MARINE CORPS TATTOO POLICYOne of the biggest questions about the Marine Corps is about the Marine Corps Tattoo Policy. All information on this page is pulled directly from "Official" Marine Corps Sources.
(1) PRIOR TO ENLISTMENT INTO THE MARINE CORPS, APPLICANTS WITH MORE THAN FOUR TATTOOS/BRANDS WILL BE ADMINISTRATIVELY REVIEWED. |
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(2) TATTOOS/BRANDS THAT ARE SEXIST (EXPRESS NUDITY), RACIST, ECCENTRIC OR OFFENSIVE IN NATURE, EXPRESS AN ASSOCIATION WITH CONDUCT OR SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED BY THE MARINE CORPS DRUG POLICY AND THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE (UCMJ), TO INCLUDE TATTOOS ASSOCIATED WITH ILLEGAL DRUGS, DRUG USAGE, OR PARAPHERNALIA, ARE PROHIBITED.
(3) TATTOOS/BRANDS THAT DEPICT VULGAR OR ANTI-AMERICAN CONTENT, BRING POSSIBLE DISCREDIT TO THE MARINE CORPS, OR ASSOCIATE THE APPLICANT OR MARINE WITH ANY EXTREMIST GROUP OR ORGANIZATION ARE PROHIBITED.
(4) TATTOOS/BRANDS ON THE HEAD AND NECK ARE PROHIBITED.
(5) SLEEVE TATTOOS ARE PROHIBITED. HALF-SLEEVE OR QUARTER-SLEEVE TATTOOS THAT ARE VISIBLE TO THE EYE WHEN WEARING STANDARD PHYSICAL TRAINING (PT) GEAR ARE LIKEWISE PROHIBITED. NO ADDITIONAL ACTION IS REQUIRED BY MARINES WHOSE SLEEVE TATTOOS WERE PREVIOUSLY GRANDFATHERED.
THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE CLARIFIES THE MARINE CORPS TATTOO POLICY AND IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. MARINES WHO DO NOT MEET THIS GUIDANCE WILL BE GRANDFATHERED.
A. THE FOLLOWING APPLIES TO ALL MARINES.
(1) TATTOOS/BRANDS ON THE HANDS, FINGERS, AND WRISTS ARE PROHIBITED.
(2) TATTOOS/BRANDS IN THE MOUTH ARE PROHIBITED.
(3) INDIVIDUAL TATTOOS VISIBLE IN THE STANDARD PT UNIFORM (SHORTS AND T-SHIRT) WILL BE NO LARGER THAN THE WEARER'S HAND WITH FINGERS EXTENDED AND JOINED WITH THE THUMB TOUCHING THE BASE OF THE INDEX FINGER.
(4) BAND TATTOOS NOT IN COMPLIANCE THE DEFINITION BELOW ARE PROHIBITED.
(5) TATTOOS/BRANDS WILL NOT BE VISIBLE OR APPARENT ON THE FEET OR LEGS WHEN WEARING THE SERVICE A, BLUE DRESS
A/B, BLUE-WHITE DRESS A/B, OR THE EVENING DRESS UNIFORMS. EXCEPTION: FORMAL INSPECTIONS AS PRESCRIBED BY COMMANDERS AND/OR INSPECTOR GENERAL TEAMS.
(6) TATTOOS NOT VISIBLE OR APPARENT WITHOUT THE USE OF ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHTING (BLACK LIGHT) MUST MEET THE POLICY AS SET FORTH HEREIN AND IAW THE REFERENCES.
OFFICERS
B. ADDED GUIDANCE APPLICABLE ONLY TO OFFICERS (COMMISSIONED/WARRANT).
(1) OFFICERS ARE LIMITED TO NOT MORE THAN FOUR (4) TATTOOS/BRANDS VISIBLE IN THE STANDARD PT UNIFORM.
(2) BAND TATTOOS EXCEEDING A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF TWO (2) INCHES ARE PROHIBITED.
(3) ENLISTED MARINES WITH PREVIOUSLY GRANDFATHERED SLEEVE TATTOOS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A MARINE CORPS COMMISSIONING OR WARRANT OFFICER PROGRAM. IN OTHER WORDS, AN ENLISTED MARINE GRANDFATHERED FOR A SLEEVE TATTOO IAW MARADMIN 198/07 HAS NO RESTRICTIONS FOR REENLISTMENT OR PROMOTION AS AN ENLISTED MARINE, BUT IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE MARINE ENLISTED COMMISSIONING EDUCATION PROGRAM (MECEP), WARRANT OFFICER, OR ANY OTHER ENLISTED-TO-OFFICER PROGRAM.
(4) PRIOR TO COMMISSIONING/WARRANT OFFICER APPOINTMENT, OFFICER CANDIDATES WILL BE RESCREENED FOR TATTOOS WHICH ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS POLICY.
