Tongue piercings

H

Helfire234

5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2010
Messages
4
First, I just want to say that I completely understand the military's policy on no piercings at the academies, and that all piercings need to be taken out. However, now that all the interviews are over with for the applying class of 2015, is it detrimental to get a short-term piercing? A tongue piercing has always interested me, but I never wanted one permanently. If I was accepted to the academy, wanted a tongue piercing with every intention to have it removed well before the first day, would it still be a really bad idea to have it done? (BESIDES the dangers of the piercing itself)


Thank you!


P.S. My goal is to be a pilot, so I'm also wondering if there are any possible medical repercussions from a healed piercing that would exclude one from the possibility of a pilot slot?
 
If you're old enough to make a decision to join the military, then you're old enough to make this decision for yourself. I'm not going to tell you what you should do. But when it comes to tattoos, piercings, etc... I almost always recommend that a person wait until they get to the academy. This way you don't take any chances or risks.

I have always wondered though: Piercings and tattoos are very personal and individual; yet the academy and even the military itself is very much about "Team-Work" and being part of a team. Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against piercings and such. I have a pierced ear. But I didn't do any of these things until after I was already in the military. I never wanted to take chances or go into uncharted waters.
 
I agree it is your choice, and you need to make that decision. I also agree why would you want to risk it? Logically, it doesn't make sense, especially since you know that the AF has already stated it is not allowed.

Our friend's SIL wanted to join the military, but had those disks in his ears, he had to have cosmetic surgery on his ears before he was allowed to enlist.
 
As a dentist....a real one....not just on TV....I have to say, DON'T. I have seen so many broken/chipped teeth and infections of piercings I have lost count. I have read a lot of stories on here of kids getting hurt and uncertain of making it to the first day after all that work. Why risk it??? If you are supposed to go through life until June wrapped in plastic bubbles, why intentionally poke a hole in your tongue?? Lots of "what ifs" involved here. I cannot tell you what to do or not. You know my advice.
 
piercings

YFX4 - I sent you a PM
 
Helfire

The best person to really ask if you should do this on the DodMerb site to MullenLE.

I would hate to see yo do this, and than when you show up for BCT, they refuse to clear you medically because now you have a hole in your tongue.

Heck, you need a waiver for braces, you never know this could be a very big risk from a military reg regardless of the health issues.
 
think of it this way.

you get the piercing.

it gets infected.

time to go to BCT rolls around and when you show up, they turn
you back because of an infected tongue piercing.

Now, you have just wasted a year of your life, or possibly even given up
your spot at the USAFA permanently and you have taken a spot away from
somone else all so you could get your tongue pierced.

If you haven't looked at it that way, you need to. Then I think you will come to the answer pretty quickly
 
Simple answer: Don't do it.

While your interviews are done, you may still have appearances to make (e.g. your MOC may have a ceremony where you receive your formal nomination, you may have Senior Awards Night where your AOL will tell everyone that you received an appointment worth over $400,000, etc.) I know I'm not in your generation, but I do hire people from your generation and I think a pierced tongue conveys certain things you may not want conveyed. I may take heat for this opinion, but I will not hire someone with a pierced tongue because it shows bad judgment. Again, that is my opinion and folks can argue that I'm crazy to think it...but that's just the way it is. So my two cents is don't do it.
 
Take what you pay for a potential tongue abscess and go for a tandem skydive instead. You won't regret it. If you want to do something crazy then do something that will sustain you through BCT and Recognition.
 
As a (mean) mother, I say:

DON'T DO IT!

I can just imagine showing up on I-day:

AF: what's that retainer in your mouth?
You: Well, my tongue piercing chipped my front teeth.
AF: See ya next year. Maybe.
You: Community College! Here I come.

OK, that was harsh. Now go skydiving or take a few pilot lessons or go mountain climbing or something USEFUL. If you can't think of anything, donate the money to help the injured men and women coming home from overseas.
 
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