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INKEDblog takes you beneath the skin of today's tattoo culture. Our mission is to celebrate tattooing as a modern art form which incorporates art, fashion, style, and pop culture. While paying homage and respect to the past, we look to present a contemporary take on the present and future of skin art.
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Tuesday Feb 14, 2006
Tattoos Emerge in the US Army
Cory Davidson, from Elwood, Indiana wanted to join the Army. He visited a recruiter who told him that his neck Kanji, meaning ‘Brothers’ would make him ineligible for recruitment. He got laser surgery to have the tattoo removed, but a shadow remained. Though he got the okay from five different officers to ship out from Indiana, when he arrived at Oklahoma’s Fort Sill, he was rejected by officers who said his tattoo remained a violation.
Historically, the US Army does not allow recruits to have any tattoos that are visible above their uniform. What this means specifically, is that no neck or hand tattoo is allowed. Just days ago however, something shifted.
Until the end of December of 2005, the Army maintained its judgment on Cory Davidson. However, a new nationwide policy decision has changed all of that. Now, the Army publicly permits neck tattoos on anyone. Their official policy now reads:
"All tattoos that are on the neck that are not vulgar, profane, indecent, racist or extremist are authorized as long as it does not extremely degrade military appearance [are permitted]"
Comments
I think the change in policy is a good thing. There is no reason to discriminate against someone who wants to defend our country.
Posted by: CARLA at February 15, 2006 09:40 PM
wow. i never thought THAT would happen. they must have been deliberating beforehand and this was just the event that clinched it.
poor guy, though, getting laser surgery to remove a tattoo that he's now allowed to have...
Posted by: gina at February 16, 2006 02:24 PM
Im a marine, i wanted to get a meaningful Tat rune, but have been worried about it. Any ideas where i can find a good site?
Posted by: Lone at February 18, 2006 05:33 PM
this ban is about uniformity, not discrimination. They get mighty pissed when they shave heads and find ink. boot camp is about breaking 100 guys down to zero and rebuilding them as ONE. a neck tat, hand tat gives you your individuality, it gives you strength in you and that is not good for the drillsgts. The lift is about iraq and low recruit numbers.
Posted by: x-INFANTRY at February 19, 2006 06:15 PM
Im extremely content with the new view on tattoos this military has taken. I begin work on my first sleeve as of november 6th 2006, but im planning on joining the Canadian Military. I was extremely worried about having a sleeve and the way they would view it, or if it would effect my enrollment. Thats for clearing that up though.
Posted by: Trevor at February 27, 2006 10:23 AM
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