piercings in the military

well i am following the rules...ive gauged down to 2 now so the holes arent noticeable, what im bitching about is the fact that in the local supplement there isnt anything added to it to say piercings off base arent allowed so the changed the rules , which i will admit the commander has the power to do, the messed up thing is the major that commented on it was not my commander and my shop chief made the call, which he has no authority to do. The other thing im bitching about is the fact that people in the military have theyre priorities wrong because i feel that piercings in no way convey an unprofesional appereance. But i also understand that is my personal opinion and is not excepted by the public as a whole...which is why i still wear my ears gauged to 2 instead of stopping wearing them entirely, im trying to do my part to change public opinion. Im also about to reenlist in june and in september ill have been in 6 years, so the you signed the dotted line blah blah blah argument is not new to me, i understand that and im signing the dotted line again to serve my country and at the same time serve myself, im not saying im not going to follow the rules i just think people have theyre priorities wrong. Anyway you have some good points but i still think the military should be more accepting of things, im not condoning crazy body mods or scarring or implants or anything like that just some gagued piercings and maybe a well maintained goatte or facial hair, both of which i think can still convey a very profesional military image.sorry i didnt respond till now but i work swings so im usually not up till noon.

edited for spelling...i still probably didnt spell everything right

[Edited on May 04, 2005 by iggy_koopa]

It's not an attitude, its written laws that are older than you or me. They don't want this to be part of their uniforms, so adhere to it. Again, if you don't like, or you don't have enough discipline to follow military law, then stay out of the military. Maybe 100yrs down the road, which I doubt; they'll allow eccentric accessories to their uniform. Until that day, just follow the laws. And I'm not interested in nitpicking the rules. That's what you are doing in trying to find a loophole to get away with something that you know is wrong. And of course he wouldn't really be in any chance of getting an infection, but it's a hypothetical situation. It's kind of like if you get in a bar fight. You weren't wrong for being in the bar, but since Jody split your eye, you are now a defected piece of government property. And believe me, if they want to be dicks, they can easily charge you with destruction of government property, or just give you a 134 as I stated earlier.
Oh and even if that Major isn't your commander, he can still bust your ass. You're an E-5 and he's an O-4. His weight is ten times heavier than yours and will definitely have everyone on his side of things versus some upset E-5.

iggy_koopa I don't think the Major has his priorities wrong, but maybe you do. You should be focused more on your career as an Airman versus your earplugs. It's a Majors job to ensure his troops are in order. You were out of order so he called you on it. Get over it and move on. Display a military image and attitude and move forward. Maybe you should rethink about reenlisting if you can't follow something as simple as this. Seriously.

How is he going to know if you don't stop??

i've got a wiaver for my tattoos, i had work on both forearms before the NAVADMIN came out.

And the guy that comes after you is going to say, "i'm not condoning crazy body mods like amputation or dying my skin just some scarring and maybe a tasteful stud implanted in my forehead..."

Wait a minute, is it really possible to dye your skin? If so, I'm so going to become a smurf.

Not an "Air Force Thing" . That article is in the UCMJ, Uniform Code of Military Justice..inother words..all branches follow it..

I don't know if you're joking or not... I was actually just coming up with something off the top of my head that sounded silly to me... you made me realize that that's called a "tattoo".

Though I suppose there might be a difference between a picture and Jackson-esque wholesale altering of pigmentation.

I am in the Navy 16 years now.. When I came in I had 3 tats, now I have over 15 smaller pieces and a back piece. I understand the policy and thats why I am waiting untill I retire to finish my lower sleaves. I also have piercing in my nipples. I don't make it a point to go around and show them to peolpe that I work with because I know I am not allowed to have them. If your pierced and wearing the jewlery at work, just wait till you catch the ring on a corner or it gets caught on something. I have tore my nipples more then once at work and it sucks.

It comes down to the perception of the military and the Civilian population.
Being in the Military you are a rep of your country and people do look at you a little diffrent, some even look up to you.

While its slightly judgemental and perhaps stuck up of them... You did agree to their rules. . . Now if they just let you have long hair then they wouldn't have had to see them!

Seriously though, venting is good for the soul. But, in my own opinion, you joined a very conservative organization... That's the price ya have to pay.

very well said

Thanks!

as splendor said im more just venting...i fully realize i cannot change the rules by myself and i am following them...im pretty much just bitching because of my personnal opinion that peircings can still convey a profesional attitude...but i am realistic and understand 90% of the U.S doesnt agree with me, one of my good friends did get out of the military because of the regulations on piercings and boddy mods, to me my career is more important, i just wish people could be a little more flexible i guess

welcome to reality life is dictated by the conservative assfucks

The idea is to make a professional respectable looking force. It's just like how businesses don't like people with mohawks for instance >on average, I'm sure you'd be fine at Hot Topic stores etc.< It's part of the uniform, you don't like it, get another job.