his letter was not good enough. Finally, I got lucky. My OSO had found that a local university had an Irish studies department, and they were able translate it. That finally satisfied the translation.If not, I'm sure I would have had to pay a linguist to translate it for me. The same goes for Kanji symbols, Arabic etc. - they will all have to be translated.
Hoops, yes, but worth it since this is what I want to do. I'm trying to save you the hassle.
As far as pain: It hurts like hell having it removed to put it mildly. They also say black is the easiest color to remove, and does not hurt as much as colors. I'd rather get another one over my other ribcage than get another one removed. There are blisters, potential for scarring etc. I have had blisters, and it is starting to scar a little. If you want a tattoo, get one after you are in, and in a place where it won't show in PT gear. That's my suggestion if you absolutely have to have one.
I didn't want it gone, but the Marines said it had to go. They are becoming very picky about tattoo waivers. Thank God the one on my ribcage is a-ok and I received a waiver for it. It's pretty big.
While I like my tattoos, hindsight is always 20/20. In my mind, it was a bad decision to make knowing I'd be going into the military.
Hope this story helps someone make the right decision.