Air Force Recruit with Tattoo on Salute Arm Cleared to Enlist

Stacy Lunsford
December 3, 2009
Sociology 313-003
Instructor: Colin Olson
Blog Post #10

Air Force Recruit with Tattoo on Salute Arm Cleared to Enlist

A woman in Pennsylvania who had a tattoo on her saluting arm has finally been cleared to enlist in the Air Force. The woman was sworn into the Air Force delayed entry program in April had a tattoo of a theatrical mask on her right forearm. At first the Air Force said the tattoo wasn't a problem but then this week, her recruiter said the tattoo disqualifies her because it was below the elbow on her saluting arm. After the woman finished with her Military Entrance Process Station early last week, the recruiter asked her if she had any tattoos and she said yes and took a picture of the tattoo with his phone. Later that day she was told of the Air Force's new policy against tattoos on a persons saluting arm and she wouldn't be shipping out that day. A new regulation went into effect at the end of November banning tattoos that are not covered by the uniforms sleeve. The young woman was told to get rid of the tattoo or join another branch. Now the woman missed her original date for shipping out to basic training and will now be leaving mid December. Every military branch has their own policies regarding tattoos. The Army is okay with tattoos on the hands and the back of the neck as long as they are not indecent, sexist or racist. The Navy will not allow tattoos on the head, neck, face or scalp. It will not allow any ink that's visible through the white uniform.

Citation:
www.cnn.com-Air-Force-Recruit.....

I think in times of war and when enlistment might be low, people who are courageous enough to fight for our country should be allowed to. As long as the tattoo is not racist, sexist or demeaning in any way, then they should not have to struggle so hard to be allowed to fight for American's. I think this is a form of control and basically sends the message that if a person has a tattoo, then they are not good enough to fight for the country they love so much.