Not much of a question here, just voicing my frustration but... I went to MEPS like 2 months ago. Completed everything except I didnt swear in because I guess was tattoo waiver was denied by my C.O. The tattoo in question got changed and I resubmitted my tattoo waiver however it just seems like the C.O has it sitting somewhere in his file cabinet. I guess its good that the waiver got denied by the CO because if it went to the Colonel and gets denied, I hear that I have to go to a whole different recruiting region. Nonetheless I AM DYING TO GO TO BOOT CAMP. Days and days pass by with still no word from my station commander. I know it is still in CO's possession because my station commander tells me that the waiver has not been submitted because it does not show up on my file? Why is it taking so long? I wrote a 17 page waiver! Thats not a typo! I literally wrote a life story on not just my tattoos but what I'm about, why I want to become a Marine so badly and where I come from so they see what type of person I am. Has anyone else had a similiar LONGGGG wait for a tattoo waiver?
Also, you should know that any Commanding Officer in the chain of command can deny your request for waiver consideration. If the RS Commander denies it, than it will never be entered into "the system". If the RS Commander endorses it, then his clerks will enter it into "the system" and forward it to higher headquarters.
I have multiple tattoos. The issue is a combination of 2 or 3. I have King of Kings across my stomach. I had a human skull with tiger fangs with a crown on top. I also have a Lion roaring on my left chest. They said the crown with the King of Kings and the Lion being the "King" of the jungle can be linked to the Latin Kings. I changed the crown into a military helmet. It seems to of eased their concerns. How do I upload the pics?
So you have possible gang related tattoos. Typically in this case I would check your involvement with the law, then get with my local PD's gang unit and have them run your name through their database. If that came out clean, I would have the gang unit look at your tattoos and give me their opinion, in writing, of whether or not your tattoos were gang related.
Now, I typically needed contracts, so all of that was reasonable to do. If your recruiting station is doing very well, then they may not need to expend that kind of effort for you.
So, now I want to see your tattoos, and know about all of your past legal history.
What ever possessed you to get so many tattoos without thinking of the consequences?
quote:
If that came out clean, I would have the gang unit look at your tattoos and give me their opinion, in writing, of whether or not your tattoos were gang related.
I'm sure number boy could answer that directly. He has good spin of what they "might" represent but he knows for sure why he got them, and what they were meant to signify.
I want to show you guys that tats but I dont know how to upload them in a post. I'm 24 now. I have been arrested 3 times. All misdemeanors. Only 1 conviction, it was when I was a minor. No arrest past the age of 19. I'm college educated. I currently sell Real Estate for a living. I'm an avid athlete, great competitor. Nothing even close to gang related. I've had my fair share of fun when I was younger pertaining to fist fights and small mischief but never ever been involved in anything gang related. From what I understand, my name has been run through the database and my pics sent to the gang unit. No news is good news I guess? My recruiting station is doing very well but my station commander goes the extra mile for me. I make him but he definetely has gone to bat for me. He knows how bad I want to be a Marine. After my first submission of the waiver, the C.O refused the waiver and refused to see me. I went down there anyways. Ended up talking to him for 2 hours and I didnt get the idea from him but "somehow" I left with the idea that if my crown were changed, I could get approved. I talked to my station commander today. He said the C.O is writing up his report to send to the Colonel. Only problem is he has had my waiver for like 2 weeks! WTF takes 2 weeks? Maybe Im just impatient. Please tell me how to upload pics and I will post them
I'm not running from anything Sir. I just want to become a Marine so bad. I have always envied Marines. I'm 24 now. What kept me from enlisting out of high school was my dogs. I had 1 german shepherd and 1 belgian malinois that were tragically killed in May. I wouldnt of gave those dogs up for anything. They were family to me. It was tragic but opened up the opportunity to prove myself alongside the worlds finest. Not to mention, I want to become the best fighter the world has to offer. ****ing terrorists. I cant wait to go fight them. I know Im not rambo. I know war is not fun. I know it takes alottt of training to get to that level of how specialized a Marine is. I am prepared for that commitment and the amount of blood, sweat and tears that goes into that work. I have never not completed anything I put my mind to. Im a top notch competitor in everything I do. Im an avid athlete. Great physical strength. Even better mental strength.
