What branch of military is most lenient with tattoos?

The Navy tattoo policy, updated in 2016, is the most lenient in all the branches. Navy tattoos can be anywhere on the body except the head, face, or scalp.

What branch of the military can you not have tattoos?

Hands: All the service branches prohibit hand tattoos. But they all have minor exceptions to this rule. The Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps allow finger ring tattoos, one per hand. The Marine Corps specifies that the finger ring tattoo cannot exceed 3/8 inch in width.

What branch has the best tattoo policy?

The Navy has one of the most relaxed tattoo policies of all the military branches. If you have loads of tattoos, big tattoos, loud tattoos, and pretty much anything in-between, the US Navy might be your best bet.

Will the military accept you with tattoos?

You can't have hand tattoos except for a single ring tattoo 3/8 of an inch or smaller. Any tattoo has to be smaller than your hand. Meanwhile, arm tats must be two inches above or one inch below your elbow, and half- and full-sleeves aren't allowed. Leg tattoos should be two inches above or below your knees.

Can special forces have tattoos?

Tattoos are almost standard issue at this point. Rangers get tattoos of the unit's distinguished unit insignia in various levels of stylization. SEALs often get a tattoo of a frog skeleton, Marines get the Globe and Anchor, and Air Force Para-Rescuemen get the Jolly Green.

ARMY TATTOO POLICY (2022) | FULLY EXPLAINED!!

Will the Army pay for tattoo removal?

Generally speaking, visits to a tattoo removal clinic will be on your own dime—the government will not pay for you to have a tattoo removed, nor will health insurance. Fortunately, we do offer special discounts for military recruits, active duty, and veterans – it's our way of saying, “thank you for your service!”

Are tattoos allowed in the Marines?

In terms of size of placement Marines are only prohibited from tattoos on their face, head, neck and hands, with the exception of one ring-like tattoo. Removing the ban on knee or elbow tattoos heralds the return of sleeves for Marines.

Does the Air Force allow tattoos?

Tattoos are not completely disqualifying, however. There are no size or area limitations for authorized tattoos on the chest (below an open collar), back, arms, and legs. Tattoos, brands, and body markings are prohibited on the head, neck, face, tongue, lips, and scalp.

Can I join the Air Force with tattoos?

No, tattoos on the face, neck, and hands are not permitted with the exception of a single ring tattoo on a hand. Airmen are allowed to have one full-band ring tattoo on one of the two hands. Otherwise, the hands are off limits along with the entire neck and face.

Can I join the Navy with tattoos?

New regulations allow for unlimited tattoos on the legs, arms, neck, and even on the hands and behind the ears. The only places on the body that are off limits are the head, face, and scalp. Tattoos on the torso are also allowed, but they must not be visible underneath whites.

Can Army Rangers have tattoos?

The main takeaways regarding the Army Tattoo Policy are: There is no limit to the number of tattoos you can have. You can NOT have tattoos on your wrists / hands, neck, or face. The only exception to this is a ring tattoo, one per hand.

Can you have tattoos in the Navy Seals?

As of March 2016, tattoos including full sleeves are acceptable. According to the Navy, only the head, face and scalp are off limits. The neck and behind the ear may have one tat but it should be restricted to one inch. Additionally, tattoos on the torso should not be visible through the white uniform shirt.

Can you have a forearm tattoo in the army?

An updated approach to tattoo policy

On the visible part of the arm (i.e. forearms) tattoos must be one inch below the elbow and tattoos cannot extend onto the wrist or hands. For upper arm pieces, tattoos must start two inches above the elbow.

Can you have a tattoo sleeve in the army?

Tattoos are not allowed on the sleeves, the legs and arms of the soldiers. The tattoo must not be visible on any part of the body of the soldier that is exposed while wearing any of the military uniforms. The army bans having a tattoo on the head, neck, and face.

What happens if I get a tattoo before basic training?

If you were to get one of these banned tattoos before you shipped to basic training, then you run a high risk of being booted out of the Delayed Enlistment Program (DEP) for disobeying the rules. However, if the tattoo in question is within the allowed limits, you will likely be fine.

Is 28 too old to join the military?

You must be at least 17 to enlist in any branch of the active military. The oldest you can be to enlist for active duty in each branch is: Coast Guard: 31. Marines: 28.

Can you get a waiver for hand tattoos in the military?

You can get a waiver, or you may not need one -- provided that the tattoo is not offensive in any way. Tattoos on the neck above your collar when you wear a regulation shirt, if it can be seen, is disqualifying. Tattoos anywhere that are racist, sexist or offensive in any way are disqualifying.

Can you be drafted if you have tattoos?

Tattoos below the knees or elbows must be smaller than the size of the Soldier's palm with fingers extended. Permanent ink or branding on the face, neck, and hands, as well as tattoos that can be deemed extremist, indecent, sexist or racist in nature remain banned.

What GPA is required for the Air Force?

To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1410 SAT or a 33 ACT. You should also have a 3.87 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.

What disqualifies you from joining the military?

To enlist, you must be qualified under current federal laws and regulations or have an appropriate waiver. There are age, citizenship, physical, education, height/weight, criminal record, medical, and drug history standards that can exclude you from joining the military.

What is the Army's policy on tattoos?

One visible tattoo on each hand (including the palm), not to exceed one inch in measurement in all directions. An unlimited number of tattoos between the fingers as long as they are not visible when the fingers are closed; and one ring tattoo on each hand.

Do Marines get branded?

– Marines' uniforms are adorned practically everywhere with the Eagle, Globe and Anchor symbol. It's hidden inside their combat uniform's camo pattern as well as being branded on the heels of their combat boots.

Can I join the Marines if I have a sleeve tattoo?

Marines are now even allowed to have sleeve tattoos as long as the sleeve doesn't extend past the wrist.

Why can't Marines tattoo elbows?

The Marines call this “espirit de corps.” Though tattoos are still allowed over broad swathes of a Marine's body, certain areas, specifically around the knees and elbows are off limits, thus disrupting the ability to blanket ink from armpit to wrist or groin to ankle.

Can you get branded in the army?

The Army's policy prohibits tattoos or brands that might be considered offensive, regardless of where they appear on the body. Specifically, the regulations forbid: Extremist tattoos.