Tattoo Thread - including current policy [MERGED]

[Old Cent Hand]

Obey orders and regulations , you can‘t go wrong. Even " Off Duty" , one still represents the CF. If one were to get drunk , throw up , and be totally obnoxious , in a bar ,while "off duty", people would say " He‘s an Army Guy".

 

[The Queen`s Bloggins]

If you want to see the full lineage of this decision check the DHH website on the DIN. They have the full minutes of the meetings that occur in Ottawa that concern dress, deportment, new clothing acquisition and touchy cultural issues.

It makes for interesting, and sometimes humourous, reading. It also gives you an idea how they go about making these decisions. If I remember correctly, this decision was heavily lawyered by the JAG before it was passed.

Many of the decisions they make take a year or more, due to the few times they meet per year. The committee is made up of scores of CWO/CPOs and senior officers, with some civilians who carry out the decisions. Check it out if you have time.

 

[weeze]

I don‘t mean to milk a dead cow here, but although i am not in the army yet I do have tats on my neck can I be turned down ?? i received my tat april 24, 2002, if that matters
(birthday present)

 

[combat_medic]

If you‘re a reservist, you can technically get all the piercings you want as long as they‘re removed whenever you‘re in uniform. However, if you‘re on a class B or C contract, then you cannot acquire any, and cannot wear them at any time, since you‘re on duty 24/7/365. This also applies to the reg force. I‘ve seen plenty of people get busted for facial piercings, and as a medic, have even had to remove a few fresh ones because some stupid kid had something pierced on his weekend off.

 

[Old Cent Hand]

Tats on your neck? I know numerous Regs , and Reserves , with tattoes, on their neck , and no one , " Bats an Eye". As long as the tats , are not offensive ( That is often in the eye of the beholder). You are " GOOD TO GO".

 

[meni0n]

Willy, it was not by a drunk in the mess it was by a sargeant specifically mentioning new policy at our usual evening briefing.

 

[Ex Ranger Instructor]

"Members shall not acquire visible tattoos that could be deemed to be offensive".

"As of 1 April 2004 CF members are not to acquire any tattoos that are visible on the head, neck, chest or ears when an open collared shirt is worn".

These two statements, taken together, make no prohibition of any kind so far as tattoos on the arms are concerned, except with regards to potentially offensive tattoos.

My point was that you should read the reference yourself, rather than listening to what other people have to say on the matter, as other people are often wrong. It doesn‘t matter if the guy is a Sgt or not. Just because someone has rank, it doesn‘t mean he‘s neccessarily right. I, for example, am often wrong. So don‘t just take my word for anything either. Look it up for yourself.

In this case, however, I think you‘ll find that I am right. And your Sgt, if he told you that you aren‘t allowed to get tattoos on your arms, is wrong.

Edit- I just checked your profile, and found that you are a recruit. I guess it‘s probably asking a bit much for me to expect that you will know how to look up QR&O‘s yourself. But my advice still stands: even though your NCOs will usually steer you straight, you should still keep your own eyes open.

 

[little_mp]

Boy am I glad on my RCMP week in ottawa in feb that i didn‘t let them mounties tlk me into getting my nip peirced! saved alot of problems! I almost got it done but thenI got lost and yea long story but phww am i glad now!

 

[Slumsofsackville]

I just had The Brefing, Today.

Still Gonna Wear Them.

 

[Infanteer]

I never realized a little dangly piece of pirate jewelry was so important to some people.

 

[D-n-A]

We just got the talk too from our RSM.

Another thing brought up besides piercings an tattoos, no two-tone hair color, it has to be all one color, preferably natural, applies to both men and woman.

 

[weeze]

until you have one (tat or piercing) they don‘t seem to make much sense, my first tat was a birthday present, and after I got it done I wanted another the very next day, its kinda like your own personal canvas to display anything you want.

At the risk of sounding sappy I find tat‘s and piercings to be a very strong way of expressing yourself without haveing to verbally do it.

and they look cool

 

[commando_wolf63]

FYI the correct term for a plug is called a retainer. I can see the regulation for facial piercings as I find them distasteful. However what‘s the big deal if someone were to have a bellybutton or nipple piercing, as they would be covered by the uniform. A good piercer tells the piercee how to take care of their piercing to avoid infection so it is up to the piercee how well they follow the instructions for looking after their piercing.

 

[Jesse3]

The army would not care if you have a tattoo on your forearm would they? I didn't think they would but I had somebody tell me they do. The tattoo looks like the one attached only on my forearm

 

[Jesse3]

also its the inside forearm

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Please do a search. The subject has been covered many times.

 

[Invalesco]

Hey , for all those people that are going to say use the search button, i did already.


Anyways I have two tattoos above my neck, pretty much below my ears, they are chinese characters that mean Life ( on the left side below ear) and Death  ( right side below ear)

now i'm wondering will i not be able to get in because of these? there not huge letters either.

Thanks

 

[Inch]

I just searched for Tattoo and this is what I got.

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/28423/post-185469.html#msg185469

 

[Gouki]

Funny, because I typed "tattoo" in the search field and got this:

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/28423.0.html

And this:

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/32363.0.html

Even funnier, I found the first link in the very first result. How crazy is that?

EDIT: I better make this even easier just in case:

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.

 

[Invalesco]

Jesus christ, theres alot of smartasses in here. Yeah wow I typed in Tattoos and I found that too. Big Deal. So I guess if it's not offensive it's fine then.