Male Piercings

cooper1234

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
133
I am doing ROTC in the Fall, but I am getting my ears pierced soon. I'd imagine I can't wear them to Lab or in Uniform, but am I able to have them out of uniform?
 
not going to judge, just make some observations
You will not be able to wear your earrings while in uniform.
You will not be able to wear your earrings on a military base.
When you are wearing your earrings on campus you will probably take some crap from from the old crusty cadre.
Make sure your holes are healed before you show up on campus, wearing a bandaid over your earrings, or putting a straw in to keep the holes open are not authorized either.
Some day you will be expected to enforce the standard, which means you may have to stop a soldier on post and tell them to take their earrings out.
think it's still worth it.
 
I am doing ROTC in the Fall, but I am getting my ears pierced soon. I'd imagine I can't wear them to Lab or in Uniform, but am I able to have them out of uniform?

Avoid doing things you will regret later. Get a "clip-on" if you feel you must absolutely show others how incredibly more wealthy you are.
 
not going to judge, just make some observations
You will not be able to wear your earrings while in uniform.
You will not be able to wear your earrings on a military base.
When you are wearing your earrings on campus you will probably take some crap from from the old crusty cadre.
Make sure your holes are healed before you show up on campus, wearing a bandaid over your earrings, or putting a straw in to keep the holes open are not authorized either.
Some day you will be expected to enforce the standard, which means you may have to stop a soldier on post and tell them to take their earrings out.
think it's still worth it.

And if he ever leaves the military and shows up with a earring scar in the boardroom, few will take him serious.
 
I've always heard that guys that get their ears pierced secretly want to be women...:yllol:
 
bjc said:
I've always heard that guys that get their ears pierced secretly want to be women.

Are you sure your not in my family? Bullet and I have told our boys, get you ears pierce and we will buy you a dress for you to wear with the earrings.

Harsh, but true. I understand for your generation it is a cool thing, no biggie, like tats. However, now you will entering a new world where you will no longer be judged as a kid, but as an adult. You will be viewed differently on Sept 1st as a college student by your profs and cadre, than compared to June when you were in hs.

It is like the time warp you went through from middle to hs, yet 10X bigger.

You need to see your decisions and how with every decision there will be an impact, big or small.

You do not want to show up for ROTC day 1 with holes in your ears and expect them not to notice. They will notice. As clarkson stated they won't ding you for it in uniform, but you probably will have POCs yakking about you...did you see cadet cooper? He has pierced ears! :shake::yllol:

Ten will get you twenty, the next comment will be what a fool, and that is the sanitized way of saying it! Followed by other comments.

So now on day one every POC will know your name, and not in a positive light.

Also, why do it at all? 1st off few entering realize that many cadets hang together socially. Our DS a C300 is at his det probably 3-4 days a week, sometimes more. He hangs in the lounge if he has a break between classes. His lounge has, foosball, crud table, XBox and PS3 in it. So if you have an hour between classes, you may find yourself in the lounge. They also have Thursday night GMC night where they order in pizza and hang. On top of that they have 3 military fraternities, so there is that socialization too. Additionally, any issues you may have i.e. finance or semester reviews may be done on your non-ROTC days due to class confliction. Finally, they do community volunteering, which is mandated (funny...mandated volunteering), and that occurs about 1x a month.

Add that all up together and it is no longer just 2x a week PT, and lead lab. It is basically 3-4 times a week. Pledge a military fraternity and during that semester it will be 5 days a week.

Theoretically yes you can get it done, but I hope by reading all of these posts that you will see it is a waste of time.

Lastly, I want to address something patent and clarkson stated, both had the same opinion, but different perspectives.

Again the fact is when you attend college you are not seen as a KID anymore. Profs will not view you like that hs kid. This will be the 1st time in your life they will accept you in the "real world". We may not want to address the elephant in the room, but the fact is 1st impressions matter. Image is a part of that. For our generation, a generation that will be reviewing you, piercings for a male in this community is seen in a negative light. They will see it as a youthful indiscretion, but for many in the back of their mind they will be saying "what was he thinking?" How could he get his ears pierced 3 months ago, and not know that it is against regs? Which brings it back to questioning your judgment. Being a leader in the military is about judgment.
 
