New Army Rules for Tattoos, Grooming On the Way

pardus

Verified Military
Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
10,535
I wonder how long it'll be until I'm banned from re-enlistment.
Assholes.



http://www.military.com/daily-news/...ing-on-the-way.html?comp=7000023435630&rank=1

JALALABAD, Afghanistan -- In the works for more than a year, strict new rules governing things like tattoos and grooming for soldiers have been approved by the Secretary of the Army and are only awaiting a final signature, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond Chandler said Saturday.

Speaking to troops at bases in eastern Afghanistan, Chandler said Secretary John McHugh has approved but not yet officially put his name to the changes to Army Regulation 670-1.

“We’re just waiting for the secretary to sign,” Chandler said during a town hall meeting with soldiers from the 4th Combat Brigade Team, 10th Mountain Division, at Forward Operating Base Gamberi. He made similar remarks to troops at FOB Fenty in Jalalabad.

The regulations cover things such as tattoos, grooming, and uniforms and apply only to soldiers. Other branches of the military have their own grooming and appearance rules.

Chandler said he expects the changes to become policy in 30 to 60 days.

Media reports last year identified potential changes to rules governing things such make-up and fingernail polish, hair styles, body piercings, and the length of sideburns, among other items. Chandler, however, only confirmed changes to the policy on tattoos.


Under the new policy, new recruits will not be allowed to have tattoos that show below the elbows and knees or above the neckline, Chandler told troops. Current soldiers may be grandfathered in, but all soldiers will still be barred from having any tattoos that are racist, sexist or extremist.

Once the rules are implemented, soldiers will sit down with their unit leaders and “self identify” each tattoo. Soldiers will be required to pay for the removal of any tattoo that violates the policy, Chandler said.

While some soldiers at the meeting asked whether the Army will ever allow more visible tattoos, Chandler said it is a matter of maintaining a uniform look and sacrificing for the sake of the force.

When a soldier gets a tattoo that contains an curse word on the side of his neck, “I question ‘Why there?’ Are you trying to stand out?” Chandler said.

He said the Army wants soldiers to stand out, but because of their achievements, not because of the way they look.

In addition to the changes to the regulations, Chandler said officials will be separating many of the more specific policies in Army Regulation 670-1 and placing them in a Department of the Army pamphlet, which will make it clearer for troops to understand, as well as make it easier for future changes to be made.

On a separate note, Chandler told troops that the new Army combat uniforms will likely be phased in starting eight to nine months from now. The uniform will feature different colors for different environments, but the pattern will be very similar to the mottled “multicam” currently used in Afghanistan under the designation “Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern.”

The uniform will have different coloring for varying environments like jungle and desert, he said, rather than the widely panned “universal” color of the current ACUs.

Several companies, including the current manufacturer of MultiCam, Crye Precision LLC, have submitted proposals for the new uniforms. No official announcement on the new uniforms has been made.

Congress has also pressed the military to use standard patterns across branches in order to save money.

Chandler said the most expensive part of moving to the new uniforms will be the gear like backpacks, body armor, and other items that are issued to all soldiers.

Additionally, the Army is pressing vendors to standardize boot sizes, Chandler said. Boot sizes often vary wildly, especially among women’s sizes.
 
Shit, the war aint even over yet and your brass is getting all excited about grooming standards.

I feel for the guys who got a waiver for their forearm sleeve because the Army needed warm bodies for OEF/OIF and now has to pay for the laser removal.
 
I feel for the guys who got a waiver for their forearm sleeve because the Army needed warm bodies for OEF/OIF and now has to pay for the laser removal.

I think this part is total bullshit. The Army chose to allow these dudes in because guess what, tattoos don't mean shit when it comes to ability. Now all of a sudden they want to force guys to pay for removal of tats they came in with? Complete bullshit.
 
"Current soldiers may be grandfathered in" I wonder how many unscrupulous commanders will use this to their advantage?

Chandler talking about sacrificing for the sake of the force...I kind of gagged at that.

Corporate America with a rifle....
 
Shit, the war aint even over yet and your brass is getting all excited about grooming standards.

I feel for the guys who got a waiver for their forearm sleeve because the Army needed warm bodies for OEF/OIF and now has to pay for the laser removal.

I didn't read it that way. I read it as those who are good now are grandfathered in, and anyone who wants to come in after the policy goes into effect, or who get one in contravention of the policy after it is enacted, will have to pay out of pocket to get it lasered off.
 
