Can You Have A Tattoo On Your Wrist In The Air Force

Can You Have A Tattoo in the Air Strength?

Joining the Air Strength seems similar the coolest idea in the world until your Air Force veteran uncle tells yous that you can't join because of your sleeve. Times have changed, the and Air Force has finally followed other services in relaxing tattoo policies.

In this article, we are going to exist exploring the puzzler of tattoos and what they hateful within the Air Force.

We will be paying close attention to whether tattoos are allowed, and and so looking at what kinds of tattoos are allowed and where on your trunk they tin can be.

Can you have tattoo in the Air Force

Then, if you take considered joining the Air Forcefulness merely also want a tattoo (or even if you lot take 1 already), this article will be helpful for you lot!

What tattoos are non immune in the Air Force?

The Air Force does non allow tattoos that are very visible such equally on your face up, neck, hands, wrists, and head. The rules accept inverse in recent years to include a little more allowance for tattoos, such as assuasive tattoos when they cover less than 25% of the trunk and the removal of size stipulations.

Sleeves on the arm may also be allowed now. Tattoos on the lips, even if on the inside, are still considered visible and and then they also incur a ban.

In terms of the design of the tattoos, the Air Strength strictly bans any tattoo that is racist, sexist, homophobic, extremist, indecent in any way and any other tattoo that may be offensive. In our opinion, this is the right conclusion.

After all, the Air Force (besides as any other official police or war machine organization) should not let for whatever form of discrimination in their employees, and a tattoo depicting such a thing is a sure sign that the person is a bad fit for such a role!

To be more than specific, anything that tin be classed as obscene under guidelines fix by the USAF is not allowed. The Air Force likewise has a total ban on whatever tattoos that are associated or affiliated with gangs and gang action. These banned tattoos are not allowed on any office of the body, even if they tin can be covered upwardly!

Whilst mitt tattoos are more often than not banned, the Air Force does make an exception for ring tattoos. In that location is an assart for a band tattoo on ane finger on each hand.

This is to ensure that married personnel who have decided to marking their marriage with a tattoo instead of a band do non need to be excluded.

Can you lot have a tattoo behind your ear in the Air Force?

No, you volition not exist able to accept a tattoo behind your ear in the Air Force. Whilst it is covered past an ear and possibly hair, there is still a chance that the tattoo may exist seen, and therefore against regulations.

As it stands, any tattoo on the head or face up is banned, and, seeing as a tattoo behind the ear is still technically on the caput, it will non exist immune in the Air Force.

As well as a ban on tattoos behind the ear, the Air Force also has rules regarding piercings of any kind, especially visible piercings on the face or ears.

Of course, piercings can be taken out, but tattoos cannot be as easily removed unless y'all want to fork out for expensive laser removal (which may not even remove the whole piece).

Can the Air Force deny you for having a tattoo?

Yeah. The Air Force can deny you lot for having a tattoo if the tattoo in question exceeds their limits. For instance, if yous have visible tattoos on your confront, head, eyelids, lips, easily, neck, and wrists, you will likely get denied as these areas are not immune to exist tattooed.

Yous may likewise get denied from the Air Strength if you have a tattoo design that is prohibited. Prohibited tattoos include designs that may exist racist or sexist. They may also include any tattoo that is extremist or supremacist or depicts any letters of this kind.

The Air Force also has a ban on any tattoo that is affiliated or connected to gangs and gang civilization. The Air Force also bans whatsoever tattoo that is affiliated with extremist religion, philosophies, and any religious blasphemy.

The Air Forcefulness also has a ban on branding tattoos in all areas, visible or not. If you have a tattoo that fits into any of these above descriptions then it is highly probable that you will get denied.

If you happen to take a tattoo that is in any way obscene, such every bit depicting an obscene or disturbing act, or if it falls nether the USAF guidelines for obscenity, and then yous will also get denied.

The rules around tattoos are relaxed in many means, but the Air Force quite rightly has a ban on whatever obscene and discriminatory tattoos, significant you will not be immune to join if you take them.

What happens if you get a tattoo before basic grooming?

If you get a tattoo earlier basic training, it will depend on what tattoo you have and where information technology is. If you get a tattoo that is on the Air Strength banned list earlier you start your bones grooming, and so it is highly likely that the Air Forcefulness will not let y'all start your preparation.

If you lot have already completed your final concrete for MEPS, and so you'll desire to discuss the repercussions with your recruiter if you get a new tattoo that wasn't previously reported. You may risk having to go back to MEPS to have it reported. You might want to consider waiting on any new tattoos until afterward BMT and Tech School graduation.

The banned list includes visible tattoos and obscene or discriminatory tattoos. If you were to get one of these banned tattoos earlier you shipped to bones training, then you run a high risk of being booted out of the Delayed Enlistment Programme (DEP) for disobeying the rules.

However, if the tattoo in question is within the allowed limits, you will likely be fine. You may just desire to consider the healing fourth dimension needed for a tattoo and how the grooming might affect information technology.

