Should I get my ears pierced? Is there something to put in my ears to keep it from closing while on duty?

2018-03-15T02:50:05-04:00

I’m pcsing to a new duty station and am wondering if i should pierce my ears while im on leave ( only took 4 days) Is there something i can put in my ears to keep it from closing while on duty?

Response by PFC Dwayne Dittoe made Mar 15 at 2018 3:31 AM

2018-03-15T03:31:22-04:00

personally i would wait til after your enlistment is over, but hey most people go against my advice the regret it later...usually mad at me for not making them follow advice, but the military has changed alot since i got out over 25yrs ago so best i can say now is do what ya gotta

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 15 at 2018 4:45 AM

2018-03-15T04:45:59-04:00

Don't. Just don't.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 15 at 2018 6:07 AM

2018-03-15T06:07:40-04:00

Why pierce your ears, to be in with a crowd, group, group, or segment of society? You did that when you joined the Army. Let them close! Thank you for your service v

Response by MSgt George Cater made Mar 15 at 2018 6:40 AM

2018-03-15T06:40:49-04:00

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2018 7:11 AM

2018-03-15T07:11:14-04:00

I would not recommend you do it will on leave. Wait until after you arrive at your new duty station and then see if anyone else has any piercings.

There are items that are on the market to keep the piercing hole open while you don’t have an actual earring in it. If you are talking about gauges and stuff like that then I am not sure. But an actual regular piercing they have a clear plastic post with back that can be used in replacement of the earring.

Just talk to the person who is doing the piercing.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 15 at 2018 7:11 AM

2018-03-15T07:11:21-04:00

Ask yourself this. Is there any benefit to it? Will it make you a better person, or soldier? Is it an investment in yourself that will make you more money? If not, don't do it. It costs you money, time and hassle.

You may not realize it now, but when you're a young PFC, 90% of the time, you want to be "faceless." Any excuse for someone to toss you on Motor Pool, KP, or any other detail, is a great excuse. Red or swollen ears, even if you are within the regs (current) can perceptually be one (for those who joined when it was against the regs 20~ years ago).

There is no military advantage to having pierced ears. There is no financial advantage. There is no educational advantage. There are lots of potential negatives.....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 15 at 2018 7:18 AM

2018-03-15T07:18:35-04:00

Here's that thing...aside from any possible ramifications or complications to your service life, analogue to the whole tattoo controversy, doing that carries with it the potential for considerable unintended possible clinical ramifications. Quite frequently, before my disability, when studying dermatology. I'd read of pathological casez though I wasn't medicine, I was doctoral level allied health, though we shut my license off sevl urs ago, I just thought you should understand what I'd been trained in relative to that whole topic. Piercing skin isn't a benign procedure, by any means...yeah, females do it, for purely cosmetic reasons, I realize that. Howecerz there are earrings that can be tightened lightly against the earlobe, or the base of it, rather, the customary earring location, there's no need to pierce the ears to use earringszp, zero, zip, nada, none. Then, tooz piercing can, in many cases I've studied give rise to hypertrophic keloid scars, piercing modifies healthy tissue, which, trust me, is rarely, if ever, wholly benign. One might see such keloids infrequently, jowefer, in photos I've seen of them, they can, in fact, be quite massive, as well as exceedingly painful I'm not saying such things to ne judgmental, I perceive your reasons, however, with all the recent tattoo controversy, and all the constant rule changes about them, though in an earlier era, they'd have never been the subject of such debate, I just think, and I realize this ismpurepy my own personal opinion, that doingnit is a virtual potential recipe for disaster, youre going to open a whole can of worms, a veritable Pandora's Box, and al for what? For some purely cosmetic gratification that's neither necessary, nor, in the case of service life, quite possibly not even permissible, at least arguably. Or, if nothing else, potentially? I just think it's not worth it, honest, I'd ne eager for your thoughts, of course, however, honest, those are mine, look up hypertrophic keloids from ear piercing, if I can find any references, I'll try to send them in as well, OK? Many thanks.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2018 7:22 AM

2018-03-15T07:22:13-04:00

You can get your ears pierced from the very beginning with invisible medical grade plastic retainers called dermaplast / dermabond - and further cover any potentially visible tips or holes with matching concealer called dermablend. Do not remove or replace your first posts - leaving holes open to infection for any significant period of time (even a few hours) - because you risk the holes closing or major infections that are obvious to everyone. Warmest Regards, Sandy :)
p.s. Why do you want pierced ears now? Are you sure you want to have pierced ears now?
You expressed an interest in special forces 11B - pierced ears may not be healthy for 11Bs.

https://www.essentialbeauty.com.au/can-i-get-pierced-with-invisible-jewellery-from-the-start/

Can I get pierced with Invisible jewellery from the start? - Essential Beauty

Bioplast can be the perfect solution for your school/work problem and reputable salons like Essential Beauty stock Bioplast and Bioflex

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Mar 15 at 2018 9:17 AM

2018-03-15T09:17:49-04:00

Don’t do it. Find something more productive to do with your time and money. Leave piercings to the civilians. If you’re dead set on wearing ear rings there will be plenty of opportunity after you ETS.

