tattoos & employement

[Esprit de Corps]

as most of you know i signed up for the marines. and after boot camp i want to get a marine corps tattoo. i was thinking about having semper fidelis written on my forearms, i was just wondering what your deptartments rules were about having tattoos on your forearms, and how much that would hurt me during the hiring process.

[gdowkpc]

No tattoo can be visible.

[EHStaley]

Originally posted by gdowkpc
No tattoo can be visible.

An episode of COPS several weeks ago had a cop with something on his left forearm. I can only imagine every dept. has different policies and you should check with the one you are looking to apply with.

[Esprit de Corps]

that is why i was wondering because i was watching this thing on la county swat and one of the officers had a trible on his right arm. im not applying for a very long while.

[CXT_180]

Make sure you wait untill after Basic... a good buddy of mine told me about a guy that went to Airborne school with him and had jump wings tatooed on his bicep. He failed jump school.
This sparked a story of a guy who never even went to Ranger school, but had a 75th Ranger regiment scroll tatoo. He got the crap beat out of him by a bunch of Rangers.

[Jaime]

I have one on my ankle and lower back and was thinking about one on my wrist; I guess I’ll hold off on that, lol

[mcsap]

Nothing visible wearing short sleeves would be a GOOD suggestion to follow.

You may not be applying for a very long while but that tattoo that you get " tomorrow" will be around when you do go to apply.

Don't show up for our interviews sporting any visible tattoos or an earring.

[Jaime]

Yeah I’m definitely waiting, it’s just not worth it.

[Esprit de Corps]

thanks everyone - and about getting a marine tattoo before boot camp, almost every former marine tells me to run a lot and not get a marine corps tat. anyways thanks again

[EXCOP2000]

Corps,
I would not get anything EVER on the forearms, knuckles, hands, fingers, neck (basically anywhere visible in a short sleeve uniform). If you feel you must get one I would say upper arm area(make sure it is above most short sleeves). Some Marines and Cops get in with them but I wouldn't take the risk. Definitely don't get a Marine tattoo before you become one...that was great advice from another post! You would get hammered at boot camp!!! Also most P.D.'s just don't want officers with tattoo's all over their forearms...as I said some are out there though, but it may be they got on a while back or got a waiver. The bad thing about tattoo's is that for the most part once you get it, you can never get rid of it (yes sometimes you can laser it off but only for small ones and there are scars) so if you ever get a dishonorable discharge and decide you can't stand what the good old USMC did to you...you are still stuck with them for life but from the way you sound I think you will do fine as a Marine.

[rdp]

There are numerous guys on my dept. with tats up and down both arms. The policy says if they are offensive or appear violent, they must be covered. The policy is so broad it is typically up to the supv. to decide what need to be covered.

[kelly]

Originally posted by rdp
There are numerous guys on my dept. with tats up and down both arms. The policy says if they are offensive or appear violent, they must be covered. The policy is so broad it is typically up to the supv. to decide what need to be covered.

yeah thats any department I've ever heard of but I guess it differs depending on where you are. Im going through the FBI process right now I have 3 on my inner right wrist and they didn't have a problem with them.

[Esprit de Corps]

kelly - are your tattoos small? the ones i want would be from right under my elbow joint, down almost to my wrist.

[kelly]

they are 3 chinese symbols about 1" tall each going from the base of my hand up towards my elbow all together they are like 4.5". I have one on my left shoulder as well that one is a little bigger.

[Rad Diver]

keep'em on biceps or further up. back, shoulder, chest, etc.

Better safe now than screwed later.

Had a ex-marine sniper in my academy class, tats on both upper arms, back, stomach, etc. nothing visible in uniform though.