Marines Tighten Tattoo Policy

In addition to prohibiting tattoos or brands on the head and neck, the Marine Corps now bans sleeve tattoos, along with “half-sleeve or quarter-sleeve tattoos that are visible to the eye when wearing standard PT gear (T-shirt and shorts).” MarAdmin 198/07 describes a sleeve tattoo as a very large tattoo, or a collection of smaller tattoos, that covers or almost covers a person’s entire arm or leg. A half-sleeve or quarter-sleeve tattoo is a very large tattoo, or a collection of smaller tattoos that covers, or almost covers, the entire portion of an arm or leg above or below the elbow or knee. Marines who currently have sleeve tattoos will be grandfathered if the tattoos are photographed and measured, and the Marine signs a service record entry verifying the information is correct.