military tattoo policies

In the Royal Australian Navy, the acceptability of tattoos is assessed on a case-by-case basis.{{Cite web |last=Singer |first=Will |date=2020-12-15 |title=Tattoos a symbol of experiences |url=https://news.defence.gov.au/service/tattoos-symbol-experiences |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=Australian Government Defence |language=en}}

The Indian Army tattoo policy has been in place since 11 May 2015. The government declared all tribal communities who enlist and have tattoos are allowed to have them all over the body only if they belong to a tribal community. Indians who are not part of a tribal community are only allowed to have tattoos in designated parts of the body such as the forearm, elbow, wrist, the side of the palm, and back and front of hands. Offensive, sexist and racist tattoos are not allowed.{{Cite web |date=9 March 2016 |title=Tattoo Policy In The Indian Army |url=http://armycalling.com/tattoo-policy-in-the-indian-army/ |access-date=1 August 2016 |language=en-US}}

{{As of|2022}}, the Royal Navy permits most tattoos, with certain restrictions: unless visible in a front-facing passport photo, obscene or offensive, or otherwise deemed inappropriate.{{Cite web |date=February 2022 |title=Chapter 38 – Policy and Appearance |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/documents/reference-library/br-3-vol-1/br3d-vol-1-feb-2022/ch38_compressed.pdf |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Royal Navy Book of Reference |pages=11–12}} The National Museum of the Royal Navy has presented an exhibit about the long history of tattoos among Navy service members, part of the tradition of sailor tattoos.{{Cite web |last=Moss |first=Richard |date=June 28, 2018 |title=The art of the tattoo heads to the home of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth |url=https://museumcrush.org/the-art-of-the-tattoo-heads-home-to-pompey/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Museum Crush |language=en-GB}}

The United States Air Force regulates all kinds of body modification. Any tattoos which are deemed to be "prejudicial to good order and discipline", or "of a nature that may bring discredit upon the Air Force" are prohibited. Specifically, any tattoo which may be construed as "obscene or advocate sexual, racial, ethnic or religious discrimination" is disallowed. Tattoo removal may not be enough to qualify; resultant "excessive scarring" may be disqualifying. Further, Air Force members may not have tattoos on their neck, face, head, tongue, lips or scalp.{{cite web |date=10 January 2017 |title=AF evolves policies to access more talent, maintain high standards |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1045846/af-evolves-policies-to-access-more-talent-maintain-high-standards/}}

The United States Army regulates tattoos under AR 670–1, last updated in 2022. Soldiers are permitted to have tattoos as long as they are not on the neck, hands, or face, with exceptions existing for of one ring tattoo on each hand, a tattoo on each hand, not exceeding one inch diameter, one tattoo behind the ear, not to exceed one inch in diameter, and permanent makeup. Additionally, tattoos that are deemed to be sexist, racist, derogatory, or extremist continue to be banned.{{Cite news |title=Revised uniform policy changes rules for tattoos, wear of combat uniform |url=https://www.army.mil/article/146268/revised_uniform_policy_changes_rules_for_tattoos_wear_of_combat_uniform |access-date=6 September 2018 |work=army.mil |language=en}}

The United States Coast Guard policy has changed over the years. It changed its policies in 2016 and 2019 to allow arm and hand tattoos, respectively, with the aim of supporting recruitment efforts.{{Cite web |last=Lockett |first=Michael S. |date=2019-10-06 |title=Art on hand: Coast Guard to allow limited hand, finger tattoos with new policy |url=https://www.juneauempire.com/news/art-on-hand-coast-guard-to-allow-limited-hand-finger-tattoos-with-new-policy/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Juneau Empire |language=en-US}}

Tattoos should not be visible over the collarbone or when wearing a V-neck shirt. Tattoos or military brands on the arms should not surpass the wrist. But only one hand tattoos of a form of ring are permitted when not exceeding {{cvt|0.25|in}} width. Face tattoos are also permitted as permanent eyeliners for females as long as they are appropriately worn and not brightly colored to fit uniform dressing code. Disrespectful derogatory tattoos and sexually explicit tattoos are prohibited on the body.{{Cite web |date=31 August 2009 |title=COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 1000.1B |url=https://www.uscg.mil/directives/ci/1000-1999/CI_1000_1B.pdf |website=TATTOO, BODY MARKING, BODY PIERCING, AND MUTILATION POLICY |publisher=United States Coast Guard}}

In 2016, the United States Marine Corps disclosed a new policy of standards of appearance, substituting any previous policy from the past.{{Cite web |title=Marine Corps Tattoos |url=http://www.marines.mil/tattoos.aspx?pid=HPTattooPolicy |access-date=1 August 2016 |website=marines.mil}}

The policy unauthorized tattoos in different parts of the body such as the wrist, knee, elbow and above the collar bone. Wrist tattoos should be two inches above the wrist, elbow tattoos two inches above and one inch below, and the knee two inches above and two below.

In 2016, the United States Navy liberalized its tattoo policies, allowing sailors to have tattoos below the knee and on the forearms and hands, as well as tattoos up to one inch by one inch on the neck, including behind the ear.{{cite web |last1=Faram |first1=Mark D. |date=31 March 2016 |title=The Navy just approved the military's best tattoo rules |url=https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2016/03/31/the-navy-just-approved-the-military-s-best-tattoo-rules/ |access-date=28 May 2022 |website=Navy Times}} Sailors are also allowed to have tattoos of any size on the arms and legs, as long as they are not deemed to be offensive tattoos.{{Cite web |title=New Tattoo Policy |url=http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?id=93927 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011010848/http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?id=93927 |archive-date=11 October 2016 |access-date=1 August 2016}} Sailors with visible tattoos became eligible for recruiting duty and training recruits at boot camp.

Tattoos in the Navy have been regulated since at least 1909,{{cite journal |last1=Govenar |first1=Alan B. |date=March 1982 |title=The Changing Image of Tattooing in American Culture |journal=Journal of American Culture |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=30–37 |doi=10.1111/j.1542-734X.1982.0501_30.x}} when it published restrictions on indecent and obscene tattoos.{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=World War I |url=https://www.tattooarchive.com/history/world_war_1.php |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Tattoo Archive}}

In 2017, the Royal New Zealand Navy gave its first approval to an active sailor to receive a traditional Māori tā moko.{{Cite news |last=Harriman |first=Rewa |date=January 2017 |title=Navy welcomes first sailor with moko |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/01/navy-welcomes-first-sailor-with-moko.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108021053/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/01/navy-welcomes-first-sailor-with-moko.html |archive-date=8 January 2017 |access-date=2022-05-25 |work=Newshub |language=en}}

{{Tattoo}}

Category:Military

Category:Tattooing