Are you sure your not in my family? Bullet and I have told our boys, get you ears pierce and we will buy you a dress for you to wear with the earrings.

Harsh, but true. I understand for your generation it is a cool thing, no biggie, like tats. However, now you will entering a new world where you will no longer be judged as a kid, but as an adult. You will be viewed differently on Sept 1st as a college student by your profs and cadre, than compared to June when you were in hs.

It is like the time warp you went through from middle to hs, yet 10X bigger.

You need to see your decisions and how with every decision there will be an impact, big or small.

You do not want to show up for ROTC day 1 with holes in your ears and expect them not to notice. They will notice. As clarkson stated they won't ding you for it in uniform, but you probably will have POCs yakking about you...did you see cadet cooper? He has pierced ears! :shake::yllol:

Ten will get you twenty, the next comment will be what a fool, and that is the sanitized way of saying it! Followed by other comments.

So now on day one every POC will know your name, and not in a positive light.

Also, why do it at all? 1st off few entering realize that many cadets hang together socially. Our DS a C300 is at his det probably 3-4 days a week, sometimes more. He hangs in the lounge if he has a break between classes. His lounge has, foosball, crud table, XBox and PS3 in it. So if you have an hour between classes, you may find yourself in the lounge. They also have Thursday night GMC night where they order in pizza and hang. On top of that they have 3 military fraternities, so there is that socialization too. Additionally, any issues you may have i.e. finance or semester reviews may be done on your non-ROTC days due to class confliction. Finally, they do community volunteering, which is mandated (funny...mandated volunteering), and that occurs about 1x a month.

Add that all up together and it is no longer just 2x a week PT, and lead lab. It is basically 3-4 times a week. Pledge a military fraternity and during that semester it will be 5 days a week.

Theoretically yes you can get it done, but I hope by reading all of these posts that you will see it is a waste of time.

Lastly, I want to address something patent and clarkson stated, both had the same opinion, but different perspectives.

Again the fact is when you attend college you are not seen as a KID anymore. Profs will not view you like that hs kid. This will be the 1st time in your life they will accept you in the "real world". We may not want to address the elephant in the room, but the fact is 1st impressions matter. Image is a part of that. For our generation, a generation that will be reviewing you, piercings for a male in this community is seen in a negative light. They will see it as a youthful indiscretion, but for many in the back of their mind they will be saying "what was he thinking?" How could he get his ears pierced 3 months ago, and not know that it is against regs? Which brings it back to questioning your judgment. Being a leader in the military is about judgment.

Can I get an AMEN???!!! In my opinion, the same goes for tats. Thank goodness neither DD or DS ever want either of them...
 
Here's a true story.

When I was an upperclass cadet at Norwich (back in the Middle Ages), one of the rooks apparently had the very bright idea that he would show his rebel side by coloring his long afro-like hair Red, White, and Blue (three stripes on his head!!). The incoming rook thought it would be funny to do that over the summer (his dad was the US Ambassador to Belgium, and he wanted to have a rebel moment). According to this rook, he thought that the Norwich barbers would shave his head bald on the first day, and he'd appear just like everyone else. At least that was the plan.

When we upperclassmen first saw him, the only thing we could do is laugh so incredibly hard until it hurt. So . . . contrary to the incoming rook's expectation, we specifically FORBADE him from getting a haircuit during the first week ("Rook Week")!! And he had to go through the "meat line" (an event that Norwich cadets don't do any more) every day with a full head of hair painted Red, White, and Blue! Every upperclassman could spot this kid from 10 miles away, and this kid definitely increased his push-up muscle strength that week (it's kinda hard to "blend in" the crowd when there is one rook in the formation with a painted head!!).

I am happy to report that the kid eventually graduated and is now a lawyer, so things worked out. We actually became friends after he was recognized. But I recall this was a very uncomfortable week for him.
 
WOW...its been a tough few days for my DS. First he finds out he can't wear his 25m swimming badge on his uniform and now he has to remove his Prince Albert. :rolleyes: Well at least he can still wear nail polish in the Army, thank heavens for small mercies.
 
WOW...its been a tough few days for my DS. First he finds out he can't wear his 25m swimming badge on his uniform and now he has to remove his Prince Albert. :rolleyes: Well at least he can still wear nail polish in the Army, thank heavens for small mercies.

