{"id":35756,"date":"2022-08-18T17:05:21","date_gmt":"2022-08-18T17:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/08\/18\/services-need-clear-guidance-for-granting-tattoo-waivers-report-says\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T06:34:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:34:04","slug":"services-need-clear-guidance-for-granting-tattoo-waivers-report-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/2022\/08\/18\/services-need-clear-guidance-for-granting-tattoo-waivers-report-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Services need clear guidance for granting tattoo waivers, report says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The military services now have some of the most liberal tattoo policies they\u2019ve ever enacted, to include allowing neck, hand and ear tattoos in the Army, Navy and Space Force. But tattoo size and placement can still be a bar to enlisting or commissioning unless recruits can obtain a waiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the military recruiting environment tougher than ever<\/a>, the services would benefit by more clearly laying out the waiver process, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Wednesday, .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlthough each of the armed forces allows waivers for certain tattoo restrictions for recruits, the policies do not always mention or provide clear guidance on the requirements for these waivers,\u201d the report found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The services have a wide range of tattoo policies. (Government Accountability Office)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Essentially, though recruiters might tell their prospects to seek a waiver, tattoo policies don\u2019t always lay out the process or provide any indication of the likelihood that one will be approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c… [M]ost of the armed forces\u2019 tattoo policies do not include clear information on the tattoos or individuals eligible for waivers, requirements for waiver requests and conditions for approval, or specifics on who has authority to approve tattoo waivers,\u201d according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\t