Not to mention warriors are covered in tattoos.

Going back many many years. Should you be able to look squared away when you're in dress uniform? Fuck yes. Thing is, Dress uniform has a tall collar, tie, and long sleeves. Anything on your neck? yeah, that's derpmode... but PT shirts and brown T's in the platoon bay or doing PT? Guess what, there's a goddamn warrior that wears those tats most often due to the meaning they have for them incorporated into their personal warrior ethos and all that shit.

I mean, I have limited ink, but I'd stab a commander in the gut if they told me I had to get either removed. Seriously.
 
Mass exodus at all levels, tattoo's are a cultural norm in the Army. You will have dudes getting out left and right.

I get not wanting tats on the neck, face or hands. But for fuck sake, my tats are all in places easy to cover up, don't show in any uniform except PT uniform. But based on that new reg, I would be out of regulation. WTF?
 
Mass exodus at all levels, tattoo's are a cultural norm in the Army. You will have dudes getting out left and right.

I get not wanting tats on the neck, face or hands. But for fuck sake, my tats are all in places easy to cover up, don't show in any uniform except PT uniform. But based on that new reg, I would be out of regulation. WTF?

You'd only be out of reg if you wanted to come back in bro. If you were still in, you'd be grandfathered.

As far as dudes getting out... you really think there's going to be a mass exodus over this? I don't. Not a voluntary one, anyway.

But what everyone who wears the uniform has to realize is, the Army is going to get cut MASSIVELY in the very near future. They are going to be looking for ANY excuse to not let Joe re-up. This is another example of that.
 
Yeah I do think stuff like this will cause people to say fuck it. Hell its been happening already, a good buddy (E7 with 12 years) just ETS'ed and took a job with am oil company. He was a total career soldier, said fuck it, he doesnt want to watch how gay it gets.

Several other buddies have been jumping out of AD and going NG, a few just getting out period.

The Army IMHO, is going to have a experience (NCO & O's) loss beyond imagination in the next 5 years.
 
Holly shit. So could my 18X package currently going up through the ranks at MEPS get turned down for my tattoos? I am prior service Marine so hopefully some grandfathering will keep this from happening. I'm 6'4 230 pounds with two full arm sleeves and two full leg sleeves and they would rather have a choir boy behind the gun. FML. Hopefully I can get some word stat on these regulations and my chances now. These changes were small reasons why I left the Corps, I already had to grandfather into their policies. This chaps my ass.
 
Yeah I do think stuff like this will cause people to say fuck it. Hell its been happening already, a good buddy (E7 with 12 years) just ETS'ed and took a job with am oil company. He was a total career soldier, said fuck it, he doesnt want to watch how gay it gets.

Several other buddies have been jumping out of AD and going NG, a few just getting out period.

The Army IMHO, is going to have a experience (NCO & O's) loss beyond imagination in the next 5 years.

As happens after every war, unfortunately. Then we get to re-learn all the things when shit gets hot again.
 
Holly shit. So could my 18X package currently going up through the ranks at MEPS get turned down for my tattoos? I am prior service Marine so hopefully some grandfathering will keep this from happening. I'm 6'4 230 pounds with two full arm sleeves and two full leg sleeves and they would rather have a choir boy behind the gun. FML. Hopefully I can get some word stat on these regulations and my chances now. These changes were small reasons why I left the Corps, I already had to grandfather into their policies. This chaps my ass.

I wouldn't bring it up.

my .02c
 
I didn't read it that way. I read it as those who are good now are grandfathered in, and anyone who wants to come in after the policy goes into effect, or who get one in contravention of the policy after it is enacted, will have to pay out of pocket to get it lasered off.

Current soldiers may be grandfathered in, but all soldiers will still be barred from having any tattoos that are racist, sexist or extremist.

Once the rules are implemented, soldiers will sit down with their unit leaders and “self identify” each tattoo. Soldiers will be required to pay for the removal of any tattoo that violates the policy, Chandler said.

I don't read the second line as being grandfathered in. Someone will not be able to join with an exposed tattoo under that policy so anyone who then has to sit down with their commander is already in.
 
This whole thread makes me want to stomp puppies. I hope this asshat gets busted for cheating on his wife as seems to be popular among the high ranking these days.
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