DEFINITIONS
A. SLEEVE TATTOOS: A TATTOO(S) THAT IS VERY LARGE OR A COLLECTION OF SMALLER TATTOOS THAT COVERS, OR ALMOST COVERS, A PERSON'S ENTIRE ARM OR LEG. A HALF/QUARTER SLEEVE TATTOO IS DEFINED AS A VERY LARGE TATTOO OR A COLLECTION OF SMALLER TATTOOS THAT COVERS, OR ALMOST COVERS, THE ENTIRE PORTION OF AN ARM OR LEG ABOVE OR BELOW THE ELBOW OR KNEE.
B. BAND TATTOOS: A TATTOO WHICH PARTIALLY OR FULLY ENCIRCLES THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE BODY PART. OFFICERS ARE
ALLOWED BAND TATTOO(S) WITH A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF TWO (2) INCHES. ENLISTED MARINES ARE ALLOWED BAND TATTOO(S) WITH A MAXIMUM WIDTH LESS THAN ONE-QUARTER OF THE RESPECTIVE BODY PART(S) (I.E., LEG OR ARM) EXPOSED SURFACE WHILE WEARING THE STANDARD PT UNIFORM.
C. ONE TATTOO: A SINGLE TATTOO IS DEFINED AS ONE (1) OR MULTIPLE TATTOOS SPACED APART THAT CAN STILL BE COVERED BY A CIRCLE WITH A DIAMETER OF FIVE (5) INCHES. TATTOOS SPACED APART THAT CANNOT BE COVERED BY A CIRCLE WITH A DIAMETER OF FIVE (5) INCHES ARE CONSIDERED SEPARATE TATTOOS.
D. THE NECK: ANY PORTION ABOVE THE COLLARBONE IN THE FRONT AREA, ABOVE THE FIRST CERVICAL VERTEBRAE IN THE BACK AREA, OR OTHERWISE VISIBLE DUE TO THE OPEN COLLAR OF THE SHORT SLEEVE KHAKI SHIRT, WITHOUT AN UNDERSHIRT.
E. EXCESSIVE TATTOOS: WHEN THE COMBINED TATTOO COVERAGE ON A PARTICULAR BODY PART(S), I.E., LEG OR ARM, EXCEEDS ONE-QUARTER OF THE RESPECTIVE BODY PART(S) EXPOSED SURFACE WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL IS WEARING THE STANDARD PT UNIFORM.
F. APPLICANT/CANDIDATE: FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS MARADMIN, AN "APPLICANT" IS ANY CIVILIAN IN THE ACCESSION PIPELINE FOR ENLISTMENT INTO THE MARINE CORPS, AND A "CANDIDATE" INCLUDES ANY PARTICIPANT IN AN OFFICER ACCESSION PROGRAM SUCH AS
MECEP, OFFICER CANDIDATE COURSE, PLATOON LEADERS COURSE, NAVAL RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS, U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY, ETC.
(3) TATTOOS/BRANDS THAT DEPICT VULGAR OR ANTI-AMERICAN CONTENT, BRING POSSIBLE DISCREDIT TO THE MARINE CORPS, OR ASSOCIATE THE APPLICANT OR MARINE WITH ANY EXTREMIST GROUP OR ORGANIZATION ARE PROHIBITED.
(4) TATTOOS/BRANDS ON THE HEAD AND NECK ARE PROHIBITED.
(5) SLEEVE TATTOOS ARE PROHIBITED. HALF-SLEEVE OR QUARTER-SLEEVE TATTOOS THAT ARE VISIBLE TO THE EYE WHEN WEARING STANDARD PHYSICAL TRAINING (PT) GEAR ARE LIKEWISE PROHIBITED. NO ADDITIONAL ACTION IS REQUIRED BY MARINES WHOSE SLEEVE TATTOOS WERE PREVIOUSLY GRANDFATHERED.
THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE CLARIFIES THE MARINE CORPS TATTOO POLICY AND IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. MARINES WHO DO NOT MEET THIS GUIDANCE WILL BE GRANDFATHERED.
A. THE FOLLOWING APPLIES TO ALL MARINES.
(1) TATTOOS/BRANDS ON THE HANDS, FINGERS, AND WRISTS ARE PROHIBITED.
(2) TATTOOS/BRANDS IN THE MOUTH ARE PROHIBITED.
(3) INDIVIDUAL TATTOOS VISIBLE IN THE STANDARD PT UNIFORM (SHORTS AND T-SHIRT) WILL BE NO LARGER THAN THE WEARER'S HAND WITH FINGERS EXTENDED AND JOINED WITH THE THUMB TOUCHING THE BASE OF THE INDEX FINGER.
(4) BAND TATTOOS NOT IN COMPLIANCE THE DEFINITION BELOW ARE PROHIBITED.
