CHANGES TO THE MARINE CORPS TATTOO POLICY 

UNCLAS 191606Z MAR 07
CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO  AL ALMAR(UC)
ALMAR
ALMAR 014/07
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/CHANGES TO THE MARINE CORPS TATTOO POLICY//
POC/S.T. FOSTER/CAPT/MPO/-/TEL:DSN 278-9387//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. HIGH STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL MILITARY
APPEARANCE REMAIN A PART OF OUR MARINE CORPS HERITAGE. WE SERVE
PROUDLY IN EVERY REGION OF THE WORLD, IN PEACE AND IN COMBAT,
FULFILLING OUR ROLE OF AMERICAS AMBASSADORS AND DEFENDERS OF
FREEDOM. THE EYES OF AMERICA AND THE WORLD CONTINUALLY FOCUS
UPON US AND THEY EXPECT THAT THE MARINE CORPS WILL MAINTAIN THE
HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AT ALL TIMES.
2. RECENTLY, I HAVE BECOME CONCERNED OVER THE GROWING TREND OF
TATTOOING IN OUR CORPS. I UNDERSTAND MANY TATTOOS ARE IN GOOD
TASTE AND MANY REPRESENT PRIDE FOR OUR CORPS OR REMEMBRANCE OF
FALLEN COMRADES; HOWEVER, I BELIEVE TATTOOS OF AN EXCESSIVE NATURE
DO NOT REPRESENT OUR TRADITIONAL VALUES. SOME MARINES HAVE TAKEN
THE LIBERTY OF TATTOOING THEMSELVES TO A POINT THAT IS CONTRARY TO
OUR PROFESSIONAL DEMEANOR AND THE HIGH STANDARDS AMERICA HAS COME
TO EXPECT FROM US. MARINES MUST UNDERSTAND THAT ACQUIRING
EXCESSIVE TATTOOS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT BOTH THEIR RETENTION AND
ASSIGNMENT TO SPECIAL DUTY.
3. TO THAT END, I DIRECTED A THOROUGH REVISION OF OUR TATTOO
POLICY. THE POLICY CHANGES RESULTING FROM THIS REVIEW WILL BE
ANNOUNCED IN A MARADMIN, RELEASED CONCURRENTLY WITH THIS ALMAR.
COMMANDERS MUST ENSURE THEIR MARINES ARE EDUCATED REGARDING CHANGES
TO THE MARINE CORPS TATTOO POLICY.
4. SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//