I was planning on getting my first tattoo in a couple of weeks. I know what the policy says at West Point, however, it does not mention timelines that I can find. Does anyone know if i am good to get this tattoo? Should be healed by R-day but you never know with DODMERB policy.
Tattoos
- Thread starter GA7
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I don't have anything against tattoos and think that someday, if you want, you ought to get one. I wouldn't recommend doing it until after you commission. Just my 2 cents. You used to have to send photos of tattoos and I thought they were checked during the DoDMERB exam, but my memory is getting feeble. If you do get it, make absolutely sure it's within regs.
FMHS-79
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+1 @kinnem - you will need to report all existing tattoos after you accept your appointment to the USMA. As long as the tattoo conforms to regulations, getting one now should not prevent your entrance into West Point, but the time between acceptance and R-day is not one which I would recommend making any dramatic life changes or undertake any new and/or unnecessary risks. And, while getting a tattoo is generally save, it is not without risk - https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-...h/in-depth/tattoos-and-piercings/art-20045067.
Good luck. BTW, I didn't see your name on the USMA Appointment Thread.
Good luck. BTW, I didn't see your name on the USMA Appointment Thread.
Thanks for the insight, I received an appointment a couple of weeks ago but am waiting to accept. I have a 4 year ROTC scholarship to Notre Dame so I am really trying to figure out what I want my future to look like before I make a decision.
This comes up every year and I always chime in on this topic as the majority of folks say don’t do it... and I am probably one of of the few adults on here with a decent amount of ink myself. My advice is to wait. Don’t do anything that could jeopardize your appointments or scholarships. The other item is there are regs and there are norms. Being a future officer brings along a lot of norms that are unspoken. Wait until you get settled into your school and learn what those unspoken norms are for an Army Officer. Trust me... it can wait a few years.
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Back in the day (you know - my day - before electricity), many of the Special Forces folks never had tattoos. Those were the ones who were selected for certain assignments in which tattoos would be detrimental to operational security. My advice is to not get them, but I have nothing against them.
MidwestDad
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I'll add that military tattoo policies have changed - and will almost certainly change again - over the years. If you can live without it for now it may be wise, one of many life/career decisions you will need to make over the next 9-10 years.
bookreader
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I have a cadet at WP so what I will suggest is based on this.
My 2 cents - wait until you get to WP. Many of the cadets get tattoos (I think that more than half have a tat by graduation). A fair number of plebes get one over break in Dec. I think it's kind of a bonding thing - they discuss designs during the semester and then come back in Jan and show off their tattoo. My cadet had his done over that break.
Also, as others have mentioned - don't do anything that could possibly jeopardize your arrival to WP on Rday. I know you haven't accepted yet, but even if you go to ND, you will still need to remain medically qualified for ROTC.
My 2 cents - wait until you get to WP. Many of the cadets get tattoos (I think that more than half have a tat by graduation). A fair number of plebes get one over break in Dec. I think it's kind of a bonding thing - they discuss designs during the semester and then come back in Jan and show off their tattoo. My cadet had his done over that break.
Also, as others have mentioned - don't do anything that could possibly jeopardize your arrival to WP on Rday. I know you haven't accepted yet, but even if you go to ND, you will still need to remain medically qualified for ROTC.
sbennett4660
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As a CURRENT member of the army and a recipient of an appointment to the class of 2023 I would advise you to do what you want. Tattoos are a part of army culture, both officer and enlisted. The idea that it is a “norm” for officers not to have tattoos is both insulting and a complete fallacy. Between my DODMERB and tattoo annotation after appointment. I grew a shoulder piece into a sleeve and I intend to have another piece done before reporting on R-day. I would be shocked if anyone questioned it in the slightest.
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I think the general gist of the discussion is regarding “norms and mores....”, I don’t think posters are saying that it isn’t ‘normal’ to have a tat. Exactly the opposite. But advising a candidate to wait to find out the culture, spoken and unspoken, of a place before doing something so permanent. In addition to the actual written rules. Which I think is really good advice. A Plebe doesn’t want to create their reputation as a result as a violation of a culture...one generally doesn’t get a second chance to make a first impression. And often a reputation comes from that first impression (ie: perhaps the choice of a particular tattoo doesn’t fit into the existing culture). I advised my guy to wait and get a feel for what’s appropriate before getting his tattoo. BTW, plebe year is winding down, and he hasn’t gotten one yet.
RE norms and mores “Mores and norms are expectations that exist in a particular culture. Culture consists of learned, shared behaviors amongst members of a societal group one is raised in. In addition to mores and norms, cultures also have pre-defined folkways or customs, and taboos which are considered unacceptable cultural violations.”
sbennett4660
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Yes I’m speaking as a member of said culture
emwvmi01
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I would postulate that you speak as a member of a culture but not the Army culture writ large. Your experience is based on your unit type and MOS. I am also in the Army with 17 years service. Different organizations maintain cultural standards. For example, you can’t be that guy with a mustache in a light infantry organization. Very different in a cavalry organization. The differences are exponentially larger in support organizations or between the guard and reserve. More pertinent here they are very different at USMA.
My advice is hold on the ink until the OP gets perspective on the Army, USMA and their chosen branch.
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Right, and a 17 or 18 yr old high school kid from middle America, USA, doesn’t know the norms, mores, values, culture of the military until they belong. And they don’t belong until they attend. So advise to wait until they know that culture through attending makes sense. So a mistake or misstep isn’t made permanently on their arm (Content wise. Not actually having a tattoo) or elsewhere.
I’m not saying don’t get one. I would advise to wait until you know what fits and what doesn’t.
I’m not saying don’t get one. I would advise to wait until you know what fits and what doesn’t.
I think you will learn that you are part of said culture, but there are also sub-cultures within the Army, that being the officer corps. There are as many unspoken rules for officers as there are written. You will learn many of these while at USMA and even more when you hit the operating forces.
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Given your prior service, and the possible prominence of identifiable information in your user name and your post, along with your strong opinions, I would be careful about how much more information you disclose here on a public forum. Cadre has been known to peruse this website.
Don't make Beast harder on yourself then necessary.