Tattoo Photo Thread

[patrick666]

What is the policy and rules of having tattoos in the CF? My last job you were not allowed tattoos past the elbow or anywhere visible, does the same apply to the CF?

Cheers

 

[QORvanweert]

As far as I know, the tattoo has to be registered or acknowledged when you first sign up. After that as long it is not visible then I doubt anyone cares... but, you never know. If it is visible then talk to your orderly room and make them aware that they need to issue you a new ID.

 

[GIJANE]

I'm pretty sure if you do get a visible one it can't be offensive..you know like naked chicks or something  :

Jane

 

[Calculator Jockey]

In accordance with the CF Dress Regs Manual Section 2 (page 2-2-6) - Appearance - Body Adornment para 9. it states:

"Members shall not acquire visible tattoos that could be deemed to be offensive (e.g., pornographic,
blasphemous, racist) or otherwise reflect discredit on the CF. Visible and non-visible body piercing
adornments, with the exception of women's earrings and ear sleepers described in sub-paragraph 6.a.,
shall not be worn by members either in uniform or on duty in civilian clothing. The meaning of the term â Å“on
dutyâ ?, for purposes of dress and appearance, is Interpreted in Chapter 1, paragraph 25."

And QORvanweert is right, if you have them prior to enrolment, nothing much they can do. I have seen some pretty wild ones walking around lately on some of the new Privates (back of their necks, hands, etc.)

Once enrolled though, the above reference stands.

 

[patrick666]

No piercings either, eh? Good to know.  ;D

 

[Fraser.g]

As for piercing, you can not wear them in uniform. That goes for all piercing even if they are covered up by clothing or in "unusual" places like the tongue, nose, nipples, navel, genitalia etc.

Women can wear one set of simple studs, one in each ear IAW dress regs listed earlier.

The best thing to do is ask if you are unsure.

GF

 

[mainerjohnthomas]

    A good rule of thumb for tatoos is that if it cant be covered by your PT gear, its probably covered by regulations.  If it can be covered by your PT gear, then its not.  I have the regimental crest on my left shoulder, one of the girls on my basic had a windblown Canadian Flag atop a spear standard  on her upper left breast, I've a few buddies who were CAR who have their wings on their chest, just because they can't stand to be without them, even naked ;D.  There's a fair bit of room for self expression thats still within the regs.

 

[armygal]

As for piercing, you can not wear them in uniform. That goes for all piercing even if they are covered up by clothing or in "unusual" places like the tongue, nose, nipples, navel, genitalia etc.

Women can wear one set of simple studs, one in each ear IAW dress regs listed earlier.

The best thing to do is ask if you are unsure.

GF

So even if the piercing is covered up you must remove it.  Is that right.  I don't understand this rule if you can not see it how can it be offensive.  Unless they are saying that it could a safety issue.  Does anyone know why you would have to remove a piercing that is covered up by clothing?  Thanks in advance.

 

[JasonH]

Thats the tattoo I have, gonna be getten a new one probably in April before my surgery or sometime during my recovering so I don't miss out on more time goen to the gym.

 

[Buzz]

So even if the piercing is covered up you must remove it.  Is that right.  I don't understand this rule if you can not see it how can it be offensive.  Unless they are saying that it could a safety issue.  Does anyone know why you would have to remove a piercing that is covered up by clothing?  Thanks in advance.

I would say Safety for a number of resaons.  They could be pulled out, caught on something.  But also, in my experience(taught and practiced), it makes for an exit point for electricity as any piece of jewelry.  Piercings are conductive and electricty takes all paths to ground but also the path of least resistance.  Now lets say you had a peircing ...down there....and you make a second point of contact and it needs to escape somewhere.  Some that have been electrocuted made contact on their arm and the current blew a hole out their leg.....if he/she had a piercing ...."down there" or where ever...it may have just blew a hole out of "down there". That would be just a bloody mess. 

I could be way off on the reasoning, but, this is good reasoning to some that have worked with power.
All in all, it's the rules.  If it says no piercings those rules are there for a reasonand it's  probably wise to adhere to them.

