Blake Hall
To entice Millennials to sign up for the military, the Navy is allowing all of its service members to tattoo areas on their necks, arms and legs. The new tattoo policy will go into effect on Saturday, April 30.
(U.S. Navy photo By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lorenzo John Burleson/Released)
Under the new tattoo regime, service members will be allowed to have visible tattoos below the elbows and knees, as well as one small tattoo on the neck. Restrictions on the size and scope of tattoos on the arms and legs were also lifted.
Troops with sleeve tattoos used to be kept out of sight at recruitment events to avoid harming the Navy’s brand. Now they can participate in recruitment with their sleeves rolled up.
About 38 percent of Millennials have at least one tattoo.
“This policy update is being made in response to the increased popularity of tattoos for those currently serving and in the population from which the Navy draws its recruits,” the Navy said in a statement. “It is also meant to ensure the Navy does not miss opportunities to bring in talented young men and women who are willing to serve.”
The new policy is the most lenient in the U.S. armed forces. However, tattoos that feature explicit sex, discriminatory messaging or other obscene imagery remain banned.
“Tattoos must not be racist, sexist, extremist, or indecent … [and] shall not advocate discrimination based on sex, race, religion, ethnicity, or national origin,” the Navy said.