MArine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 16, 2013. -- Bzzzzzzzzzzt.
A tattoo artist uses an electric-powered tattoo machine, which resembles the sound of a dental drill, to change one’s appearance. A solid needle moves up and down to penetrate the skin 50 to 3,000 times per minute and deposits indelible ink into the skin with each puncture.
Some service members aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, get tattoos without realizing the possible long-term effect they have.
“Unfortunately, I see Marines’ tattoos affecting their careers all too negatively and regrettably,” said Lt. Col. F. Lance Lewis, commanding officer of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. “It starts off as people getting tattoos, for various reasons, and often failing to look at it as those tattoos are going to close doors for them down the road, more specifically: Recruiting duty, drill instructor duty, warrant officer packages, officer packages, some other special duty assignments and some aspects of special operations that you can not do if you got tattoos that show.”
Lewis added there is a difference between being in tattoo regulations and “being in tattoo regulations” for specific billets or Military Occupational Specialties.
“You can still be in the regs of the Marine Corps, but depending on the billet or job you want to do, it gets a lot more restrictive on things, like the tattoo can’t be showing at all,” said Lewis. “Headquarters Marine Corps is very, very, very strict on those things. It doesn’t matter who you are, even if you’re the best Marine for that job or billet. It’s really sad to see people get turned away, good-quality folks, because of a tattoo.”
Lewis mentioned he knows that some of the packages he submits will not go far in the review process because of tattoo regulations.
“We did warrant officer packages last year and we had two Marines who we knew were in violation of the tattoo policy,” said Lewis. “We still sent up their packages, but they did not pick up warrant officer. I don’t know if that was the reason why, but that sure doesn’t help when you’re already going in with a strike.”
Headquarters Marine Corps does not personally know individual Marines like Lewis. They see thousands of packages, and if what separates the Marines are visible tattoos, then all the Marines with violations due to tattoos are disqualified without any thorough examination of the actual package.
Cpl. Randy Sanabriadiaz, SouthSide Mess Hall chief cook with H&HS, is one Marine affected by tattoo regulations.
“I was trying to go for (Marine Security Guard), but the package got denied because I had a tattoo on my arm that was showing,” said Sanabriadiaz. “I got denied because of one tattoo. This affects my military career by hindering packages I’ve submitted for.”
Sanabriadiaz said he is considering not re-enlisting because the denial of his MSG package.
Lewis said there is nothing wrong with getting tattoos, but warns service members to think before they act.
“I’d say a few things to people before they get tattoos,” said Lewis. “Is it really worth it? Why are you getting it? Is there really a reason behind it? Then, go look at the rules, see what they are and make sure you abide by them because the Marine Corps is very black and white to what those regulations are.”
Lewis stated that once someone gets a tattoo, it closes doors for them that will never reopen.
Tattoos date back thousands of years and according to Lewis, they will continue to exist in today’s society, seeing how they are becoming more culturally acceptable. However, he wants to reiterate to service members that with each puncture of indelible ink into their skin, they’ll affect more than their military career because no matter how society changes its view toward tattoos, the Marine Corps upholds its standards for professionalism.