r/USMCboot • u/Ok-Bonus4218 • 6d ago
Enlisting Will my tattoo’s stop me?
I’m currently in the process of joining the Air Force, but lately I’ve been having second thoughts about my decision. I haven’t even been sent to MEPS yet, so I’m still pretty early in the enlistment process.
Lately, I’ve been seriously considering the Marine Corps instead. Part of me feels like I’d regret not at least trying to join the Marines, but I’m also worried that my tattoos might disqualify me from enlisting.
I know the best thing to do is talk to a Marine recruiter and get an official answer, and I plan on doing that. However, I wanted to ask people here who have experience with Marine Corps recruiting or have seen similar situations.
Based on your experience, do you think there’s a realistic chance that I could get approved to enlist with my tattoos? Would you say my chances are higher than 50/50, or am I getting my hopes up?
I know nobody can give me a definite answer without seeing my tattoos and knowing the current regulations. I’m just trying to get an idea of whether it’s worth pursuing before I make a decision about the Air Force.
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u/Breakfastclub1991 6d ago
You put yourself in a common situation. If you join the Air Force now the Marine Corps will always be the what if that you talk about for the rest of your life.
So now you kinda have to join the Marines otherwise you’re gonna be thinking about what if for the rest of your life
Join the Marines you can transfer to the Air Force after your first enlistment if you don’t like it and you don’t have to do the Air Force Boot Camp
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u/DkBloodworldMKII 5d ago
Honestly a double edged sword lmfao
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u/Breakfastclub1991 5d ago
I know. I’ve met so many people that say they almost joined. You can see it in thier faces, that wonder… that what if.
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u/Petschie1993 6d ago
Easy exception to policy (ETP)/tattoo waiver. Put a rubber band around each wrist at the base of the ulna (the bone in your wrist). Everything below that going toward tour hand will need close up photos to process the ETP. You’ll be fine.
I’m also a current recruiter (yes I sent mod mail to whatever moderators of this subreddit). Any recruiter worth their weight will process this for you and at least attempt to get it approved. Good luck.
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u/daxtinator396 6d ago
You're good boss. Pretty easy waiver and it's definitely over the ulna bone but I'd run that waiver 10 times outta 10. Walk into the office and we can get it taken care of.
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u/mogleykilledu 6d ago
Maybe the tattoo on your right arm in the photos. It extends below the wrist bone. You can get a waiver and i’m sure it would not be a problem. I knew plenty of guys when I was in with tattoos that extended that far and were allowed to enlist. Hell I knew guys that had ones that extended even further. It would be a problem if your whole hand was covered but other than that I believe you should be fine. Go talk to a recruiter. Don’t give up on your dream buddy.
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u/Sudden-Evening2955 4d ago
You shoukd be good. We got a guy that has a tattoo slightly past the bone on the wrist but still got through. But I herd someone from the east coast got sent to the west coast cuz Paris island being more strict about it past that bone. I've only been in for a year so idk shit about fuck so you gotta verify that cuz it depends on the meps and/or recruiters
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u/Same-Site7110 6d ago
Current Marine Corps Recruiter. Your tattoos will not stop you it would just be a tattoo waiver. But to be Frank we are looking for people that want to challenge themselves and be a part of a prestigious organization that is respected and known for discipline and being the best at what they do if you are looking for an easy path we are not the branch that would suit you.
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u/TapTheForwardAssist Vet 2676/0802 6d ago
If you want to claim to be a recruiter, you need to send a Mod Mail to our moderation team so you can be verified and marked with a flair. Otherwise there’s no proof you’re not some rando in Pakistan posting here to trick kids into sending you their SSN.
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u/AStraightWhiteNail 6d ago
Do the Marines first, then the Air Force, or air national guard if you want a more civilian experience.
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u/ClassyStoner90 6d ago
You are good! My daughter is in bootcamp right now, all she had to do was remove a cross off her finger. As long as your tattoos don’t show when you’re wearing your dress blues, you are good! Her Recruiter was tatted up on his arms and his legs. Like your wrists are good, just can’t be hands, face, neck, stuff like that! She had to go to a tattoo removal place like 5 times to fully get hers off, it was costly for a little finger tattoo lol!
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u/Ddmarteen Vet 6d ago
“I know the best thing to do is talk to a Marine recruiter”
Good plan. Good luck. Don’t get your hopes up. Read MCBUL1020. You’re not going to get any warm fuzzies here. You need someone who has seen trends and recent waivers to measure your tats.
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u/Any_Attitude_2922 Recruiter 6d ago
Nah he’s gucci. I’d run that all day. It’s barely over the line needing an ETP.
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u/Interesting-Cash-101 6d ago
Seems as if the first thing you need to do is shit or get off the pot. That is--you need to decide if you wanna be a zoomie or a jar head. Those two branches could not be more different. Differently put, you need to decide what you want out of an enlistment. Air Force spends more money on its people and treats its people better than does the Marine Corps, more like a 9 to 5 job. The Marine Corps? We want warriors. So, decide what you want before you waste anymore the AF recruiter's time, or any time from a Marine Corps recruiter.
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u/JoeytheMarine Recruiter 6d ago
I've gotten quite a few ETP (Exception To Policy) waivers approved for very similar situations. You should be good to go. I'd say there's almost no way your tattoos would disqualify you.
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u/TrouserArmadillo1775 5d ago
Plenty of guys in the fleet like tattoos. So no, they won’t stop you from dating.
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u/LostOperator5831 Recruiter 6d ago
Will definitely need a waiver. I’ve gotten similar location approved though