New tattoos are prone to infection and often need a few weeks of healing time. At that place may likewise be restrictions on how frequently you can shower with a very new tattoo, which may interfere with your training if you get sweaty or dirty.

AFI 36-2903, DRESS AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF AIR FORCE PERSONNEL

three.iv. Tattoos/Brands/Body Markings. For purposes of this educational activity, a tattoo is divers every bit a picture, pattern, or mark made on the skin or other areas of the body by staining it with an indelible dye, or by any other method, including pictures, designs, or markings only detectible or visible under sure conditions (such every bit ultraviolet or invisible ink tattoos). A make is divers equally a flick, design, or other marking that is burned into the pare or other areas of the body. Torso markings are pictures, designs, or other markings every bit a event of using means other than burning to permanently scar or mark the skin. Members who violate the prohibitions and mandatory provisions in paragraphs iii.4.one and 3.iv.two are subject to prosecution under Commodity 92, UCMJ.
three.4.1. Tattoos/Brands/Body Markings. (Unauthorized content/locations). Tattoos/brands/body markings will non be on the hands (except one ring tattoo on one finger on one hand), head, neck (anything visible to a higher place the open collar uniform), face, natural language, lips, eyes, and scalp. Tattoos/brands/body markings anywhere on the torso that are obscene, normally associated with gangs, extremist, and/or supremacist organizations, or that advocate sexual, racial, indigenous, or religious discrimination are prohibited in and out of uniform. Indecent tattoos/brands/body markings are grossly offensive to modesty, decency, or propriety, or shocks the moral sense, because of its vulgar, filthy, or icky nature, or its tendency to incite lustful idea. It is indecent if information technology tends reasonably to corrupt morals or incite libidinous thoughts. It must not violate community standards. Air Force Function of Special Investigations (AFOSI) maintains information regarding gang/hate group, etc. on tattoos/brands/body markings. Commanders should contact their servicing AFOSI unit of measurement for additional information. Extremist tattoos/brands/body markings are those affiliated with, depicting, or symbolizing extremist philosophies, organizations, or activities. Sexually discriminative tattoos/brands/trunk markings are those that advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on gender. Racially discriminative tattoos/brands/trunk markings are those that abet a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. Religiously discriminative tattoos/brands/body markings are those that advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on religion. Tattoos/brands/torso markings with unauthorized content that are prejudicial to proficient order and field of study or the content is of a nature that tends to bring discredit upon the Air Force are prohibited both in and out of uniform. Airmen may not cover up tattoos, brands, and/or body markings with bandages or make-up in order to comply with unauthorized content tattoo policy.

three.4.1.one. Members who have or receive unauthorized content tattoos/brands/body markings are required to initiate tattoo/make/body mark removal/alteration. At the commander's discretion, members may be seen, on a space and resource bachelor basis, in a Department of Defense (DoD) medical handling facility for voluntary tattoo/brand/torso marking removal. When DoD resources are not available, members may have the tattoo/brand removed/contradistinct at their own expense exterior of DoD medical treatment facilities. Permissive Temporary Duty is not authorized for this purpose; therefore, travel is at member's expense. Members who fail to remove/alter unauthorized tattoos/brands/body markings in a timely manner, or who choose not to comply with appropriate military machine standards, will be subject to a variety of advisable quality force deportment, including but not limited to reprimand, unfavorable information file, control roster, referral enlisted/officer performance reports, military justice action (Article fifteen, UCMJ punishment), ineligibility for schools and assignments and administrative discharge. If removal at authorities expense is not possible, the fellow member'due south affirmative responsibility for complying with this AFI or the Air Force's responsibleness to enforce it with whatsoever or all bachelor options does not change.

3.4.2. Tattoos/Brands/Body Markings (Authorized). Tattoos are authorized on the chest and back (below the open neckband uniform), artillery, legs, and a ring tattoo on one finger on one hand (per para 3.4.i). Ring tattoos are express to a single ring of no more than than 3/8 of an inch in width, beneath the knuckle and above the finger joint (portion closest to the palm). Airmen with tattoos on the hand prior to this policy may be grandfathered; even so, hand tattoos other than as described above are unauthorized after nine Jan 2017. Grandfathered tattoos on the mitt must be documented on the fellow member'due south AF Form 4428, Tattoo Screening/Verification (encounter attachment 5 for course completion instructions). Paw tattoos that are grandfathered, and arm, leg, and ring-tattoos tin can exist exposed and visible while wearing any uniform combination(s). Chest and dorsum tattoos volition not be visible through any uniform combination(due south) or visible while wearing an open collar uniform. There are no size or placement limitations on tattoos as long as they are in accordance with this publication.

three.four.3. Cosmetic tattooing. Tattooing for corrective purposes is authorized when directed by licensed, qualified medical personnel to correct a medical condition, disease or injury for both men and women. When not medically directed, cosmetic tattooing is permitted for women if done to apply permanent facial makeup (i.e. eyebrows, centre liner); the cosmetic tattooing must have a natural appearance and be conservative, moderate, within reasonable limits, non excessive or extreme, and in good taste.