NEWS: Don't move to Canada - Just Show 'em Your Tattoos!

CULTURE: Don't move to Canada - Just Show 'em Your Tattoos!

The U.S. Coast Guard has tightened its' policies regarding tattoos on applicants. The goal is "a more professional appearance for the military branch that has the most contact with the public". I guess having ink affects your ability to rescue people and chase drug dealers.

The military has always had a policy regarding "offensive" tattoos, but in a time when recruiting is at an all-time low, it seem ridiculous that the government would focus on something so trivial.

'That narc who busted us looked really unprofessional, man.'

It used to be a symbol of pride and travel to have tats from around the world ( as a naval man) I guess those kids from Laguna beach must be storming the offices these days...or the war on drugs must have been won.....
silly......

I think 25% is too harsh. 35% seems more reasonable

I can't but to wonder what happens to those will have more than 25% coverage who are already in there? Do they get thrown out?

[Edited on Oct 15, 2005 5:44PM]

No, their jobs are safe.

For now.

hahahaha.

That's very retarded

Why, even Popeye had tattoos...and sometimes when he made muscles, images seemed to form of battleships or tanks!...I wanna know where to get one of those!

I know when i was in the Marines they was some talk about tattoos. I thought that was stupid. Its the Marines. Oh well.

The funny thing is, they tell us to try to blend in as much as possible and not give away the fact that we're military so easily while in uniform. Talk about a double-standard.

I can understand it.. 25% coverage is basicly just a half sleve covering just the outer portion of your upper arm.. still lots of space.

however if you are rescuing a person them feeling safe is important and the fact of the matter is... a good portion of the community.. (particularly those that would be getting into issues where the Coast Guard would be needed or been in contact with) are going to have feel safe and confident in the level of the coast guard ability... fact remains that in portions of society tattoos are still seen as being something to do with a poor element.. particularly when it's heavy converage.

Thus if you have a full sleve or even a full lower half sleve that can cause some apprehension. It's not something that would occur more then 2 or 3 times a year through out the whole of the coast guard.. but it's not unreasonable to request that.

fyi the navy has been uptight about these type of restrictions too. no excessive tattoos, nothing on hands or neck.face etc... I had two on my hands when I came in two 1/2 yrs ago and had to get a special chit. but at the same time it's the responcability of the chain of command to report violaters,... so if you do your job you know, if you aint a shitbag, and keep your nose clean you have nothing to worry about. I have had two half sleeves since I came in and no issues. why u ask, the navy, cg and af have no prob recuiting and are infact overmanned, the army (and jarheads to some extent) are recruiting any-mutherfukin-body they can get there hands on. sand lubbers. shitty deployment schedules are the main reason though. army and mc dont have set dep schedules. they are as needed. the above being said, we could not have what we have or do what we do daily with out the protection that the services have provided in the past and/or the projection we provide now. I personally never agreed with the war in Iraq, "like attacking kenya after Dec 7, 1941" but I do my job, just like yall and more often than not,... dont agree with my boss. Thank you site for letting me get this out.

Like that guy just said before me...the Navy made this rule for existing service members a few years ago...right when I decided I wanted to get a sleeve. Fuckers.

reminds me of when I was in the army

the whole platoon had to wear long sleeves all the time because a couple of guys had tatts on their arms....

mind you, there were a lot less tattooed people around in the 80s!

"Don't show, don't tell" ? Too weird.

This is a wee of an understatement but...

I am waving my "nearly 100% covered arms" from North of the border. Come join us!

Bring coats though it's cold