You more experienced veterans are familiar with "Mickey Mouse", although today we call it "intrusive leadership".
The military has become more "concerned" about tattoos over the last couple decades. I'm not sure if it's about self-expression or freedom of speech or just the pejorative connotation delivered by a literal armload of art. Slowly yet surely, however, tattoos are going the way of beards & moustaches.
The Marine Corps Commandant has hopped on the bandwagon. The current policy prohibits tattoos on the head and neck, and tattoos "that are prejudicial to good order, discipline and morale or are of a nature to bring discredit upon the Marine Corps." The new policy, taking effect this weekend, also forbids large tattoos that extend past the sleeves and legs of standard-issue exercise T-shirts and shorts. (Yes, the military has a shorts & t-shirts uniform too.) The Navy has had a tattoo policy for a while in certain billets (instructors, recruit training) so now they're reining in their wild-eyed brethren.
While tattooed Marines are rushing to their local parlors to complete their artwork goals before this weekend's over, here's the reason I'm glad I'm not still in uniform: "Commanders are required to place photographs, measurements and descriptions of the location in the service records of Marines who already have sleeve tattoos."
I can only imagine the forms, instructions, investigations, & inspections that will grow out of this...
http://starbulletin.com/2007/03/30/news/story04.html
The military has become more "concerned" about tattoos over the last couple decades. I'm not sure if it's about self-expression or freedom of speech or just the pejorative connotation delivered by a literal armload of art. Slowly yet surely, however, tattoos are going the way of beards & moustaches.
The Marine Corps Commandant has hopped on the bandwagon. The current policy prohibits tattoos on the head and neck, and tattoos "that are prejudicial to good order, discipline and morale or are of a nature to bring discredit upon the Marine Corps." The new policy, taking effect this weekend, also forbids large tattoos that extend past the sleeves and legs of standard-issue exercise T-shirts and shorts. (Yes, the military has a shorts & t-shirts uniform too.) The Navy has had a tattoo policy for a while in certain billets (instructors, recruit training) so now they're reining in their wild-eyed brethren.
While tattooed Marines are rushing to their local parlors to complete their artwork goals before this weekend's over, here's the reason I'm glad I'm not still in uniform: "Commanders are required to place photographs, measurements and descriptions of the location in the service records of Marines who already have sleeve tattoos."
I can only imagine the forms, instructions, investigations, & inspections that will grow out of this...
http://starbulletin.com/2007/03/30/news/story04.html