(5) TATTOOS/BRANDS WILL NOT BE VISIBLE OR APPARENT ON THE FEET OR LEGS WHEN WEARING THE SERVICE A, BLUE DRESS
A/B, BLUE-WHITE DRESS A/B, OR THE EVENING DRESS UNIFORMS. EXCEPTION: FORMAL INSPECTIONS AS PRESCRIBED BY COMMANDERS AND/OR INSPECTOR GENERAL TEAMS.
(6) TATTOOS NOT VISIBLE OR APPARENT WITHOUT THE USE OF ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHTING (BLACK LIGHT) MUST MEET THE POLICY AS SET FORTH HEREIN AND IAW THE REFERENCES.
OFFICERS
B. ADDED GUIDANCE APPLICABLE ONLY TO OFFICERS (COMMISSIONED/WARRANT).
(1) OFFICERS ARE LIMITED TO NOT MORE THAN FOUR (4) TATTOOS/BRANDS VISIBLE IN THE STANDARD PT UNIFORM.
(2) BAND TATTOOS EXCEEDING A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF TWO (2) INCHES ARE PROHIBITED.
(3) ENLISTED MARINES WITH PREVIOUSLY GRANDFATHERED SLEEVE TATTOOS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A MARINE CORPS COMMISSIONING OR WARRANT OFFICER PROGRAM. IN OTHER WORDS, AN ENLISTED MARINE GRANDFATHERED FOR A SLEEVE TATTOO IAW MARADMIN 198/07 HAS NO RESTRICTIONS FOR REENLISTMENT OR PROMOTION AS AN ENLISTED MARINE, BUT IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE MARINE ENLISTED COMMISSIONING EDUCATION PROGRAM (MECEP), WARRANT OFFICER, OR ANY OTHER ENLISTED-TO-OFFICER PROGRAM.
(4) PRIOR TO COMMISSIONING/WARRANT OFFICER APPOINTMENT, OFFICER CANDIDATES WILL BE RESCREENED FOR TATTOOS WHICH ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS POLICY.
DEFINITIONS
A. SLEEVE TATTOOS: A TATTOO(S) THAT IS VERY LARGE OR A COLLECTION OF SMALLER TATTOOS THAT COVERS, OR ALMOST COVERS, A PERSON'S ENTIRE ARM OR LEG. A HALF/QUARTER SLEEVE TATTOO IS DEFINED AS A VERY LARGE TATTOO OR A COLLECTION OF SMALLER TATTOOS THAT COVERS, OR ALMOST COVERS, THE ENTIRE PORTION OF AN ARM OR LEG ABOVE OR BELOW THE ELBOW OR KNEE.
B. BAND TATTOOS: A TATTOO WHICH PARTIALLY OR FULLY ENCIRCLES THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE BODY PART. OFFICERS ARE
ALLOWED BAND TATTOO(S) WITH A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF TWO (2) INCHES. ENLISTED MARINES ARE ALLOWED BAND TATTOO(S) WITH A MAXIMUM WIDTH LESS THAN ONE-QUARTER OF THE RESPECTIVE BODY PART(S) (I.E., LEG OR ARM) EXPOSED SURFACE WHILE WEARING THE STANDARD PT UNIFORM.
C. ONE TATTOO: A SINGLE TATTOO IS DEFINED AS ONE (1) OR MULTIPLE TATTOOS SPACED APART THAT CAN STILL BE COVERED BY A CIRCLE WITH A DIAMETER OF FIVE (5) INCHES. TATTOOS SPACED APART THAT CANNOT BE COVERED BY A CIRCLE WITH A DIAMETER OF FIVE (5) INCHES ARE CONSIDERED SEPARATE TATTOOS.
D. THE NECK: ANY PORTION ABOVE THE COLLARBONE IN THE FRONT AREA, ABOVE THE FIRST CERVICAL VERTEBRAE IN THE BACK AREA, OR OTHERWISE VISIBLE DUE TO THE OPEN COLLAR OF THE SHORT SLEEVE KHAKI SHIRT, WITHOUT AN UNDERSHIRT.
E. EXCESSIVE TATTOOS: WHEN THE COMBINED TATTOO COVERAGE ON A PARTICULAR BODY PART(S), I.E., LEG OR ARM, EXCEEDS ONE-QUARTER OF THE RESPECTIVE BODY PART(S) EXPOSED SURFACE WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL IS WEARING THE STANDARD PT UNIFORM.
F. APPLICANT/CANDIDATE: FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS MARADMIN, AN "APPLICANT" IS ANY CIVILIAN IN THE ACCESSION PIPELINE FOR ENLISTMENT INTO THE MARINE CORPS, AND A "CANDIDATE" INCLUDES ANY PARTICIPANT IN AN OFFICER ACCESSION PROGRAM SUCH AS
MECEP, OFFICER CANDIDATE COURSE, PLATOON LEADERS COURSE, NAVAL RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS, U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY, ETC.