Originally Posted by
chrisreedrules
Would you mind expounding a little bit on your experience? What education did you have at the time you enlisted? I believe the Air Force may be out of the question for me because of the regulations on dress uniforms and visible tattoos... but USN, USMC, Army Fixed Wing, or perhaps Coast Guard would all be okay from what I've read. I tried to join the ANG after I finished my PPL only to find out that you can't have tattoos visible below the elbow regardless of education/flight experience etc because of AF regulations regarding their dress uniforms. I have always wanted to serve (I come from a very big military family USN/US Army) but wanted to do it in the right way and with the best possible shot at doing what I want to do (pilot/aviation). I am about to be 25, and I don't want to wait too much longer to join if I decide to go that route. Would my skill set basically guarantee me a flying position or are there no guarantees once I sign that paper? What is the process for someone in my position as far as training and initial rank are concerned? Do I still go through basic training/flight school? Once again, thank you for any advice.
You might not be up-to-date on your reading or listening to Uncles from the 40's about tattoos and the USMC.
Marine Corps Tatoo (Body Art) Policy
Current Tattoo Policy
The Marine Corps takes a conservative approach to personal appearance. Uniform regulations stress that personal appearance is to be conservative and commensurate with the high standards traditionally associated with the Marine Corps. No eccentricities in dress or appearance are permitted because they detract from uniformity and team identity.
Marines are prohibited from:
a. Tattoos or brands on the head and neck.
b. Sleeve Tatoos. A sleeve tattoo is a very large tattoo, or a collection of smaller tattoos, that covers or almost covers a person's entire arm or leg.
c. Half-sleeve or quarter sleeve tattoos that are visible to the eye when wearing standard PT Gear (T-shirt and shorts). A half-sleeve or quarter-sleeve tattoo is defined as a very large tattoo or collection of smaller tattoos that covers, or almost covers the entire portion of an arm or leg above or below the elbow or knee.
d. Tattoos or brands that are prejudicial to good order, discipline and morale, or are of a nature to bring discredit upon the Marine Corps. These may include, but are not limited to, any tattoo that is sexist, racist, vulgar, anti-american, anti-social, gang related, or extremest group or organization related.
Marines who currently have a sleeve tattoo(s) prior to 1 April 2007, will be grandfathered. The Marine's command will insert a photograph(s) of the respective (tattoo(s) along with a measurement(s) of the size in inches and of the location(s) on the body and the date the tattoo(s) was documented, on the Page 11 of the Marine's SRB. The Marine will sign the Page 11 entry verifying the information is correct.
Depending on what you have on your arm (see item b/c specifically), you have tatt'ed yourself out of a flying slot in the USMC.
You can probably Google 'tattoos and the _____' (insert service branch) and find the latest regulations pertaining to the tattoo policies of each branch.
USMCFLYR