Cannot become an officer or warrant officer because of tattoos: What do you think?

Honestly!...It boils down to one simple thing. What matters to you more there hardcore? Your tatts.....or your commision? If it's the latter, then get rid of the tatts. I know tatts are our badges of honour, but a commission is better. Semper Fi.

I think it's ridiculous.

I just read this long change of comments. There are many opinions listed here. Lots of options. I never was one to buck policy. Usually there is a solid reason for the policy. I took a course in Navy Regulations years ago. A very solid document. Not for sure if it is still in the UCMJ, but at one time there was an article that prohibited "kicking a public horse". I bet at the time it was written there were a lot more public horses than there are today.

No one made you get the tatoo.

i didn't know the military was suppose to bend to your feelings and beliefs. either get them removed or suck it up buttercup.

As a warrant officer, I am going to say - tough. Here is the deal. We are a professional Army who fight in coalitions of many countries. I am not going to potentially put you in front of foreign officers to brief etc, looking like you just got out of chino. I have ink, plenty of it. All of it is covered while wearing a t shirt. Look man the policy may suck for your personal circumstances. However, it is in place for a reason. You made th choice to get the ink, I am guessing while you were in. The tattoo conversation has been on going for a while. You did it anyway, and now you are pissed? Tell you what fella, why don't you show up for a job interview in corporate america with short sleeves on and see what that lands you. As a guy with 21 years in and pushing that way, your appearance matters. The military doesn't last forever, nor do contracting gigs etc. hell most police departments wouldn't hire you with full sleeves either. There are plenty of awesome gigs in the Army that don't care about your sleeves. Go SF or ranger regt. They would love to have a hard charger and your sleeves won't matter. but to commission- it does. Fucked up part about the policy is once you commission- you could probably get away with it. But most officers don't.

The tatto ban was Obama's way of dwpleting the officer corp. LEss effective fighting force that way.

I've said for decades that tats were a bad decision.

IF you want to fly, you will have to get out and go the civilian route. I'm a pilot, I know a lot of "people" in the biz. I'll tell you for CERTAIN that some airlines...even though they may have no strict written policy...will turn you down due to a lot of ink. All it takes is one interviewer/check ride with bias to professionalism and it's all over. You can be another Bob Hoover...but you won't be sitting in the pointy end of their aircraft and accepting thanks for a nice landing after a rough flight. Fact...not fiction

IF they REALLY wanted, or needed you...they would FIND a way to get you in. I don't know you, I don't know your record, and I don't know the current staffing needs of the Army...but they WILL bend/stretch/break "rules" to get what they want or need very badly.

Hell...just look at a lot of military members PT level nowdays. I still shoot on active and reserve bases all over the country and am amazed at the rather "rotund" nature of many in uniform I see. They obviously make exceptions to the rules...or they'd never meet retention goals I suspect.

So now you're standing at a crossroads. You're NOT going to be accepted by the military aviation community so you either get out or move on.

Looking back is wasted effort...

If you're staying in...keep gaining hours. Don't know if you're IFR, but get it now. Hours, hours, hours. Even if it's jumping in a 172 for a few circuits. Every little bit helps. Find a good instructor who will work with you. Offer to fly for him for free(I did a few "free" recovery hops for an FBO once) or as an observer for them while THEY practice up. Don't let this knock you off the horse!

At some point people need to be responsible for their life decisions. I have tattoos. Hell my whole back is one big tattoo. You can't see it and there is a reason for that.

If you are going to get your face tattooed expect to have some doors closed to you. Make your statement, ink yourself up, show the world you are a bad boy, just be prepared down the road to ask if the people without visible tattoos if they, "want fries with that".

Depending on the post-military job/career you'll look for in the private sector, I can only recommend you think long and hard about specific tattoo designs and body locations before going under the needle. I've been in the private sector 22 years and have seen sharp men and women, many prior military, lose out on jobs or career promotions due to tattoos. Tattoos on the face, neck, or hands are usually an automatic no-go. Visible tattoos representing even a hint of 'gang' affiliation, zip codes, ball and chain, spider webs, tear drops, etc. are also show stoppers. I had a young man once try to convince me deep down he was really a 'people person' in spite of having 'love' and 'hate' tattooed across the knuckles of both hands. Keep in mind the uniform comes off one day - ready or not.