Marine Corps advice

[drunk as hell]

I need to know how strict the Corps is gonna be with my having ink on my fingers and hands. I have heard stuff from all ends of the spectrum, but I figure some of the Marines on this site may be able to clarify this issue for me. I don't have any white power shit or anything, but a few blatantly "Skinhead" tattoos. Maybe there's a recruiter that somebody knows who is good at pushing that kind of stuff through, or something. Any advice would be appreciated.

[indyhooligan]

I need to know how strict the Corps is gonna be with my having ink on my fingers and hands. I have heard stuff from all ends of the spectrum, but I figure some of the Marines on this site may be able to clarify this issue for me. I don't have any white power shit or anything, but a few blatantly "Skinhead" tattoos. Maybe there's a recruiter that somebody knows who is good at pushing that kind of stuff through, or something. Any advice would be appreciated.

you won't get in...

[DANNYTWOTIMES]

you won't get in...

Skinhead = vicous racist gang, at least in the army. I'm just assuming it's the same for marines and the others.

[Loathe]

You may be able to get in the army, but it's an up hill battle. I have several tatts, but not nearly as many as others, and nothing that is blatantly skinhead, and still almost got hemmed up in an EO complaint once.

[indyhooligan]

the marine corps has pretyt much axed visible tattoo's. before i got out i was grandfathered in with all mine, since i got em post boot camp but before they put the new rules into effect.

[Cadillac Skin]

I know the army has actually lightened up a bit on the tattoo policy. i was in and had skinhead tattoos. But hands and shit is a def no no.

[Loathe]

I know the army has actually lightened up a bit on the tattoo policy. i was in and had skinhead tattoos. But hands and shit is a def no no.

Hands and even necks are allowed now provided there is no gang or racial message.

[themutt]

The Marines probably won't let you in. The Army might. What are the skinhead tattoos you have? If its a pair of boots, just say you grandfather was Airborne. That's how my friend got in. Anything else might be a little harder.

[Gut Check]

Be careful on what your recruiter can "push through", I didn't see much in the Army, LOL, but I did see a guy make it to the reception battalion, only to sit around for 3 months before being sent home, because he had a tattoo on his neck that his recruiter "pushed through" I geuss. Keep in mind that getting there means that his recruiter ok'd it, and nobody at MEPS said shit/noticed/ignored it during either the physical or when he went back to ship when it was a clear violation of the army's tattoo policy. I can't speak for sure about anything, but that's at least something to think about.

[Scotskin]

Flat out nope. The Commandant just passed a new MCO outlawing any visible tattoos that you can see while wearing pt gear (t-shirt and shorts). If they are on your hands or whatever....no way. They are getting HARDCORE about this shit...we all literally, my entire battalion, got a memo, on paper, about this. Sorry man. I don't like it either....but rules are rules.

[passionbleeds]

as far as I know, hands and fingers have never been allowed.

[ienjoybeer]

Anyone know why? Are insurgents targeting individual soldiers or something?
Gian has tattoos on his legs and they haven't said/done anything at MEPs.
He ships off in April, and then he's off to BUDs.
That's the Navy, though...I guess????

[Diana E]

Anyone know why? Are insurgents targeting individual soldiers or something?
Gian has tattoos on his legs and they haven't said/done anything at MEPs.
He ships off in April, and then he's off to BUDs.
That's the Navy, though...I guess????


Has nothing to do with any enemies. The military have always been funny when it comes to tattoos. I think it's more of a clean cut appearance issue than anything else. And of course, the military doesn't want blatant visible gang tattoos for obvious reasons.

Ya know, if they ever do re-institute the draft anytime in the future, I wonder how picky the military would be then.

[weknowhowtolive]

While I dont have finger ink, my recruiter has told me he can pretty much get a waiver for any ink at this point. Then again, he lied about a bunch of other shit too.

[indyhooligan]

once again. i got out of the marines, january 15th of this year. i was a staff sergeant. i was actually consulted and was asked to review the draft of the new order since i was actually a tattoo artist.

YOU WON'T GET IN.

the army is another story, they're a bit more lenient.

[ienjoybeer]

While I dont have finger ink, my recruiter has told me he can pretty much get a waiver for any ink at this point. Then again, he lied about a bunch of other shit too.

Oh yours, too?
Recruiters are the used car salesmen of the military.

[Loathe]

The Army is very open to tattoos now, even neck and hands.

[Gut Check]

Oh yours, too?
Recruiters are the used car salesmen of the military.
They get alot of shit, but they have to deal with alot of shit, I have nothing but respect for them, they've had to deal with me more than once.:smile:

Oh, and remember, recruiters don't lie, you just don't ask the right questions.

[a6skin9]

When I tried to reenlist in the Army during the 1st Gulf War I was rejected solely on the grounds that I have a tattoo that says Skinheads which is not visible while wearing short sleeves. A black E-5 working at MEPS saw it when I had to strip and raised hell, and later that day as I was walking out of MEPS after being PDQed he's yelling "say hello to the Aryan Brotherhood for me." Funny thing was there was a well known WP skin from the area going through the same day and made it no problem becasue he has no ink.

[cegansapper]

-late in getting in this coversation-

Ok, I'm going back into the Army right now. So, I will tell you, from dealing with some of my tattoo's, that they will wave just about anything nowadays. There was a guy in unit when we got back from Afghanistan(and that was in May) who got his hands and fingers done up. No one really said anything because they need people badly right now. If they start asking questoins about the skinhead tattoos, my advice would be to say it something you belived in when you were younger or something. They'll buy just about anything as long as you sound sincere about it. Trust me.

[MarkSociety]

Oh yours, too?
Recruiters are the used car salesmen of the military.
Haha yeah man. I just joined the Reserves and they said no visible tattoos under the t-shirt line... So the first guy I meet has a fat tattoo on his forearm.