New Navy Tattoo Policy

Glad to read the Marines, at least, are maintaining some decorum. I have to say I don't see any relationship between being professional and having tatoos. I know plenty of folks with tatoos over most of their body who are very professional in their respective (non-military) fields.
 
It all started when the Navy abolished tattoos, as punishment.
 
I remember my change of command onboard a large west coast Naval Air Station. The gate MAA had tattoos on all her fingers and hands when she rendered the salute as I drove through the gate with my father, a former Army officer. He just couldn't comprehend how low the military had allowed the standards of personal appearance to sink.
 
The pendulum swings. Look at historical photos of sailors from WWII and previous conflicts - just google "WWII sailors with tattoos." Some serious ink! Mermaids and anchors everywhere. Of course, it would be interesting to know what the regs were at the time, and with a full mobilization war on, if standards were looser. Officer ranks typically did not get them. That is a change, and reflects the spread of tattoos through younger generations in all socio-economic backgrounds.

For recruitment and retention purposes, I think the policy represents an acceptance of a new norm. Not my thing, but as boomers depart the senior ranks and younger generations rise, I suspect we will see many changes.
 
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The pendulum swings. Look at historical photos of sailors from WWII and previous conflicts - just google "WWII sailors with tattoos." Some serious ink! Mermaids and anchors everywhere. Of course, it would be interesting to know what the regs were at the time, and with a full mobilization war on, if standards were looser. Officer ranks typically did not get them. That is a change, and reflects the spread of tattoos through younger generations in all socio-economic backgrounds.

For recruitment and retention purposes, I think the policy represents an acceptance of a new norm. Not my thing, but as boomers depart the senior ranks and younger generations rise, I suspect we will see many changes.

Might as well do away with saluting to, so old school...
 
As my oldest son said when he filled out his tattoo form, "I don't know why anyone would put a bumper sticker on a Ferrari."...
 
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