Sgt Grit Marine Forums

I had a question on this.... My husband has and well had a bunch of tattoo's on his arms during his Marine Corp time, well now he keeps going back and forth about getting back in, but will they give him problems because of his tattoos if he does decide to get back in? Like I said he had most of them before his EAS date, but recently got a few more. There is no profanity, but seeing how they passed (or will be passing?) the rule of elbow down, he doesn't think that if he were to try to get back in they would let him any way... I called the recruiter station here, but they weren't much help at all. Any one have any information about this that I can give him? OR know where I can find anything that would be helpful?

Since no active duty Recruiter has replied, I'll submit the following info. You can check out the refrerences on the MC web site. I'm not sure if Recruiters nowadays get credit for reenlistments. You might have to contact a prior service Recruiter at your Recruiting Station.

Date signed:	03/19/2007	MARADMIN Number:	198/07
	ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHANGES TO THE MARINE CORPS TATTOO POLICY
Subject:
UNCLAS 191708Z MAR 07 CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC) AL MARADMIN(UC) MARADMIN MARADMIN 198/07 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC// SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHANGES TO THE MARINE CORPS TATTOO POLICY// REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC MCUB/YMD:20030331// POC/S. T. FOSTER/CAPT/-/-/TEL:COMM 703 784 9387/TEL:DSN 278 9387// NARR/REF A MCO P1020.34G, MARINE CORPS UNIFORM REGULATIONS// GENTEXT/-/1.  PURPOSE.  TO DETAIL REVISIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE TATTOO POLICY FOUND IN MCO P1020.34G, MARINE CORPS UNIFORM REGULATIONS.   2.  EFFECTIVE 1 APRIL 2007, PARAGRAPH 1004.1C OF MCO P1020.34G, MARINE CORPS UNIFORM REGULATIONS, IS CANCELLED AND REPLACED WITH THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH.  "... MARINES ARE PROHIBITED FROM:     C.  TATTOOS OR BRANDS ON THE HEAD AND NECK.  SLEEVE TATTOOS ARE LIKEWISE PROHIBITED.  A SLEEVE TATTOO IS A VERY LARGE TATTOO, OR A COLLECTION OF SMALLER TATTOOS, THAT COVERS OR ALMOST COVERS A PERSONS ENTIRE ARM OR LEG.  HALF-SLEEVE OR QUARTER-SLEEVE TATTOOS THAT ARE VISIBLE TO THE EYE WHEN WEARING STANDARD PT GEAR (T-SHIRT AND SHORTS) ARE LIKEWISE PROHIBITED.  A HALF-SLEEVE OR QUARTER-SLEEVE TATTOO IS DEFINED AS A VERY LARGE TATTOO, OR A COLLECTION OF SMALLER TATTOOS THAT COVERS, OR ALMOST COVERS, THE ENTIRE PORTION OF AN ARM OR LEG ABOVE OR BELOW THE ELBOW OR KNEE. TATTOOS OR BRANDS THAT ARE PREJUDICIAL TO GOOD ORDER, DISCIPLINE AND MORALE, OR ARE OF A NATURE TO BRING DISCREDIT UPON THE MARINE CORPS ARE ALSO PROHIBITED.  PREJUDICIAL TO GOOD ORDER, DISCIPLINE AND MORALE, OR ARE OF A NATURE TO BRING DISCREDIT UPON THE MARINE CORPS MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, ANY TATTOO THAT IS SEXIST, RACIST, VULGAR, ANTI-AMERICAN, ANTI-SOCIAL, GANG RELATED, OR EXTREMIST GROUP OR ORGANIZATION RELATED." 3.  THE FOLLOWING NEW SUPARAGRAPHS 1004.1C(1) AND 1004.1C(2) ARE ADDED. "(1) MARINES WHO CURRENTLY HAVE A SLEEVE TATTOO(S) WILL BE GRANDFATHERED.   THE MARINE'S COMMAND WILL INSERT A PHOTOGRAPH(S) OF THE RESPECTIVE TATTOO(S) ALONG WITH A MEASUREMENT(S) OF THE SIZE IN INCHES AND OF THE LOCATION(S) ON THE BODY AND THE DATE THE TATTOO(S) WAS DOCUMENTED, ON THE PAGE 11 OF THE MARINE'S SRB.  THE MARINE WILL SIGN THE PAGE 11 ENTRY VERIFYING THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT."   "(2) THE DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS IS DESIGNATED AS THE ADJUDICATING AUTHORITY FOR ANY TATTOO ISSUE INVOLVING RETENTION OR SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENTS.  REVIEW OF A QUESTIONABLE TATTOO(S) WILL BE SUBMITTED TO DC M&RA (MM) VIA THE REENLISTMENT, EXTENSION, LATERAL MOVE SYSTEM (RELMS).  THE PACKAGE WILL INCLUDE A PHOTOGRAPH(S) OF THE TATTOO(S), MEASUREMENT(S) OF THE SIZE IN INCHES, DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCATION(S) AND EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE TATTOO(S) HAS BEEN DEEMED QUESTIONABLE BY THE COMMANDER." 4.  COMMANDER'S ARE REQUIRED TO EDUCATE ALL THEIR MARINES ON THE NEW POLICY AND DOCUMENT ANY MARINE THAT REQUIRES GRANDFATHERING BY 1 JULY 2007.//

yes they will give him problems. The recruiters I know are seeing this quite a bit. They will not allow him back unless he gets them removed or they will see the exact spots they are located...

I would seriously reconsider if he has them in the areas specified...

this is going to be a sticky issue...

Matt