Army has tattoo policy up its sleeve
WASHINGTON— Tattoos are everywhere these days, withseeminglynobodyparts off limits to being inked.
But the Armymay be asking new recruits to roll up their tattoo sleeves as part of a newuniform policy.
Aregulation to ban tattoos that are visible below the elbows and knees and above the neckline is under consideration, the armed forces newspaper Stars and Stripes reported.
Sgt. Maj. of the Army RaymondChandler, the top noncommissioned officer, outlined the proposed rules to troops during a visit to Afghanistan, the paper said Tuesday.
Existing tattoos may be grandfathered in, but all soldiers are still prohibited from having tattoos that are sexist, racist or extremist, it said.
Chandlertold soldiers that Secretary of the Army John McHugh had approved but not yet signed off on the changes to Army Regulation 670- 1, which oversees grooming, tattoos and uniforms, the Stars and Stripes said.
Chandlersaid that the policy would be part of maintaining a uniform look and sacrificing for the sake of the force, and that he expected the changes to take effect in 30 to 60 days, according to the report.
The Army comment.
declined
to
It issuedastatementthat it was “conducting final review of the forthcoming uniform policy — Army Regulation 670- 1 ( the total policy applying to the wear and appearance of theArmy uniform)— prior to its implementation.”
Soldiers are barred from all tattoos or brands that are indecent, sexist or racist, and fromtattoos or brands on the head or face, according to an Army spokesman at the Pentagon.