COUNTERING MILITARY RECRUITMENT
Articles: Military Service: General
Marines Ban Sleeve Tats
Associated Press
March 29, 2007
OCEANSIDE,
Calif. - Five tattooed skulls stretch from Marine Cpl. Jeremy Slaton's
right elbow to his wrist, spelling out the word "Death." He planned to
add a tattoo spelling "Life" on his left arm, but that's on hold
because of a Marine policy taking effect Sunday.
The Marines are banning any new, extra-large tattoos below the elbow or
the knee, saying such body art is harmful to the Corps' spit-and-polish
image.
Slaton and other grunts are not pleased.
"I guess I'll get the other half later," grumbled the 24-year-old leatherneck from Eden Prairie, Minn. "It's kind of messed up."
For many Marines, getting a tattoo is a rite of passage. They commonly
get their forearms inscribed to remember fallen comrades, combat tours
or loved ones, and often ask for exotic designs that incorporate the
Marine motto, Semper Fi, or "Always faithful."
Dozens of Marines from Camp Pendleton, the West Coast's biggest Marine
base, made last-minute trips to tattoo parlors in nearby Oceanside
before the ban kicked in.
"This is something I love to do," said Cpl. David Nadrchal, 20, of
Pomona, who made an appointment to get an Iraqi flag and his deployment
dates etched onto his lower leg. "The fact I can't put something on my
body that I want - it's a big thing to tell me I can't do that."
Nadrchal said he is unsure whether he will re-enlist: "There's all these little things. They are slowly chipping away at us."
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 demeanor and the high standards
America has come to expect from us," he said. "I believe tattoos of an
excessive nature do not represent our traditional values."
The ban is aimed primarily at "sleeve" tattoos, the large and often
elaborate designs on the biceps and forearms of many Marines. Similar
designs on the lower legs will be forbidden as well. So will very large
tattoos on the upper arm, if they are visible when a Marine wears his
workout T-shirt. Small, individual tattoos will still be allowed on the
arms and legs. (The Marines already ban them on the hands.)
Marines already tattooed are exempt from the ban but cannot add to
their designs; anyone caught with fresh ink in the wrong places could
be barred from re-enlistment or face disciplinary action. Getting a
prohibited tattoo could constitute a violation of a lawful order,
punishable by up to two years in prison and a dishonorable discharge,
Marine spokesman 1st Lt. Brian Donnolly said.
Unit commanders must photograph and document sleeve tattoos to ensure Marines do not add to their ink.
The Marines and the other branches of the military already ban tattoos
that could be offensive or disruptive, such as images that are sexist,
vulgar, gang-related or extremist.
The Army, which has been doing most of the fighting in Iraq and
Afghanistan and is struggling to fill its ranks, actually relaxed its
tattoo restrictions last year. Soldiers can now get ink on the back of
their hands and the lower back of the neck.
The Navy last year decreed that tattoos visible while in short-sleeve
uniform cannot be larger than the wearer's hand. The Air Force says
tattoos should be covered up if they are bigger than one-quarter the
size of the exposed body part.
Tattoo artist Jerry Layton at the Body Temple Tattoo Studio in
Oceanside said he was booked up with Marines rushing to beat the
deadline.
"These are guys that are dying in the war," Layton said. "They can fight, but they can't get a tattoo? It's ridiculous."
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