It's already been eluded to a couple of times, but for those who haven't gotten a tattoo yet, you should reconsider. At least until you've actually gotten into the military and can "Test the Water" for yourself.
There are some that will talk about rights, regulations, your body, discreet, etc... Well, let's talk REAL WORLD and not regulations. Huh!!! Am I saying that regulations and rules aren't the "Real World". I'm telling you what is SUPPOSE to be, and what IS, are two different things. If a person walks into a job interview with body piercings and tattoos, will the person doing the interview probably develop a preconceived first impression? Yes they will. Should they? That isn't important. What is important is that they WILL. Can/will an employer turn a person down for a job because they have a tattoo or body piercings? Nope; they can't. But can that body piercing or tattoo have the interviewer say to them self: "I don't want that person's first impression to our customers to be that appearance. I'm not going to hire them". YUP!!! This happens all the time. They might not admit that they didn't offer the job to the individual with the tattoos or body piercings, but they very well could have. And THAT IS REALITY. Forget what the "Rules Say". You can prove they are prejudice, so you just live with it. And many individuals with pronounced piercings or tattoos accept this. They know darn well that being a lawyer, and arguing a case in court, with a 1" ring hole in their ear and tattoos on their forehead will prejudice the jury and judge. Let alone clients looking for a lawyer. So most people who get these alterations don't become lawyer.
Well; just because the rule in the military says it can't be seen, and that's all you have to worry about, doesn't mean that is "Real Life". Legally, they might not be able to kick you out because you have a tattoo on the cheek of your butt, but if your superiors know about it, that doesn't mean that they may not allow you the EXACT SAME UNBIASED OPPORTUNITIES as your peers. And there's no way you're going to prove they are prejudice. That's "real world".
Now; once you're out of the academy, you're not taking group showers, you have complete privacy in your own apartment/house when you're getting dressed; and basically, you can keep a tattoo to yourself if you choose...... Then that is a totally different scenario. But whether or not it's Legal or "In Regs" is not the entire story. For at least the 4 years at the academy, you're going to be seen by everyone in numerous conditions. You're not going to hide a tattoo. What prejudices come of it..... you can't really say.
That's why i recommend waiting until you're at the academy or even later. You can judge the attitudes and tolerance level of those above you. Again; I'm not talking about what the rules and regs say. Believe it or not, that isn't all there is. Sorry if that doesn't sound fair, but that's REAL LIFE. it happens in the civilian world as well as the military. I would definitely think about this before you go and do it. A guy piercing an ear is one thing. You pull out the earring, and no one knows. "Unless it's one of those metal HOLES". But other piercings and tattoos can't always be hidden. Think about it.