Onto the tattoos now...I got them all when I was 18-19. Thought I was tough? For some reason I felt the need to put that on my body instead of having it show through my attitude and actions. They all have meanings to me. The statment King of Kings across my stomach means I am the best at everything I do. I take that attitude into my sports, real estate and everything I do. I dont accept anything less of myself. I cant conquer the world but I can sure as hell try. My right shoulder has a cross that says god is my judge. That just means god is my ultimate judge. I feel alot of people prejudge people for what they look like, how they dress or whatever else. I know when I die, I will answer to god and I am confident that although I have done my fair share of small things, I have a good heart and am a good person. My left chest has a lions head roaring. That to me shows my intensity and power. Lions are alpha in the enviornment. I take that attitude into everything I do. Kind of plays into the King of Kings tattoo. My left shoulder has my initials. On my left bicep, I have a skull with a military helmet with tiger fangs instead of teeth on the skull. There is 1 50 cal bullet on either side of the skull. The fangs represent my ability to succeed and overcome any obstacles. What cant tiger fangs cut through? I can accomplish the same. The military helmet is covering what was the crown. The crown symbolized being the best.The military helmit is out respect to our armed services and my desire to join the USMC. The bullets mean the same as the fangs. What cant a 50 cal bullet go through? The whole skull has the phrase " I have a good heart, but this heart can get ugly" wrapped around it. To me that means I am a good person with good values. I am good to my family, friends and country. I do the ability to fight though for what I believe is right. Sometimes you have to get ugly to fight. The fight against terrorism is ugly. I believe I have what it takes to fight.I could go on all day. In my waiver, I wrote a 17 freaking page "essay" about not just my tattoos but about myself, my character, why I want to be a Marine and about my family and my background so the USMC could see I come from a good family with strong values
The CMC does not like tatoo's, this policy will like be around for a while. I hear that the Air Force has few extra Blue Suits ready to be issued, maybe you should go and get one.....Or Be All You Can Be IN the Army.....Or if you looking for an Adventure, wait then you might be on one of our LHA's. Don't join the Navy.....
One more quick note. When I talk about how I want to go fight terrorist and how I think I am prepared for that. I know alot of you have probably seen combat and most likely had comrades die. Dont take my comments the wrong way. I have not proved myself like you have. I have the upmost respect for you and what you have done. I dont take that job lightly that you guys have done and I appreciate it more than you can ever know. I am just pointing out that I want to be like you, with you, out there fighting beside you. I am going infantry. Hopefully recon. I got a 88 on asvap but infantry is my only destination
F the Airforce. F the navy. And kind of F the army. LOL. I want to be a Marine. If I have to go to every recruiting district and apply in every district in America, I will. If I get denied that many times, then ****, I have no choice but to go army and hope they allow me to go to ranger school ( army will not give me a guarantee of going to ranger school because I have 1 conviction )
The Marines are tougher than the Army to get into, if you can't get waiver on your one conviction with the Army well your chances are slim to none in the Corps. Time to move on....
Tom, Im sorry, I probably didnt explain that well enough. THe Army will let me in in a second. However, they will not guarantee me a Ranger Contract. The usmc will give me a Recon contract however. The army recruiter is hounding me and trying to get me to join the army but I told them there is no way in hell unless every marine corps recruiting station turns me down! I dont have an issue with my conviction with either branch..I am having a problem with the USMC about my tats. The army could care less about my tats
No idea. Commanding Marine Colonel? I know that my C.O and OPSO has to approve the waiver and then it goes up to the Colonel in South Carolina. Thats how I understand it works. Please correct me if I am wrong
Originally posted by 18199617: No idea. Commanding Marine Colonel? I know that my C.O and OPSO has to approve the waiver and then it goes up to the Colonel in South Carolina. Thats how I understand it works. Please correct me if I am wrong
Commandant of the Marine Corps. The top Marine in all of the USMC.
Well, this Marine is not really your CO as your not a Marine until your SDI dismiss's your Platoon on Graduation Day.
However:
as SgtLt says it the Commandant, he is the top Dog in the Marine Corps. He does not like tatoo's, he has made that very clear. It's the CMC who decides the policy's for the Marine Corps. If you get tatoo's then you have to follow the CMC guide lines or you will be disqualified to re-enlist. Simple as that.
If the CO of RS did not want to approve your Tatoo waiver as it is his choice to approve or not. If he passed it on to someone else higher than him then he did not want to be the one to say yes or no. I doubt you will get your Waiver. That's my take and it's, not my mine to say yes or no.
Main RS Co's are usually Senior Majors who are on the short list for LtCol or have been selected for LtCol, or are LtCol's already. This is something they can decided. Sorry but that's how it works, I could be wrong. For your sake hopefully I'm am, but I don't think I am.....Time to move on, Hint Hint.....
Originally posted by 18199617: Not much of a question here, just voicing my frustration but... I went to MEPS like 2 months ago. Completed everything except I didnt swear in because I guess was tattoo waiver was denied by my C.O. The tattoo in question got changed and I resubmitted my tattoo waiver however it just seems like the C.O has it sitting somewhere in his file cabinet. I guess its good that the waiver got denied by the CO because if it went to the Colonel and gets denied, I hear that I have to go to a whole different recruiting region. Nonetheless I AM DYING TO GO TO BOOT CAMP. Days and days pass by with still no word from my station commander. I know it is still in CO's possession because my station commander tells me that the waiver has not been submitted because it does not show up on my file? Why is it taking so long? I wrote a 17 page waiver! Thats not a typo! I literally wrote a life story on not just my tattoos but what I'm about, why I want to become a Marine so badly and where I come from so they see what type of person I am. Has anyone else had a similiar LONGGGG wait for a tattoo waiver?
Is the 17 page waiver you referring to the 9 point statement? you must of written a book.
It was more than a book, more like a novel! LOL I just wanted whoever it concerned to not just look at my tattoos but get an idea of who I am, what Im about, where I am from and why I want to become a Marine
This message has been edited. Last edited by: 18199617,
