It goes from mid-delt to about 2 inches from the elbow. Is that too much?

As a Marine officer, I am going to say probably. Thats just me personally. If you want a better answer, contact your local OSO or check out www.marineocs.com and ask your question there.

Thanks for the site, I got my answer. I'll most likely need a waiver, but apparantly it's not hard to get one. To quote a response from the site "the rules say they aren't suppose to be visible in PT gear, but what they say and what they actually do is 2 different things."

So I'm under the impression that I'm good to go. Thanks again for the site!

I was the NCOIC of the MEPS in Cleveland Ohio for about 5 years. Some of the things they would look for was the size, placement and genre of the tattoo.

For example, one guy had a swastika tatooed on the back of his right hand. Could you imagine the percieved indications to people when he saluted? Goes without saying.

He was temporarily disqualifed for enlistment until he either had it removed or covered.

He came back a few weeks later and just had all the lines connected, so that it looked like 4 squares. He was then allowed to continue processing.

Check with the Marine NCOIC and Chief Medical Officer at your local MEPS. They can guide you on current regs, waivers, etc.

mrbeefy

I will also add that as an officer, the tattoo policy is a bit more strict. Again, I cannot cite specifics, mrbeefy would probably know more about it. But you will see enlisted Marines with full sleeves of tattoos easily. On officers, you will see few if any.

You should be fine with that. It will most likely require a waiver. All you have to do is go to your OSO and write a 1 paragraph letter about it, they submit it for you and the waiver will be granted. That tatto doesn't look too outrageous or anything so it shouldn't be a problem.

I know for Australians who want to serve the tattoo rules have changed and have become a lot more relaxed, for instance I know a guy who has now enlisted who had a massive swastika on neck and no one said a thing.

I hope you get your waiver mate. Good Luck.

Hell, I had to get a waiver for an EGA on my shoulder. Things like that make me glad that I didn't go back in.

mike

Mikeyali wrote:
Hell, I had to get a waiver for an EGA on my shoulder. Things like that make me glad that I didn't go back in.

mike

Pretty bad when you gotta get a waiver for a "moto" tattoo.

I mean a lot of our standards have lowered over the years, they were very high, and then lowered, now going back up. They want us to "look" like Marines now, basically so anyone could be on a recruiting poster. But tattoos are part of military heritage. Full sleeves, I agree should need to be waivered, and discriminant tats, but I think 1/2 and 1/4 sleeves should be allowed. We all get our USMC tats because we are proud to be Marines, and since now we can't even wear cammies to pump gas, or grab a gallon of milk on the way home, we have to show motivation somehow. What better way than to put the emblem of our beloved Corps on our bodies forever? I don't wanna walk around in a USMC t-shirt everyday, so why not get an EGA or something Marine Corps tatted on me?

On another note, I think my old man is the only Marine to do 31 years without getting a USMC tattoo, or any tattoo for that matter...
1975-2006, Oorah!

Talked to my local recruiter (several times, actually, we're on a first-name basis, though I usually still call him "sir" in person out of habit) and he said it's not a problem, I just need a waiver, which he said I'll almost surely get.

Not that I'm interested in doing this, but I was asked recently; what's the policy on ear piercings? Like the L.T. and T.O. studs kind of piercing. Just curious.

One thing I am kind of interested in doing if allowed, upper back tattoos. It would be a bit large, shoulder to shoulder. It wouldn't show at all in PT gear, and I haven't asked my recruiter yet, but what do you guys think? I'm only 50/50 on getting it, even if it is ok with the Marines, so it might not be an issue ever, but I'm still interested in the rules on it.

No freaking earings unless your a girl in the corps and if you have having these types of issue with joining DONT. You will fall out in the first month and ruin your life.

like I said, not interested in the earrings, I was simply asked recently when I mentioned my tattoo issue to a friend, and I didn't know the answer.

No tattoos on your neck that can be seen when wearing a t-shirt, or above the collar, unless waived. And that will be a tough waiver to get.

I have a few personal friends in the Marines, and one of them has tattoo's all over. below the shorts line, down the forearm, and under PT gear (obviously the ones under PT gear were the easiest to get OK'd). He's not COVERED in them, but there is one here and there on the areas I mentioned. Which is why I'm thinking that I'll be fine, since ALL of my tat ideas are to be hidden by PT gear (excluding the bottom of the one I have now).

I should have asked him to begin with, that was a dumb move on my part. But he said almost any tattoo GOING in is probably going to get a waiver (as long as it's not something gang-related or such, or huge, or on the face/neck), and anything after BEING in has to be be hidden by PT gear.

Not sure on the current policy, It's changes since I was in but as far as what can't be seen in pt gear, who would know, esp. officers, I know as young enlisted folks we would be in different stages of undressed walking around the Barracks but we never had any type of inspection in anything less than Charlies so...

Just make sure that you get the back work done the first night of a 72 or a 96 so you wont have any issues with the uniform rubbing it, from experience go topless or get some 2nd skin bandages(used for burns) for the healing process, I didn't and the tat between my shoulder blades is super faded.