Cheers!!
-Buzz 

 

[Calculator Jockey]

Consider if you will having a piercing in your tongue and you see the dentist on base...you would have to remove it prior to going.

Same with if there was medical emergency requiring the medics to hook you up to a heart monitor or x-rays having to be taken...any piercing/s on your body have to be removed. Could be a little embarrassing one would think of having to say "Wait a sec while I remove my jewellry." LMAO

Or playing any sport and you have piercings in your nipple/s and somehow it gets caught by a fellow player or you fall and skid along the ground pulling the rings out.

 

[armygal]

Thanks for the replies...I was just curious as I do know of a female in the CF that has a navel piercing as I do, so I thought that if it was not visible there would not be a problem with it.  Well I guess when I get to St. Jean in May it will be bye bye navel piercing. :crybaby:  I am assuming that they will ask me to remove it.

 

[George Wallace]

Thanks for the replies...I was just curious as I do know of a female in the CF that has a navel piercing as I do, so I thought that if it was not visible there would not be a problem with it. Well I guess when I get to St. Jean in May it will be bye bye navel piercing. :crybaby: I am assuming that they will ask me to remove it.

If you wear a Web Belt of any type (Webbing or Ruck) you will probably irritate it through normal movement, not to mention any strenuous work.   Piercings are also something that you don't want in a fight, unless it is on the other person.   Safety is the major concern, not fashion.   If a Tattoo or Piercing becomes infected, it would be considered a Chargable Offence as a self-inflicted wound.

 

[Chags]

I don't know whatever happened to this but, I remember 2 years ago, in Petawawa, it had come down that you were no longer permitted to get a tattoo above the neck line..  anyone who did this would be charged.  There was also discussion that those who had tattoos above the neckline would have them surgically (laser) removed..  I haven't heard anything about that since.  Anybody else??

 

[S McKee]

From CF Dress Regs

BODY TATTOOS AND BODY-PIERCING: MEMBERS SHALL NOT ACQUIRE VISIBLE TATTOOS THAT COULD BE DEEMED TO BE OFFENSIVE (E.G., PORNOGRAPHIC, BLASPHEMOUS, RACIST) OR OTHERWISE REFLECT DISCREDIT ON THE CF. VISIBLE AND NON-VISIBLE BODY PIERCING ADORNMENTS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WOMEN'S EARRINGS AND EAR SLEEPERS DESCRIBED IN SUB PARAGRAPH 4A SHALL NOT BE WORN BY MEMBERS EITHER IN UNIFORM OR ON DUTY IN CIVILIAN CLOTHING.

 

[alan_li_13]

When i did my medical during my application process, nothing was said about my nipple piercing. The only time that it ever came up with the CF was when i did a medical for cadet Para course and the WO said a joke when he saw it. ???

 

[S McKee]

I believe there was a recent CANFORGEN regarding tattoos on hands and necks I will try and find it. Regarding your other inquiry yes you can have any tattoo you want as long as it fits within the guidelines of "acceptable" meaning not racist or sexist and it can be on a visable part of your body i.e. arm.

 

[Gunner98]

New policy - Amend to CF Dress Regulations page  2-2-6 extract:

9. Body Tattoos and Body-Piercing.
Members shall not acquire visible tattoos that could be deemed to be offensive (e.g., pornographic,
blasphemous, racist) or otherwise reflect discredit on the CF. Visible and non-visible body piercing
adornments, with the exception of women's earrings and ear sleepers described in sub-paragraph 6.a.,
shall not be worn by members either in uniform or on duty in civilian clothing.

 

[S McKee]

I just read the minutes from the dress committee meeting held in NDHQ last March. There is a CANFORGEN and please bare with me while I find it...but there are to be no tattoos visiable above the neckline.

 

[Gunner98]

Jumper

They went ahead and amended Dress regs, I don't think the CANFORGEN was ever published.  It was recorded in ROs across the CF and passed via the RSM net shortly after the committee meeting.