New rules regarding tattoo policies for soldiers in the U.S. Army have been sent for approval to the Secretary of the Army and may be enacted soon, Stars and Stripes reported.
While speaking to troops in Afghanistan, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond Chandler said Secretary John McHugh already approved of the new guidelines but has not put his name on Army Regulation 670-1 yet.
According to media reports published last year, potential changes could affect makeup and nail polish, hair styles, body piercings, the length of sideburns, and others, although Chandler only noted tattoos.
The new policy will prohibit soldiers from getting tattoos below the elbows and knees or above the neckline. Tattoos on current troops will be grandfathered in, but anyone with tattoos seemed racist, sexist, or extremist will be strictly banned.
"We're just waiting for the secretary to sign," Chandler told soldiers from the 4th Combat Brigade Team, 10th Mountain Division, at Forward Operating Base Gamberi. He also notified troops of the new rules at FOB Fenty in Jalalabad.
The new regulations will only affect soldiers in the Army, as other military branches have their own rules. If the regulation is passed, changes to tattoos, grooming, and uniforms will begin in 30 to 60 days, Chandler said.
As long as the policy passes, soldiers will sit down with their unit leaders and identify each of their tattoos and be forced to pay for the removal of any tattoo that violates the new rules.
Chandler defended the updated policy as a way to maintain a clean, uniform look. He said when he sees a soldier with a tattoo of a curse word on the side of his or her neck, he would ask himself "Why there? Are you trying to stand out?" and suggested trying to stand out for military achievements instead of body ink.
