Potential Army Nurses, New Regs Regarding Tattoos

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Our entire Forward Surgical Team (FST) has been abuzz about this (expected) news for the last couple of days:

http://www.stripes.com/news/army/soldiers-told-new-rules-governing-tattoos-grooming-standards-on-the-way-1.242828

So for any of you RNs or students who think you might want to join the Army, just be aware that new recruits will NOT be allowed to have inkage in places below the knees or below the elbows, or above the neckline. How they'll handle the grandfathering will remain to be seen. I have waivers for all of mine, but who knows? LOL. I might be a civilian nurse again soon!

Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

I would like to which Marines that you since fat. I have been in the Navy assigned to the Marines and now the Army and have never seen any service as hard on weight standards as the Marines. They have tighter standards then all the services and can be placed on fat boy pt if their CO does not think they look good in uniform. As far as all the other services I have seen many over weight SM' s.

Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.
I would like to which Marines that you since fat. I have been in the Navy assigned to the Marines and now the Army and have never seen any service as hard on weight standards as the Marines. They have tighter standards then all the services and can be placed on fat boy pt if their CO does not think they look good in uniform. As far as all the other services I have seen many over weight SM' s.

Believe me, they exist.

Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

They do but not to the extent of the other services.

Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.
They do but not to the extent of the other services.

That I agree with. I can't believe how many are overweight, but still get promoted the ranks of NCOs, Staff NCOs, and officers.

Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

In all the services that happens even thou they should not. Just think in the Army you don't even need to know your MOS and get promoted.

Specializes in Field Medical Trauma.

That reminds me of my time in the Navy. I was active duty for 5 years and only made it to E-3...(partially because I said something to the medical officer that p*ssed him off) But what im trying to get at is my friend who joined up for the Army Reserves was promoted further and faster than me within his first 2 years of reserve drill!! Why and how?

That reminds me of my time in the Navy. I was active duty for 5 years and only made it to E-3...(partially because I said something to the medical officer that p*ssed him off) But what im trying to get at is my friend who joined up for the Army Reserves was promoted further and faster than me within his first 2 years of reserve drill!! Why and how?

At least on the officer side, Army promotes faster earlier. By the time you reach O-3, the Navy promotes faster and Army officers have to wait longer to reach higher ranks.

The Army has a lot of fat bodies, you just don't it until they take their ACU tops off (because they mask figure A LOT). If you notice it with the ACUS tops on then that's baaaaad.

The problem arises from crappy DFAC health food quality. There are 5 bad options to one good and the food around base in general. The PX and Shopettes just have "junk".

So how can I get a waiver now for my below the elbow tattoos before this takes in effect? Is there anything I can get now just to protect myself. a memorandum from an O5 or higher maybe??

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
So how can I get a waiver now for my below the elbow tattoos before this takes in effect? Is there anything I can get now just to protect myself. a memorandum from an O5 or higher maybe??

I believe (could be wrong) for those of us who are already in that we'll have to sit down with our unit and self-identify all tattoos once the new reg goes into effect. We'll see how they're going to work it.

Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.
So how can I get a waiver now for my below the elbow tattoos before this takes in effect? Is there anything I can get now just to protect myself. a memorandum from an O5 or higher maybe??

As of right know you do not need a waiver for below the elbow to the wrist tattoos. Not sure if you will need one for the hands.

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