Since their adoption in March, the new military tattoo regulations have caused a fair amount of controversy. According to a report by The New York Times, when the stricter rules regarding ink were adopted, a flurry of soldiers took to tattoo parlors to take advantage of the old regulations while they were still in effect. Others jumped on social media to express their frustration about the new regulations, according to Military Times.
As aggravating as tattoo regulations may be for soldiers who planned to go under the needle or servicemembers who already had tattoos, there may be good news ahead. According to Military Times, the Army is close to announcing changes in the tattoo policy, which could end in more relaxed regulations. Army spokesman Paul Prince told the news agency that changes to the policies would be inevitable and the specifics would be available in the latest version of Army Regulation 670-1.
The current tattoo guidelines
There was controversy over more than just tattoos, according to Fox News. The latest edition of AR 670-1 also regulated certain hairstyles, glasses, jewelry and fingernails. Hairstyle regulations have since been changed due to racial bias, according to a Time magazine report. This event has convinced some members of the military that tattoo regulations may be changed as well. According to AR 670-1, tattoo regulations currently prohibit:
- Tattoos on the head, neck, fingers, hands and wrists
- More than four visible tattoos below the elbow or knee
- Tattoos larger than the wearer's hand below the elbow or above the knee
- Extremist, indecent, sexist or racist tattoos of any sort.
Punishing current soldiers
Fox News reported that 300 military applicants were turned away because of tattoo regulations in the Phoenix area alone between March and mid-June. However, already enlisted servicemembers with now inappropriate tattoos face punishment as well. According to Military Times, while many members of the military with tattoos would be grandfathered in, enlisted soldiers with improper tattoos would not be able to request commission without a waiver. For many, this means the opportunity for promotion would be taken away because of a previously acceptable tattoo.
The waiver process has granted roughly 59 exemptions as of July, Prince told Military Times. However, the guidelines of the waiver process and the difference between waived tattoos and unacceptable tattoos has not been divulged.
According to Fox News, Purple Heart recipient Zac Rand – an army specialist – would have been turned down by the military if he applied today with his current tattoos.
"I don't think it's really fair to cut people short just because of [their] tattoos," Rand told the news agency.