Hahahaha :yllol:
 
hmmmmmmm........that has got me thinking.......the Army should be OK with his perm shouldn't they :confused: I mean he can wear it in a Pony Tail if its a problem.
 
hmmmmmmm........that has got me thinking.......the Army should be OK with his perm shouldn't they :confused: I mean he can wear it in a Pony Tail if its a problem.

Pah...just keep the mullet, business in the front, full on party in the back :thumb:
 
WOW...its been a tough few days for my DS. First he finds out he can't wear his 25m swimming badge on his uniform and now he has to remove his Prince Albert. :rolleyes: Well at least he can still wear nail polish in the Army, thank heavens for small mercies.

Don't forget the eye liner, and black is the best for nail polish..they blend well with camo paint:smile:
This kid had a honest question and he is being tortured by us dinosaurs. Hopefully he sees the wisdom of looking further ahead in life and the potential problems of that choice. I guess he gets the point, but he is a kid, and I hope he doesn't hesitate to seek further guidance on other issues from "these grumpy old men". :shake: DS thought about getting his ear pierced at 14. Father offered the services of his nail gun I believe and that was the end of the conversation.
 
ALright, to everyone who thinks their funny, I even said in my original post OUT OF UNIFORM. Officers drink OUT OF UNIFORM, so why does it seem so wierd if a college kid wants to go to a party, look good, and is NOT IN UNIFORM, with a his ears pierced. Obviously I wouldn't wear them infront of the PMS or in uniform.
 
ALright, to everyone who thinks their funny, I even said in my original post OUT OF UNIFORM. Officers drink OUT OF UNIFORM, so why does it seem so wierd if a college kid wants to go to a party, look good, and is NOT IN UNIFORM, with a his ears pierced. Obviously I wouldn't wear them infront of the PMS or in uniform.

You received some very sound advice here. If you must wear an earring to "look good", you should wear a "clip-on" so you don't scar your ear or have to take other measures to keep the hole from sealing up.

I expect that when you are 30, when it is no longer "cool" to wear an earring, you may not have an earring any more -- but you will still have a scar.

I think Pima said it best. The time has come to exercise sound judgment.

This post was not intended to be funny.
 
Cooper-I think that clarkson gave you excellent advice and a good rationale for not doing this. I don't think that he is jerking your chain here- rather he is just relaying reality. The reality is that you are entering a very conservative organization that values appearances and they have definite ideas on what acceptable appearances are. To put this in perspective: Did you realize for example that the Army and Marine Corps will not allow you to use an umbrella? It's not because they like you to be wet- but rather that they dislike the way umbrella's look more than they care about you getting soaked walking in from the Pentagon north parking lot. Similarly- if you want to see a CSM erupt- go stand out on the street with your hands in your pockets while in uniform. Bottom line- the army is not the place to make your stand for individuality in your appearance (not to mention- there is nothing unique or original about wearing an earing these days so why bother?)
The best advice I can give you - is the same as Clarkson- doing this will just complicate an already complicated life. Save your self some grief and just buy the earrings for your mom and girlfriend and leave your ears unadorned.
 
ALright, to everyone who thinks their funny, I even said in my original post OUT OF UNIFORM. Officers drink OUT OF UNIFORM, so why does it seem so wierd if a college kid wants to go to a party, look good, and is NOT IN UNIFORM, with a his ears pierced. Obviously I wouldn't wear them infront of the PMS or in uniform.


Being in the military is not a job, its a way of life. Its a commitment to a military life and all that entails. Not wearing earrings is one of those things.

BTW - get caught partying or drinking under age while in college and you will most likely be kicked out of the ROTC.
 
You received some very sound advice here. If you must wear an earring to "look good", you should wear a "clip-on" so you don't scar your ear or have to take other measures to keep the hole from sealing up.

I expect that when you are 30, when it is no longer "cool" to wear an earring, you may not have an earring any more -- but you will still have a scar.

I think Pima said it best. The time has come to exercise sound judgment.

This post was not intended to be funny.

:yllol: We now have to have disclaimers just in case someones sensitivities are hurt. :mad:
 
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