I made a booboo and got a tattoo on my forearm. It covers about 50% of my forearm. I am a new seaman and I see so many people with tats that I didn't think it was a big deal. I heard something about a 75% coverage rule but it was just guesses. I didn't actually look up the rule before I got the work done and it was a spur of the moment thing. I love being in the coast guard and want to stay in, but I could never pay the thousands for lazer surgery to get it removed. Has anyone ever been faced with a discharge? or this problem? What kind of trouble am I in? Can't I just wear that Pro/theatre makeup to cover it up during the day when I wear short sleeves?

Discounts available...

Good luck

--M

First off claiming ignorance is not going to help your cause. Basically you screwed up huge. But if you are close to a Military Treatment Facility, many of them have laser removal. Below is some reading you should have done prior .


COMDTINST 1000.1A

5-c

Size or Coverage of Area. Excessive tattooing or branding is defined as that which results in more than 25% of an exposed limb (arm/leg) being adorned, and is not authorized. The exposed area shall be regarded as the zone between the member’s elbow and wrist or the knee and the ankle. A complex tattoo (mural, serpentine, etc.) that dominates a given area shall be regarded as full coverage for the purpose of determining excessiveness, regardless of any un-tattooed area within the larger picture

5-f

Current Member Violations. Current active and reserve members whose tattoos or brands are determined to violate this Instruction shall be given the opportunity to seek competent medical advice regarding the removal or alteration of the disqualifying tattoo or brand. Members who refuse to take the necessary steps to satisfy the requirements of this policy shall be separated from the service.

You made a just a little mistake. If I remember right arn't you like 30 years old and prior service? You couldn't wait to get in the CG and now you may be on your way out. Not a very smart move.

I'm thinking that if you are any good at what you do and the goverment has some money already invested in your training they might just hit you in the pocket book and move forward with the knowledge that you will make some questionable decissions in the future. In civilian life at times its easier to be forgiven than get permission, I'm not so sure that applies to the military anymore.
Good luck.

quote:

Basically you screwed up huge.

Yeah, the world's about to end isn't it. As if the CG can't operate if its members are "tatted" up. This sure isn't our dads' military...

It's not even mine let alone Dad's.

quote:

Yeah, the world's about to end isn't it. As if the CG can't operate if its members are "tatted" up. This sure isn't our dads' military...

Well, if they hadn't gone to those stupid uniforms that require the sleeves be rolled up to the biceps it would be a non-issue!

Lets see i am a Golden Dragon and a Golden Shellback as well as a biker and x-military service member so maybe i will stand in line behind the little snot nose teenager getting her tail tattooed after springbreak...oops nope that common sense thing got in the way again.

pain + money = fagetaboutit sc

nO ear ring for me either..geeese kids

Wanna see the rabbit tattoo on my a$$? Opps, it must have climbed back in the hole! Sorry!

Have a great day,
Dick

quote:

Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:

quote:

Yeah, the world's about to end isn't it. As if the CG can't operate if its members are "tatted" up. This sure isn't our dads' military...

Well, if they hadn't gone to those stupid uniforms that require the sleeves be rolled up to the biceps it would be a non-issue!

I've seen people who have never rolled their sleeves up in their ODUs. What are you talking about? Perhaps you forget that there was a short sleeved working blue shirt?

Pretty soon you'll all be wearing blue blazers and calling each other Chip, Biffy, Todd, or Buffy!

quote:

Perhaps you forget that there was a short sleeved working blue shirt?

When I was in we wore chambray shirts, not the working blue you are referring to.

The vast majority of the pics I have seen show the sleeves rolled, including Thad Allen's. Maybe you have the A/C set too low in your building.....

I prefer my sleaves rolled. I don't like having a shirt go below my elbow unless it's absolutely necessay.

Kinda limits what you can do with tattoos then, eh?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:

When I was in we wore chambray shirts, not the working blue you are referring to.

Nothing better than a broken in pair of seaferes and a chambray shirt.

quote:

Nothing better than a broken in pair of seaferes and a chambray shirt.

Inexpensive, comfortable, practical.....and ya' didn't have ta' blouse any friggin' boots either!

Bloused boots on sailors......I just don't get it.

quote:

Originally posted by asm3driscoll:
Wanna see the rabbit tattoo on my a$$? Opps, it must have climbed back in the hole! Sorry!

Have a great day,
Dick

ROTFLMAO !

hear hear someone finally got the uniform right, seafarers with patch pockets, laced in the back and chambray shirts I can understand why people would want a distinctive uniform but they sure don't have it now.

Anyone here remember GMC Paul Keller & his tattoo???

For those that don't, which is most, he would bet you a beer at the Chief's club that he has your name tattooed on his A$$... an obvious sucker bet, but many would take it...

When he pulled down his pants to show you he had "Your Name" tattooed on his A$$...

I think he won many a beer that way...

Wray...