It is you who is wrong. I am excerpting Stu’s comment:

“Even the Marine Corps will not allow visible tattoo’s. By not be able to afford tattoo removal, which isn’t cheap, fast or comfortable, they simply can’t pull themselves up by their bootstraps as so many advocate. Previous bad choices hold them back and lack of funds continue to hold them back.”

The Marine Corps DOES allow visible tattoos. A Marine can have a visible tattoo on an arm or leg. It just can’t be a “sleeve” tattoo. There is a BIG difference. One can have an Eagle, Globe and Anchor tatto on the forearm or leg, or a dragon, or an eagle, or whatever they want – just as long as it isn’t considered a sleeve or it isn’t racist, sexist, etc.

Both you and Stu need to read the fine print, and publish accordingly.

If I am reading what you copy & pasted here correctly, it is you that is wrong. What you posted in your comment clearly states that:

Marines are prohibited from:

a. Tattoos or brands on the head and neck.

b. Sleeve Tatoos. A sleeve tattoo is a very large tattoo, or a collection of smaller tattoos, that covers or almost covers a person’s entire arm or leg.

c. Half-sleeve or quarter sleeve tattoos that are visible to the eye when wearing standard PT Gear (T-shirt and shorts). A half-sleeve or quarter-sleeve tattoo is defined as a very large tattoo or collection of smaller tattoos that covers, or almost covers the entire portion of an arm or leg above or below the elbow or knee.

d. Tattoos or brands that are prejudicial to good order, discipline and morale, or are of a nature to bring discredit upon the Marine Corps.

Furthermore, what you posted states that only “Marines who currently have a sleeve tattoo(s) prior to 1 April 2007, will be grandfathered.” Which means new recruits with sleeve tatoos would get turned down.

See these links:
Commandant’s message on tattoos

Corps bans tattoo sleeves

Perhaps you misunderstood what the fine print says, but Stuart does have it right.

Wrong again. Look at the message 198/07.

Marines are prohibited from:

a. Tattoos or brands on the head and neck.

b. Sleeve Tatoos. A sleeve tattoo is a very large tattoo, or a collection of smaller tattoos, that covers or almost covers a person’s entire arm or leg.

c. Half-sleeve or quarter sleeve tattoos that are visible to the eye when wearing standard PT Gear (T-shirt and shorts). A half-sleeve or quarter-sleeve tattoo is defined as a very large tattoo or collection of smaller tattoos that covers, or almost covers the entire portion of an arm or leg above or below the elbow or knee.

d. Tattoos or brands that are prejudicial to good order, discipline and morale, or are of a nature to bring discredit upon the Marine Corps. These may include, but are not limited to, any tattoo that is sexist, racist, vulgar, anti-american, anti-social, gang related, or extremest group or organization related.

Marines who currently have a sleeve tattoo(s) prior to 1 April 2007, will be grandfathered. The Marine’s command will insert a photograph(s) of the respective (tattoo(s) along with a measurement(s) of the size in inches and of the location(s) on the body and the date the tattoo(s) was documented, on the Page 11 of the Marine’s SRB. The Marine will sign the Page 11 entry verifying the information is correct.

So to clarify, a recruit may have visible visible tattoos, as long as it does not:

Appear on the head or neck
Constitutes a full, half or quarter “sleeve” (see above) which is visible with PT gear
Breach standards of good conduct (see above)

Stu, asking someone something is dangerous. You get incorrect interpretations. You published something that is factually incorrect. Shame on a USMC Gunnery Sergeant for not understanding the regulations, but shame on you for taking their word for it.

I haven’t vetted your other articles, but I hope they don’t leave the same factual analysis to be desired.

So today I called the Marine Corps Recruiting office on Broadway Ave in Tucson AZ to ask the question.

Answer: Full, half and quarter sleeves are NOT allowed and a recruit can’t have them. They have to be above the short shirt sleeve line. I asked a couple of time to be sure I had it right. I did.

Sorry. But that was from a recruiter that has a quota to meet and I’m sure would love to enlist those guys. No tattoo’s below the sleeve line.

The Honey Bee plant will create jobs. Period. It is not a national program but funding for a state and local program. And if you think my ol ’91 Isuzu Trooper with 191,000 miles on it is a corporate jet well…sorry it doesn’t even have A/C and I live in the Southwest.

The plant will create jobs. Period. Not the one’s you want. But jobs. and Maquiladoras are exported jobs even if you can commute across the border to get the pay.

BTW: I grew up in the barrio. I know exactly what it’s like to not have enough cash to get though the month and needing a better job. I hope you have great success in finding such a job.

The USMC does allow people with visible tattoos. Nice try, though.