MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- At a sergeants’ major symposium last year, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John Estrada, described tattoos as an emotional issue among the higher ranks, preceding a barrage of recent rumors of more rigid regulations to come.

March 19 those rumors became policy with the uniform board’s issuance of MARADMIN 198/07 cancelling and replacing the previous regulations presented in paragraph C of Marine Corps Order P1020.34G.

The changes work toward meeting Commandant Gen. James Conway’s desire to establish “one policy interpreted one way through the entire Marine Corps,” as stated in the March 26 Marine Corps Times issue.

Specifically, the Marine Corps has replaced the previous regulations with more stringent rules, targeting and prohibiting “sleeve tattoos” and eliminated some of the gray areas of previous regulations that left individual Marines and their body art in the hands of subjective judges.

The result is stricter with less room for interpretation.

Despite recent changes other military services have made lightening their regulations for recruiting ease, the Marine Corps’ leaders have enforced a strict expectation of Marines to uphold the Corps’ credibility.

Gunnery Sgt. Ruben E. Villarreal, a prior-service recruiter here, has spent the last two years providing detailed briefs to Marines as part of his personal crusade to inform Marines stationed on the West Coast about Marine Corps tattoo regulations and how tattoos can affect a Marine’s career.

“There’s a lot of misinformation out there,” he said. “The purpose behind the brief is to provide Marines with current information. We don’t want you to be the one that says ‘I wish somebody had told me.’”

Of the approximately 8,000 Marines he’s briefed, Villareal estimates 92 percent have at least one tattoo and four percent of the remaining eight percent still have an interest in getting a tattoo in the near future.

“Tattoos have been a discussion for a long time,” said Villarreal. “For some people, it’s a sore subject, others just don’t care and some are really concerned. Tattoos are part of the culture of the Marine Corps.”

Villarreal hopes to teach Marines about the regulations to help them stay competitive in promotions, special billet assigments and commissioning programs.

Tattoos can affect selection to special billets like Marine Security Guard duty and recruiting duty due to their inherent high visibility in the communities of America and nations abroad. Officials are often reluctant to select Marines covered in ink.

It’s the subjective nature of this process that Corps leaders hope to head off with the new regulations.

“We need to get it right with regard to uniformity of determination,” said Conway in the March 26 report. “We can’t have separate interpretations depending on where the Marine applies.”

In the new MARADMIN, the deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs, or DC M&RA, is the authority for any tattoo issues involving retention or special duty assignments. The DC M&RA will also review all packages for re-enlistment, extension and lateral moves to another military occupational specialty. Packages must include a photograph and measurements of the tattoos, a description of the location of the tattoo and a reason why the tattoo has been deemed questionable.

In Villarreal’s experience, the nature of the tattoo or tattoos may not raise concern, but rather the number of tattoos a Marine has can impact selections to a special duty or officer commissioning program. More than four tattoos may end a Marine’s dreams of officer commission or standing guard at the U.S. embassy.

“They don’t have to mean anything crazy, derogatory or discriminating, but having tattoos in excess is bad, too,” said Staff Sgt. Jesse B. Hernandez, a career planner with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron here. “We aren’t just here to impress the kids and get them to sign the contract; we’re here to prove (ourselves) to parents out there, too.”

Villarreal agreed.

“You’re going to be interacting with the outside society,” he said. “When you go out in uniform, you don’t represent yourself; you represent the Marine Corps.”

Villarreal stressed the importance of upholding the Marine Corps’ reputation in civilian communities through personal appearance. That reputation must be maintained while interacting with widely varied socioeconomic, religious and cultural groups.

Tattoo regulations are based on four standards: content, size, location and “effect of associating the Marine Corps with the tattoo,” according to Marine Corps Order P1020.34.

For enlistment into the Marine Corps and for most billets, tattoos should not be seen when in the service C uniform. Tattoos visible in the service C uniform require a waiver for enlistment and selection to officer commissioning programs. 

In accordance with MARADMIN 198/07, sleeve tattoos are strictly prohibited. Sleeve tattoos are considered a large tattoo or collection of small tattoos that cover or almost cover a Marine’s entire arm or leg.

Marines who currently have sleeve tattoos are required, before July 1, 2007, to document the size, location and date the tattoo was documented on page 11 of their service record book.

Tattoos that are considered half-sleeves or quarter-sleeves that are visible in standard physical training gear are also prohibited. Marines who exceed the criteria after the grandfather clause date can expect to face nonjudicial punishment or expulsion from the Marine Corps.

The modifications to the order leave intact the policy stating that no  gang-affiliated, racist, sexist or drug-related tattoos are accepted. 

Potential enlistees must meet the requirements of the new regulations. In general, recruiters turn away applicants who have tattoos larger than their hand with fingers unfisted and touching.

For those already in the Corps’ ranks, having a questionable tattoo may not be the end of the road, according to Villareal. Depending on the tattoo and reason for getting it, the Marine’s command will research the history of the design and the Marine’s credibility in his hometown.

“The Marine Corps gives you the benefit of the doubt … on a case by case basis, when you have a questionable tattoo,” said Villarreal. “You have to write a personal statement saying what the tattoo is, what it means and why you got it. Then, it is researched further.”

But be warned, not doing research on an attractive tattoo does not prevent trouble. If a Marine gets a tattoo that has a commonly known gang affiliation, even without personal knowledge of the affiliation, he is still held accountable for his actions.

“You not knowing the rules is not going to constitute a defense,” said Villarreal. “It’s not going to make you exempt from punishment.”

The punishment for an inappropriate tattoo can begin at a page 11 entry  and may lead to nonjudicial punishment or possible expulsion from the Marine Corps.

The Marine Corps’ stand on tattoos is a proactive attempt at protecting its reputation and its Marines, according to Villarreal.

With new regulations in place, Marines can begin to accommodate the new rules for less ink.