Marine Corps putting ban on sleeve tattoos, is this fair?

Aren't the Marines fighting for freedom? How odd..

Sooner or later its bound to have a huge backlash, its nice that the army lightened up on tattoos, but they're still having trouble finding people for reasons more than that alone. Lets see where the Marines stand in a few years.

I can see banning offensive and gang related tattoos, but some of this is going too far. Tattoos DO NOT effect how you perform general tasks and I'm fairly sure they won't effect how some serve this country.

I also agree with Somebody as usual :-D

I hate to say this, but I do understand the not allowing sleeves (at least to the point of full sleeves. I don't see what is wrong with upper arm tattoos, torso, tattoos, basically anything that is covered by a uniform. Like the artist was saying that these men and women are sacrificing their lives and they can't have freedom of expression, yeah that is pretty crappy, but then again it's the military. They don't call it a uniform for nothing.

It doesn't bother me at all. Marines are already a division, meaning they can be as specific as they want. It's not like they're getting rid of people who already have them. They're not saying you can't have them, they're saying you cant have sleeves. You can't have a face tattoo and be a business person... and that doesn't affect how you do business. They have an image and they're just making alterations to keep their image. If you wanna be in the marines, don't get sleeves.

i don't really think it's fair but. having a tattoo in no way affects the way you fight, or do whatever you do in the marines.

however, i do get their point. the marines are in part representing the country, and they don't want negative images like that out there. i get the higher ups point of view, but i just don't think it really matters, given what the marines DO. i have no problem with an member of the armed forces having a tattoo on their body, but as long as their representing the country, i think there should be SOME limitation as to what/how much they get.

i guess thats where they drew the line.

Regrettable but understandable. There are rules regulating hair length in the military. Piercings aren't allowed. Part of the military way of life IS uniformity. Individualism is not encouraged and in many instances it squashed. I am suprised that this is the only tattoo regulation the marines have. My suggestion.....if you want to have full sleeves don't join the marines.

The Marine Corps "image"? Not exactly squeaky clean as they like to think. Everyone knows you have to be tough to do the military thing. Tough guys typically want tattoos. I can't believe that the conservatives who make these "rules" haven't realized that nowadays, a tattoo on someone does not change anyone's perception of them.

no its not fair, they are saying banning will help clean up their image so its the same ignorant comment you see here alot about tattoos being ugly and people should disgrace their bodies with them.

just because your in the marines or any form of military you should still be able to express yourself by way of tattoo or anything else.

Crazy... tattoo coincide with the military life style. It is very true what the tattoo artist said in the end. It is ridiculous. It is such a shame that those men are over there in the first place. Let them have the tattoos, what harm is it really doing to our image if the people over there don't like us in the first place?

If you are in the military and they say you are not allowed to do something. simply DONT DO IT. They can do anything from ordering you to remove it with punishment or more likely, they will dishonorably discharge you, you get a BIG black mark on your record equivalent to having a felony if you ask me and it will be very difficult to get a job. Its not worth the hassle man, just serve up your contract and when you get out you'll definatly know what you want on your arm. My moms ex was a tat artist, its a fine art, grossly under appriciated, and you'll meet interesting people. its worth waiting for.