tattoos

<p>I’ve already read up as much as possible on the tattoo policy for the AF and usafa. I plan on getting a non-obscene, totally appropraite tattoo on my shoulder. Does anyone know how this would be viewed at the academy? i dont want it to be something that could possibly DQ me or cause any logistic trouble.</p>

<p>mmm... better safe than sorry. I think the idea behind that rule is to keep the environment as professional as possible, regardless of the content of the tattoo... i thought about getting a tattoo too to celebrate my cross country team's run in the state championship series, but i decided not to. The recruiter I talked to said that they DQ recruits who have tattoos as well, so I guess this rule is not limited to officers</p>

<p>I'm not sure about getting a tattoo before coming here... I'm really not sure on that policy.</p>

<p>But if you get it after you're here for a while...</p>

<p>As long as it can be hidden while in uniform, there's no problem with it. Actually we have a guy in our squad with one on his chest and back and a large one on his inner arm, like on his bicep. It still shows a bit when he wears blues, but it's fine. I know of a girl who has a tribal tattoo that snakes up her arm. I have two tattoos myself, and there's nothing wrong with them. The parachuting team here, Wings of Blue, get tattoos as a tradition.</p>

<p>tattoos are not uncommon here. I just suggest waiting till your here first. </p>

<p>chaineezee- no offense to you or your accomplishments, but really, will you care when you're 50 about high school? Good choice not to get it IMO.</p>

<p>good point hornet</p>

<p>Before you do it...go visit your grandparents, look at their skin...if you feel okay with it 50 yrs from now, than go for it, but remember tats are permanent ink</p>

<p>Bullet wanted to get a dream catcher when he jumped with the 82nd, very common..I told him I would support it, if he waited until he got back in the jet, needless to say he does not have a tat! (it is not common to find an officer with a tat...at least in the strike community)</p>

<p>BTW feel free to do it, but as cool as it is now, 70 yr old skin with a tat isn't cool!</p>

<p>That is true about 70 yr old skin, but you could also ask the younger ones about the tattoos on their bellies before and after pregnancies....Ummmm maybe you shouldn't ask them!?!</p>

<p>just to elaborate. I have passed DODMERB and accepted my appointment. I will be inprocessing in june. thanks for the advice, it is some very good stuff to think about. does anyone know a number to call or a person to talk to at the academy that could further instruct me on the policy?</p>

<p>Here is the "official" policy from [noparse]AcademyAdmissions.com[/noparse]:</a></p>

<p>While having a tattoo or brand does not automatically disqualify you from consideration, it does open the door for rejection based on a more subjective evaluation. Nonremovable piercings are not allowed and must be removed prior to admission. Air Force policy stipulates that tattoos or brands must not be excessive. Nor may they contain inflammatory, obscene, racist, sexist or similar content. Tattoos or brands that fall into any of these categories will cause you to be disqualified for admission. The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board will notify the Admissions Office of any tattoos, brands or nonremovable piercings noted during your medical exam. We will then require that you provide us a color snapshot of each. Assuming your tattoo or brand falls within acceptable limits, you will be allowed to continue in the application process. You should keep the following in mind. Those who review the picture of your tattoo, brand or piercing are of an older generation and may not view body art in the same manner as you. So, if you don't already have a tattoo or brand, think long and hard about whether the risk of possibly losing out on an Academy appointment is worth it.</p>

<p>The listed phone number if you'd like to call them is 1-800-443-9266, which can also be found [url=<a href="http://academyadmissions.com/admissions/contact_us.php%5Dhere%5B/url"&gt;http://academyadmissions.com/admissions/contact_us.php]here[/url&lt;/a&gt;].&lt;/p>

<p>thank you very much PETKO</p>

<p>I have never been a big fan of ink, but I understand popular culture today. That said please think long and hard before doing it because it will affect your future positively and negatively. You may feel the urge to do something spontaneous while at the Academy to show spirit or pride, and years later look back going why did I do that.</p>

<p>Oh Falcon if it is real smack her on the back of the head for me....That goes for all the rest of you too.</p>

<p>When you are 50 and tattoos are so "older generation," you may strongly regret getting that tattoo. Please, defer the ink for five years. If you still want it then, look at some 75 year old's anchor on his forearm. Then, if you still want it, call me.</p>

<p>Might as well have a tattoo when your skin looks good! Yes it will look all nasty and decrepit later, but so what? It looks good now and just get the tattoo in a non-conspicuous place, if you're afraid of what people will think.</p>

<p>ewwwwwwwwwwwwww. defer to fencersmother and pima and ds and anyone else i missed.
:) just my personal opinion.</p>

<p>but, you know, do whatever you want. ;)</p>

<p>Cadet...here is also another reason, most flyers wouldn't even consider it for medical reasons, G forbid something goes wrong, you can expect to have to issues with flight med.</p>

<p>You are young, but I can tell you that about 3 or 4 yrs ago, the AF really clamped down on the tats and body piercing. I bet that if they legally could have they would have said no body art at all. </p>

<p>Tats in the AF officer world still has a neg. feel to it. Would stop you for a promotion? No, but as you enter the AD life you will be a rarity, and with age comes wisdom. Here's the most likely stages you will go through with one:
1. It's cool and show it off as often as you can --- young people will also think its cool
2. Get commissioned, still show it off, but you just forget its there ---second nature. ---People question you about it, when and why did you do it?<br>
3. AD assignment 5 yrs down the road, now people ask why? when they see it.
4. AD assignment when you are 30-35, you are now so self conscious of it that you carefully make sure nobody will ever see it, if you can control it. You are also now tired of hearing Wow I can't believe you got one, I was going to also but decided against it</p>

<p>Then you will have to also deal with your yearly physical and the flight doc writing down a note on your record...tattoo on XXXX, size XXXmm, no problems noted!</p>

<p>That last one should be the biggest reason not to. If a flight doc will make notes about it and keep an eye on it for medical reasons than maybe you shouldn't. </p>

<p>BTW the reg is that the tattoo cannot be seen in uniform...if you wear BDU's that means nothing below the elbow, or on the legs (pt gear), so in essence it must be in an inconspicuous place.</p>

<p>Finally, if you're afraid of what people will think , than maybe you already know you shouldn't be doing it.</p>

<p>OK, as a mother, I'll tell you youngens: you may tattoo yourselves as much as you want on the bottoms of your feet and on your unmentionables since there is little chance I will have to look at your tats in either location. </p>

<p>Here's an illustrative tattoo story: my good friend from high school married a young hog farmer who, a week before their wedding, felt compelled to have some hogs tattooed on his upper arm. When he flexed his bicep, it looked like those hogs were walking. How charming. Now, at age 50, he had his shoulder joint replaced and one of the hogs is decapitated, one has no rear feet, and one is just a big butt. Please, no hogs (and I'm originally an Iowa farm girl).</p>

<p>:grin: :grin: :grin:</p>

<p>Potter came home last weekend for an outdoor concert. They had one of those paint the tattoo booths and she found an 8 ball (She is in CS8). Thought it would be fun because it is so out of character for her. When she got back it got the reaction she expected from most of the other Cadets. (What were you thinking etc.) Best part is it washes of after a few days just like the novelty of the whole thing.</p>

<p>haha, you saw that too, ds? I was quite amussed to see it. I was pretty sure it was fake, but you never know... ;)</p>

<p>SEVERAL people in my squad have tatoos. Most people got them WHILE they were here though, so I wouldn't do it till you get here. One of my friends here waited until almost the end of Fall semester to get his, and he asked a lot of people what the rules on it were before he got it.</p>