Do tattoos really define you as a bad Soldier?

Couldn't have said it better top! As I said in another post, this is just a phase. Wait for another war to kick off and those same bad boys with all their dirty tattoos will be the first ones to step up and say "I would love to fight for you and your silly regs" and they will be the ones who will lead their men straight into the depths of hell and come out on the other side holding the American flag high.There will always be something for us to hate and disagree with but we will always do what is asked of us for our brothers and for our country.

 this problem has been presenting itself a lot lately. when the wars were raging and we needed bullet sponges the tattoos were not an issue now that we are downsizing it becoming an issue again. when  I think of soldiers and level of discipline I think whos the soldier who going to sit on the 5* degree mountain top for 5 days with minimal food, water, clothing  and continues stay awake and capable of doing his job and not quite. Not by if they have tattoos down their arms. using this as a level of discipline and standards is obviously flawed. The best soldiers our military and our country has to offer that I have ever worked with some  serving in the most  elite units we have are covered in tattoos for this reason I find this just to be a excuse to begin separation and to reduce overall size of the military. if it isn't gang, race or offensive material or all over the face then change the policy.

I completely agree MSG

I have two tattoos that are not distracting and are not tasteless brother 1SG Steven Stankovich

<p>SSG Williams, </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>That's where you're wrong!&nbsp; The Army actually does operate under the same premise as those aforementioned businesses.&nbsp; Just by reading your response, it seems as if you're completely honing in on only the combat aspect of what we do.&nbsp; This is not all that the Army is.&nbsp; What is it that you think we do when we're not fighting wars?&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Garrison is the professional setting for the Armed Forces in which the standards are usually heavily enforced.&nbsp; It is because many members of the Armed Forces aren't just in the field all day or working in the motor pool on vehicles or rehearsing battle drills in our spare time.&nbsp; There are combat support and combat service support members who work in professional office settings.&nbsp; Some of these office setting include Combatant Command HQ (CENTCOM, PACOM, SOCOM, etc.) law enforcement agencies (FBI)&nbsp;National Intelligence Agencies, Military Departments or the Joint Chiefs of Staffs office. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Aside from that, what about those who meet with foreign diplomats, world leaders or a host nation leader during a deployment?&nbsp; Do you honestly think they would instill trust in the individual they're meeting if they walked into the room with more ink than Kat Von D?&nbsp; Also, I'm not entirely sure where you're going with the whole "we need to impress them with our professional business appearance."&nbsp; That's the whole point!&nbsp; Impressions.&nbsp; That's why we look the way we do.&nbsp; That's why we have do the things we do.&nbsp; To be presentable in the public eye.&nbsp; Actions, appearance and&nbsp;speech.&nbsp; If we're not impressing the public then they're not supporting us.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I do agree with your statement that we only need to be the most effective fighting force.&nbsp; I cannot argue that.&nbsp; However, being the most effective fighting force cannot be accomplished without those combat support and combat service support elements I mentioned earlier.&nbsp; We are an Army of one and if a standard is good enough for those persons working in a professional environment, it's good enough for those who are not.</p>

I think comparing the Army to a corporation is a bit out there.&nbsp; This is like telling the owner of a night club to make his or her establishment more like a country club.

Isn't CSM Greca "sleeved up"&nbsp; When he came to USASMA last year to talk to us, he wore long sleeves.&nbsp;&nbsp;I believe you&nbsp;could make out the tattoos in the cuff area of his White dress shirt.&nbsp; Maybe I am wrong, but I think there are a lot more senior leaders out there with tattoos than one would believe.&nbsp; I have tattoos, and I do not believe it automatically makes you unprofessional.&nbsp; I think you should make sure you don't have the racist or unethical tattoos.&nbsp; I also believe that as long as you can cover them up in ACUs/ASUs, it should be ok.&nbsp; I understand tattoos on the neck, hands, face, etc should be banned.&nbsp; It is getting a little more out of hand than it should be.&nbsp;

We are warriors not dog and pony soldiers. Does that sleeve tattoo bring any dishonor to the Tomb of the Unknown's? I know 2 who guard who are severely tatted up and tell me that it affects their performance? Tattoo's do not hinder your ability to shoot, move or communicate. That is what we do. Not walk around looking all pretty. When we put on our Class A's we do so with honor and pride. Anyone who thinks this is a good policy should drink some water and do a reality check with the troops on the ground and get out of the office once in a while for something more than a little photo op. Rant over enough said by this old dog.