By: Kathleen Curthoys and Michelle Tan April 1, 2015
Under the Army's new tattoo policy, soldiers will be able to have ink on their arms and legs as long as it isn't visible in the Army Service Uniform.
This means sleeves are once again authorized as long as they don't extend past the wrist, Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey told Army Times.
"As long as it's not visible in the Army uniform … that's the spirit of what we went after," he said.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno announced the upcoming policy change Wednesday afternoon at the Association of the United States Army conference in Huntsville, Alabama.
The more lenient tattoo rules are based on input from soldiers, Odierno said.
"Society is changing its view of tattoos, and we have to change along with that," Odierno said. "It makes sense. Soldiers have grown up in an era when tattoos are much more acceptable and we have to change along with that."
Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey said the changes the tattoo policy stems from input from soldiers.
ADD PIC Photo Credit: Mike Morones/Staff Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey said the changes the tattoo policy stems from input from soldiers.
Under the new policy, there are no longer limits on the size or number of tattoos soldiers can have on their arms and legs, Dailey said.
Soldiers are still not allowed to have tattoos on their neck, head, face, wrists or hands. The exception is a ring tattoo on each hand, Dailey said.
Also banned are tattoos that are sexist, racist, extremist and derogatory, he said.
"Those have not changed, regardless of position or location," he said.
The new policy will not take effect until a newly revised version of Army Regulation 670-1 is published. Army officials said they expect the regulation to be official in the "very near future."
Dailey saw firsthand soldiers' frustration with the current tattoo policy during his travels across the force.
The current tattoo regulation was released last March and updated in September. The highly unpopular policy limited to four the number of tattoos soldiers can have below the elbow and knee. It also limited the size of the tattoos to the wearer's hand.
The regulation also initially barred soldiers who ran afoul of the rules from requesting a commission, sparking anger among many soldiers. The September update grandfathered enlisted seeking a commission or appointment, as long as they have their commander's endorsement.
Dailey was surprised how strongly soldiers still objected to the tattoo policy. He found this out during his first troop visit in early March as sergeant major of the Army.
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