Tattoo

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rugbyplayer33

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I have sent in my Body Alteration Form months ago and I did not have a tattoo. But now I would really like to get a meaningful tattoo before I-day. If I do happen to get one, would I just have to resend the Body Alteration Form or should I just not get the tattoo. Thanks!
 
Yes, I would send in an update. And a piece of advice from someone with their fair share of tattoos... wait. Wait until you get to USNA and really understand the policy and the lifestyle of your future.
 
Don't get a tattoo until after you commission. DS waited until 6 months after he commissioned. Never get a tattoo that can identify you as a member of the American military. No EGA's etc. Servicemen have lost their lives because of such tattoos.
 
Did you read the form you signed and sent in?

7. I understand the policies stated above, and I agree to not receive any body alteration without prior permission after the signing of this statement or while at the U.S. Naval Academy or the Naval Academy Preparatory School.
I understand that violating these body alteration policies or application requirements may result in disqualification from consideration for an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy or the Naval Academy Preparatory School.
 
THParent is right on the money! You signed the form stating you would not get a tattoo without prior permission. I'm not sure how easy "prior permission" would be this close to I-day. I sure wouldn't potentially risk the appointment, and I too would wait.
 
Thank you all for the advice. Yes, I did read the form. I have just heard stories of people re-sending the form when they got a tattoo before I-day and I was just inquiring of whether this was true.
 
Well, you could contact USNA and get "prior permission" I suppose. The Body Alteration Form isn't explicit as to how to go about getting that permission, however.

Stories or rumors about what you can and cannot do, are not something you should put any stock into.
Recent SAF threads concerning tattoos also either dealt with getting them before an Offer of Appointment was received, or from an ROTC standpoint.
Both of those scenarios are different from your situation.

Considering that you already have an Offer of Appointment and have sent in the first three items (Police Record Check, Body Alteration Form, and Proof of Citizenship), the next thing you
will receive is the Permit To Report (PTR) package, which contains a litany of other forms and information required on or before I-Day.

Last year's PTR package clearly stated;
"Any candidate who reports with a tattoo, brand, or body piercing which does conform to our policy, who has not been cleared through the procedure explained in our correspondence, or has not contacted the Director, Nominations and Appointments should anticipate not being inducted into the Brigade."
 
Agree with other responses. Do not get a tattoo now. You have a great path laid out before you that you've worked hard to achieve. Why complicate things?There will be plenty of time later in your life to get a tattoo - if you still want one. Two more thoughts:
  • You don't want to be doing anything that will draw attention as a Plebe. Just do what the rules say and what you are told. Be humble and work hard.
  • It's been a long time since I was your age, but if I think back about what I would have chosen for a tattoo back when I was your age I'm just about 100% sure I would regret it and view it as a stupid choice now.
 
Another thought . . . while rare, there can be medical complications from tattoos. Now is not the time to have some medical issue derail your plans.

Also, if that tattoo is really, really important to you, I guarantee you'll still want it a year or even five years from now. Get it then.
 
Also, learn that the ‘I heard’ is not a great way to argue a point in the military. It’s a world of orders and directives. Rumor mill will get you crushed. If the form said to not get one and it could jeopardize your appt, then follow the rule.

I know many folks on here are anti-tattoo, I am not one of them. I happen to have a lot of them. I also happen to have had many of them while in service and now that I wear Brooks Brothers suits to a desk job at a fortune 75 company. I waited until I knew and understood all the rules and also the ‘norm’ for an officer. Lots of officers have them. You will soon learn that nearly 99% of those with them cannot be seen in PT gear. Many of them are tributes to lost friends and key life moments. I have no regrets. As many said, wait. Sit on it and if you still want one, then go for it, but much later (as in years).
 
@rugbyplayer33

Promise yourself one as a Commissioning gift to yourself as young adult embarking on your military career. That way, you don’t have to wrestle with rules and permissions at a time you don’t need to complicate your life, and in June of 2022, you will feel more at ease with military regulations. It will serve as a marker for a major transition.

I don’t have tattoos and don’t have a problem with them, unless they are the hate speech type. Humans have been inking, piercing, scarring, branding, painting, hanging metal and shiny rocks off body parts since we had the brains to conceive of self-decoration.
 
Other than the evening bugle call (Tatoo), listen to it but don't get one on your body. JMO. Listen to evening call and Colors at sundown but hope you never hear Taps.
 
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This question and thread are making me think back to how my Chief Petty Officer father (33 yrs service on my I-Day) would have reacted if I had asked that question.
Oh... My... Lord... it would not have been pretty AT ALL.
The cleaned up version is something on the order of "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND??????" and that is heavily cleaned up with lots "redacted"
 
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