Tattoos are officially back and U.S. Marines aren't hesitating to get their sleeves.
The Marine Corps launched its new tattoo policy on Friday, which brings back sleeves and ditches any rank-specific restrictions in an effort to improve retention and recruitment, the Marine Corps confirmed.
Marines can now sport an unlimited number of tattoos on any body part, except the face, neck and hands, with the exception of a single ring-like tattoo on one finger.
“The decision to change the policy came after a months long-review of existing regulations which were believed to have an adverse effect on retention and recruiting efforts,” Headquarters Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Jim Stenger said in a statement announcing the policy change.
“A panel of Marines from various backgrounds and ranks recommended changes to the policy,” Stenger added. The new policy seeks to simplify the Marine Corps’ rules around tattoos by bringing all Marines, regardless of rank or billet, to the same standard. Under the old policy, issued in 2016, enlisted Marines were allowed an unlimited number of tattoos, as long as they did not have a sleeve. Officers and officer candidates, however, were limited to four tattoos that were visible in the Marine Corps physical training uniform.
Under the new standard, all Marines will be allowed an unlimited number of tattoos, along with tattoos on the knees and elbows, heralding the long-sought return of sleeves. The sleeves or any other tattoo on the lower arm, “may extend down no further than a line around the circumference of the wrist measured at the wrist bone,” the current bulletin stated.
Chest and back tattoos must remain below the collarbone and seventh cervical vertebrae and must be fully covered by a “a properly fitting crewneck T-shirt with no portion of the tattoo showing,” the bulletin said.
The policy also explicitly bans tattoos that, “advocate, engage in, or support terrorism; advocate, engage in, or support the forceful, violent, unconstitutional, or otherwise unlawful overthrow of the government of the United States, any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States; or advocates, engages in, or encourages military personnel or DoD or US Coast Guard civilian employees to violate laws or disobey lawful orders or regulation for the purpose of disrupting military activities.”
Enlisted Marines will have their tattoos reviewed every time they submit a reenlistment package to ensure that they are still within regulations, according to the bulletin. All Marines will have their tattoos checked for compliance twice a year while having their height and weight verified, the bulletin adds.
Since sleeves were banned in 2007 Marines have longed for a change to what was then the strictest tattoo policy in the Department of Defense.
Under the old policy some Marines had their careers cut short.
When restrictions were slightly eased in 2016, the Corps told Marine Corps Times that 33 Marines between June 2015 and June 2016 were denied reenlistment because of their tattoos.
The Corps does not plan on automatically allowing Marines who may have been denied reenlistment or were separated due to past tattoo policy to return to the Marine Corps, Stenger said. But if they wish to return, they are encouraged to try.
Under the 2016 policy, Marines with tattoos that were visible in PT uniform were banned from special duty assignments like recruiters and drill instructors.
Those assignments come with extra pay and faster promotion chances for Marines who successfully complete the assignment.
"One such high visibility position may be Marine security guards, who stand post at U.S. embassies and consulates around the globe", a source familiar with the situation said.
“Marines are advised there are future career implications regarding the application of tattoos,” the bulletin stated. “A tattoo that is not specifically prohibited may still prevent future duty assignments.”
Read more about the Marine Corps and their new tattoo policy at MarineCorpsTimes.com