Tattoo you...

The Marine's ban tattoos below the knee and elbow.

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway announced the policy change last week.

"Some Marines have taken the liberty of tattooing themselves to a point that is contrary to our professional demeanor and the high standards America has come to expect from us," he said. "I believe tattoos of an excessive nature do not represent our traditional values."

The ban is aimed primarily at "sleeve" tattoos, the large and often elaborate designs on the biceps and forearms of many Marines...

HotAir is prolifically upset.

Lame.

Here's Hugh Hewitt on tattoos,

Fads fad; tatoos don't. These permanent displays of youthful exuberance trigger at best mild amusement, but in some a serious concern about your maturity.

Whether or not you believe that concern to be fair, it is real. The tattoo you covet today will be an obstacle in some situations for the rest of your life. Do you need it that much? Is it worth compromising your effectiveness?

Tattoo artists are, not surprisingly, ostensibly worried about their loss of future profits the lameness of it all.

Tattoo artist Jerry Layton at the Body Temple Tattoo Studio in Oceanside said he was booked up with Marines rushing to beat the deadline.

"These are guys that are dying in the war," Layton said. "They can fight, but they can't get a tattoo? It's ridiculous."

Actually, Marines can get tattoos, they just can't get them below the knee or elbow, in an excessive "sleeve" manner, while they are still Marines. And, come to think of it, Marines can fight, but they can't sport ponytails or show up for duty wearing shorts and huarache sandals, among other things.

Comments

[David M. Smith]

"These are guys that are dying in the war," Layton said. "They can fight, but they can't get a tattoo? It's ridiculous."

Hi Rusty,

While some marines do die during military battles and maneuvers, the goal is not to get a tattoo and then go die. The goal is to make every effort to stay alive while defeating an enemy.

When I was a marine thirty years ago, officers were forbidden from having a tattoo. I don’t know if this is still true today. Many, if not most, enlisted marines considered the tattoo parlor the first stop after boot camp. I think these guys felt like their tattoo was part of joining the club. Forbidding officers from having tattoos was a way for the commanders to maintain discipline by separating the officers from the club of the enlisted. Maintaining discipline goes a long way towards keeping marines alive.

Marines have high standards. This should never change. The new rule is a good rule. Enlisted marines can still be a club; they just can’t be a street gang.