Response by PO2 Dave Cutsinger made Mar 15 at 2018 10:29 AM

2018-03-15T10:29:46-04:00

As with everything, you just need to know the possible consequences of your actions. Regardless of whatever is officially allowed, you will be judged by many senior personnel for what they perceive to be your motivations behind the piercings. I would recommend acting and looking as squared away as possible while on and off duty. There's plenty of time once you've completed your enlistment to spread your wings and let your freak flag fly.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Mar 15 at 2018 11:02 AM

2018-03-15T11:02:53-04:00

The short answer is no. There is no benefit and possible detriment to your military career to have pierced ears.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Mar 15 at 2018 12:22 PM

2018-03-15T12:22:24-04:00

The advice here is great, but one thing that no one mentions is the fact that AR-670-1 and Navy Regs have one very specific thing in common; as a male, you may not wear earrings on any military installation. This includes in Civilian Clothing! Do you have any idea how long it takes to heal after getting your ears pierced? Read on, please.

Now 1LT Sandy Annala gave some sage advice about wearing invisible medical grade plastic retainers, which may sound great. As a Command Master Chief or in your case Command Sargeant Major, your Chain of Command is NOT BLIND and the retainers are not truly Invisible. I would consider these to still be earrings and you would be taking them out while in uniform or on my ship or station IN CIVIES (read the regs). Four days is not anywhere near the time you need to heal properly! Healing time is different depending on the part of your body that you get pierced. Some parts are more likely to get infected or have problems. Piercings on your earlobes usually take about 6-8 weeks to heal. However, piercings on the side of your ear (cartilage) can take anywhere from 4 months to 1 year to heal.

If you are determined to get your ears pierced, take this into consideration. Remember that most of your seniors may judge you on what they see before they find out what you can do. Best of luck with your decision.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2018 12:28 PM

2018-03-15T12:28:41-04:00

Since you're so short on time, make sure you go to a place that offers "ear piercing while you wait".

just kidding. But actually I'm not one of those old timers that is automatically against male troops having pierced ears for use off duty. The times have long past when that was considered an extreme thing, and I know many fine young men who have pierced ears. But I think it is best to wait and feel out the situation in your new unit rather than showing up with them still in the healing stage.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Mar 15 at 2018 1:33 PM

2018-03-15T13:33:17-04:00

Why? Are you planning to stay in for 20? Then there's really no point. Even if you're not staying in why can't you wait until you get out?

I recommend you read AR 670-1:

c. Attaching, affixing or displaying objects, articles, jewelry, or ornamentation to, through, or under their skin, tongue, or any other body part is prohibited (this includes earrings for male Soldiers). This applies to all Soldiers on or off duty. The only exception is for female Soldiers, who may wear earrings consistent with paragraph 3–4d. (The term “skin” is not confined to external skin but includes the tongue, lips, inside the mouth, and other surfaces of the body not readily visible.)

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2018 2:09 PM

2018-03-15T14:09:50-04:00

To answer your first question, No. Why do you feel a need to do this? I get that there is a desire to find a way to stand out or somehow personalize yourself within homogeneity that comes with serving in uniform. Find a better way: work on excelling as a Soldier, hit the gym, learn a new craft.

To answer the second question, I had a "buddy" that used a piece of straw from a broom to keep the hole from closing. Don't use this option within the first 7-10 days of the piercing or you greatly increase the risk of infection. Any legit place should be able to give you clear inserts that you will wear while the hole heals. Perhaps you should go to Claire's Boutique at the local mall to have this done. (Please don't do this while in uniform.)

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2018 6:27 PM

2018-03-15T18:27:32-04:00

Yea sure, if you want to look like a douche! You're a grown man. You do what you want to do. They letting Soldiers walk around with earrings off duty?

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 15 at 2018 7:43 PM

2018-03-15T19:43:55-04:00

Please do get them pierced. The if you are ever in a hand to hand combat situation you can find out what a bad decision it was, and you can serve as an example to others that bad decisions have consequences.

Sorry I'm old school, I don't get the point of piercings anywhere for men OR women. I never saw a woman whose earing was more attractive than her unadorned ear.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2018 11:51 PM

2018-03-15T23:51:59-04:00

Are you a man or an impersonator?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2018 5:54 AM

2018-03-16T05:54:42-04:00

The latest update to AR 670-1 states that male soldiers may not wear earrings while on duty. Something to keep the hole open would be considered an earring and likely get you in a bind. I wouldn't waste my time with earrings until you get out.

Response by LCDR Tim McKenzie made Mar 16 at 2018 3:11 PM

2018-03-16T15:11:02-04:00

Don’t do it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2018 7:17 AM

2018-03-17T07:17:27-04:00

No.

Plain and simple.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2018 12:08 AM

2018-03-18T00:08:42-04:00

If it's really that important to wear earrings in Civis, wear earrings with magnetic backings, clip-ons, or ear cuffs. Don't risk piercing your ears and getting in trouble.

Response by SFC Jorge Diaz Caro made Mar 18 at 2018 5:31 PM

2018-03-18T17:31:14-04:00

Read AR 670-1 . Males will not wear earings on or off duty . Now I have not seen any chages to this yet . But as it stands its not allowed so why bother.