No more showy tattoos for Marines

Five tattooed skulls stretch from Marine Cpl. Jeremy Slaton's right elbow to his wrist, spelling out "Death." He planned to add a tattoo spelling "Life" on his left arm, but that's on hold because of a Marine ...

[Young Thunda]

"Getting a prohibited tattoo could constitute a violation of a lawful order, punishable by up to 2 years in prison and a dishonorable discharge, Marine spokesman 1st Lt. Brian Donnelly said."

That's just stupid.

[Lindsay]

DO you know anyone who is at camp pendleton now ...and would be willing to speak to reporters about the policy?

[All i know]

Sounds like an easy out for those that do not want to re enlist.

[Charlie]

General James Conway is quoted as saying, "I believe tattoos of an excessive nature do not represent our traditional values."

"Traditional values", please? One of their "traditional values" is to kill another human being. You are asking these men & women to put their lives on the line. Let them get tattoed.

[OUT IN SPACE]

LETS SEE THEY CAN GO OUT HAVE PEOPLE SHOOT AT THEM AND TRY TO KILL THEM BUT THEY CANNOT HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH BY TATTOING THEIR YES THEIR BODY NOT ANY ONE ELSES.
I GUESS WE MAT OFFEND THE PEOPLE TRYING TO KILL THEM.
WAKE UP PEOPLE BIG BROTHER IS HERE

[Greg]

Young Thunda wrote:

"Getting a prohibited tattoo could constitute a violation of a lawful order, punishable by up to 2 years in prison and a dishonorable discharge, Marine spokesman 1st Lt. Brian Donnelly said."
That's just stupid.

That is a stupid. That is just something marines do. I know because im a marine that honerably discharged in 2000. He probly has some tattoos. What is he thinking. They are changing the marines for the worst. They are going to lower the moral of the troops. They just want to be like there former idols, the marines of the past. Don't change the past.

[Greg]

To all of you officers. I am a marine sgt. that is now out of the marine corps. I got out in 2000. I was a grunt with the 3rd. Bn 4th. Marines. Stationed in 29 palms Ca. I now work in Pelican Bay State prison as a correctional officer. There are many former marines that work there with me. We all have tattoos with sculls etc.. The point is, we all are proud of them. Marines have been getting them forever. It is a tradition, I don't care what anyone says. If you say these marines can no longer get these tattoos, you will lower the troops morales. Don't do this to these men. You are wrong if you do. They just want to be like there former marines, they idolize there brothers from the past. If anyone wants to write me personaly about this subject you can e-mail me at [e-mail] semper-fi marines

[WatchDog]

Im a former Marine 69-71 during the Vietnam era most tatoos were the Globe & Eagle, or USMC, Death Before Dishonor but simple. You couldn't have a tatoo that was showing.
Today tatoos are out of control, spider webs, the entire arm is tatooed, it doesn't look good when wearing a military uniform.

[marine mom]

Please! I am a Mother of 4 sons, one a Marine that has 2 tours in Iraq under his belt. I also am of the Viet Nam era. Seve, your disrespect not only for the Marine you responded to but for everyone reading this site is uncalled for. You have the right to you opinion but please use a little class! Tatto any part of you body that does not show in dress uniform! Including your ass!

[mdblack4]

Wow Steve pretty extreme reaction there eh?? I'm a marine stationed on Pendleton now, I've been in for 4 years and I'm not planning to get out any time soon. But from what I've read in this thread, many of you believe that Marines aren't allowed to get tattoos any more or that it is very looked down upon. So to clear things up a bit...

"Effective April 1, Marines are prohibited from getting sleeve tattoos. Those individuals who have sleeve tattoos are required to be documented by their command by July 1."

This is all that has changed on the Marine Corps policy on tattoos, we're still not authorized to get tattoos on our head and neck, and/or tattoos that are like insulting the marine corps, or promote racism, and anything like that.

[BADGE]

The government owns your behind once you enlist, and no you don't have freedom of speech or to do whatever you want with your body while serving. Nothing wrong with tattoos, just keep them appropriate and in good tatse is all.

[mdblack4]

Basically

[BADGE]

Not basically, they own you, you are government property once you enlist. You cannot do what you choose to do when you choose to do it.

[Rangers 4 Life]

If you don't want to reenlist you just don't have to. That is the "Easy"out.

All i know wrote:

Sounds like an easy out for those that do not want to re enlist.

[benjammin]

BADGE wrote:

Not basically, they own you, you are government property once you enlist. You cannot do what you choose to do when you choose to do it.

Sorry, Buddy. I've been in for 9 years now and I'm NOBODY'S property. Never have been, never will be. I don't no where you're getting this from.

[HIPANONYMOUS]

Benjamin,
I won't argue the point with you because you are obviously misinformed. I have over 20 years service in the Army, so don't tell me your 9 years trumps me, that would be just plain stupid. Read through all those documents you signed. You are government property when you join the military. Sorry you don't know what's going on, but it's always been that way. It's a whole new standard once you go from civilian to military as far as laws and what the government can actually do and not do. You just keep thinking you are different, do something stupid and you'll learn. Don't know where you got your information but it's erroneous.

[Disabled Marine]

As soon as you think your someone's property you are doomed Hipanonymous. Benjammin is right he isn't the governments property even though the armed forces would like to think so. There are loop holes where you can get out of these contracts and have always been there. As for the issue's with tattoo's in the armed forces, those issues have always been there and will continue to be there. I served from 97-2001 and supposedly you couldn't have sleeves then. Did that stop Marines nope, you build a killing machine nothing stops him/her.

[HIPANONYMOUS]

I'm not talking about loop holes with contracts, so read again, secondly once you join the armed forces you become government property and cannot just do as you please. You better read that fine print too. They are responsible for you and you fall under a whole new code of conduct and the UCMJ. It's amazing how you young bucks think you have the world by the tail and know it all.

[Rangers 4 Life]

Stick to the Army and their laxidaisical ways. Don't come onto a Marine Corps topic and spew how much you know about the UCMJ and the Code of conduct. The Army's rules and regulations are no where near as strict or as clear cut as the Marine Corps. Go wear your BDU's to anywhere you like with your ear pierced as you drink your soda as you talk on the phone walking around. We don't want to hear about your non-disciplined ways.

HIPANONYMOUS wrote:

I'm not talking about loop holes with contracts, so read again, secondly once you join the armed forces you become government property and cannot just do as you please. You better read that fine print too. They are responsible for you and you fall under a whole new code of conduct and the UCMJ. It's amazing how you young bucks think you have the world by the tail and know it all.

[HIPANONYMOUS]

That's funny, you have a name Rangers for life which is Army but yet you claim to be an undisciplined punk in uniform. If you could read as well, you would see where I stated the GOVERNMENT OWNS YOU, when you join the military. I also said you fall under a whole new code of conduct and UCMJ. My, my the reading comprehension problems we have here lately.

WOW ! that was an intelligent comment about the BDU's and pierced ear walking around on the phone. Don't have a pierced ear, don't drink soda and I don't walk around talking on the phone. Are you done trying to make yourself look good now ? No wonder our military is in trouble to today, we have nothing more than young punks like you who don't know enough to keep their mouth shut.

The Army's laxidasical ways, how would you know ?

Nice that you think it's appropriate to disrespect a fellow vet. Now that's pretty sad.