Army to do away with asinine tattoo policy?

[x SF med]

@reed11b .... the sky is falling, the sky is falling..... oh, hell.... it's friggin arty from multiple batteries.

 

[Viper1]

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/2015/04/01/army-tatoo-policy-change/70783186/

http://www.armytimes.com/story/mili...attoo-policy-changes-sma-dan-dailey/70791276/ (SMA explains the new policy)

http://www.vox.com/2015/4/2/8334951/army-tattoos

Letting Soldiers get tats on their neck and hands (minus the wedding band tat) was a mistake from the start. Idiocy.

Bottom line: the 2015 policy changes the tattoo policy back to pre-SMA Chandler days. And tattoo artists across the U.S. gave thanks...

 

[Marauder06]

Now for the beret.

 

[ThunderHorse]

I fail to see how this is asinine. And before you even ask St George Slaying the Dragon is on my right moob.

 

[Ranger Psych]

No, the tattoo policy currently enforced/applied to service-members is asinine.

 

[pardus]

I fail to see how this is asinine. And before you even ask St George Slaying the Dragon is on my right moob.

Did you miss the point of the thread, or are you saying the current tattoo policy is not asinine?

 

[ThunderHorse]

I think the current tattoo policy is not asinine. And I have tattoos.

 

[pardus]

I think the current tattoo policy is not asinine. And I have tattoos.

Gotcha, thanks for the clarification.
I strongly disagree that a discriminatory policy being expanded in this day and age is not asinine though. I could make an argument that it is a racist policy too if I felt so inclined.

 

[ThunderHorse]

To be honest I think there is plenty of canvas between your knees, clavicle and elbow. What I did not understand was why you couldn't get any below the knees...since when do we wear short shorts like the French as a duty uniform?

 

[pardus]

To be honest I think there is plenty of canvas between your knees, clavicle and elbow. What I did not understand was why you couldn't get any below the knees...since when do we wear short shorts like the French as a duty uniform?

Fair enough, but that is all beside the point.
I've been told that my appearance which was good enough to enlist and go to war for this country, is now unprofessional, and I must be registered and photographed like a criminal to retain the ability to serve my adopted country.
I will add to that by saying tattoos which are a huge part of my heritage, are part of my cultural identity, and any move against them is extremely discriminatory.
How many fucking classes am I forced to go through that say, gays are cool, don't discriminate, females are cool, don't discriminate, race's are all cool, don't discriminate... oh wait, unless you're a Pacific Islander or a European, then we can and will discriminate against the part of your culture that defines you as an adult and a warrior.
There is no legitimate justification for this new move. The assholes in charge should have left things well enough alone, pre neck/hand tattoos.

 

[policemedic]

To be honest I think there is plenty of canvas between your knees, clavicle and elbow. What I did not understand was why you couldn't get any below the knees...since when do we wear short shorts like the French as a duty uniform?

The PT uniform comes to mind.

 

[ThunderHorse]

The PT Uniform is not one for the public and is purely functional. We haven't rolled sleeves in the Army since I knew what a hard on actually was.

 

[pardus]

The PT Uniform is not one for the public and is purely functional. We haven't rolled sleeves in the Army since I knew what a hard on actually was.

When did you join the Army there chief?

 

[policemedic]

The PT Uniform is not one for the public and is purely functional. We haven't rolled sleeves in the Army since I knew what a hard on actually was.

Unless things are done radically differently since I was AD, the PT uniform is worn in public. It's also used when USAR and ARNG units conduct PT sessions off-post. It's an official uniform of the US Army that exposes bare skin below the knee. The ACU was also touted as a functional uniform, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding.

Come to think of it, female Soldiers are authorized to wear a skirt that falls just below the knees which would expose any ink on their lower legs.

 

[Ranger Psych]

The PT Uniform is not one for the public and is purely functional. We haven't rolled sleeves in the Army since I knew what a hard on actually was.

LOL... if you didn't know what a hardon was in 99-2000 thereabouts, then I really don't even know what to say.

 

[8654Maine]

I won't blame the current tattoo policy, but it was one of the things to prevent me from getting a Reserve physician slot.

Their loss.

 

[AWP]

One of the problems I see is that for years the Army could care less, but now it wants to consider one's appearance in a PT uniform. Policies, standards, norms, etc. all change, but when it comes at a time when restrictions on gay people (which I support), women in combat (which I have sever misgivings over), and the plethora of EEO/ SHARP/ other mandatory classes are occuring how does this not looks and feel like another "Form over function" debate?

 

[Brill]

One of the problems I see is that for years the Army could care less, but now it wants to consider one's appearance in a PT uniform.

If that's the case, they would drop the glow belt. It breaks ALL the fashion rules.

 

[ThunderHorse]

LOL... if you didn't know what a hardon was in 99-2000 thereabouts, then I really don't even know what to say.

98-99 I became cognizant of the noodly appendage being attracted to the ladies...4th grade was a tough year hombre.

Us AD folks PT offsite in civilians.

 

[Ranger Psych]

Explains your cav hardon.