Army tattoo rules loosened after backlash. The Congressional Black Caucus frustration and angry soldiers have pushed the Army to update its tattoo and hair rules.
In March of 2014, the Congressional Black Caucus had demanded that the revisions to Army Regulation 670-1, be made to remove terms like “unkempt” and “matted,” which they found offensives to African American soldiers.
The Army took it a step further by releasing not only new rules for hairstyles, but also for tattoos.
Effective immediately, army personnel are allowed to have four visible tattoos that are about the size of a hand.
The inks must be below the elbow and knee. Racist, sexist, extremist and other inappropriate tattoos are still banned.
Tattoos on faces, necks and head are prohibited. The same rule goes for mouth, ear and eyelids.
Prior to the March update of the Army’s grooming and appearance regulation, soldiers with unacceptable tattoos were not allowed to request a commissioning or appointment, that rule angered many soldiers.
Now, they can as long as they have their commander’s endorsement. In a statement, the Army explained its decision to review the policies:
“The updated regulation takes into account that previously authorized tattoos should not prevent a soldier from becoming an officer, but that candidates are to be evaluated based on the whole soldier concept, or all characteristics of a soldier.”
The Army tattoo rules were softened, so were the body mutilation regulations.
The Army still believe that it is unacceptable for its soldiers to have body mutilation such as tongue bifurcation and ear elfing.
But the new rules state that a soldier with “approved body mutilations” who entered service before March 31 can “request an exception to policy.”
The Army has made substantive changes to hairstyle rules per the Congressional Black Caucus request. The offensive terms have been removed.
And while dreadlocks are still prohibited, cornrows and twists, braids, which are traditionally worn by women of color are now allowed.
Female soldiers must abide by the following rules when sporting braids, cornrows and twists – they have to be worn, with a diameter of no greater than 1/2 inch and must be evenly spaced.
Many took to social media networking sites, to comment on the new Army tattoo and hairstyle rules.
Most applauded them for understanding that a black woman can not style her hair like a Caucasian soldier.
But they were blasted for the tattoo regulation, one person said that inks are classless and ugly and should be banned.
Another shared that if the Army can not have strict rules, then who can?
