View Full Version : Tattoo? No soup for you!
Utah Bob
12-05-2009, 07:54
:confused:
Source (http://www.siliconvalley.com/ci_13901104?source%253Dmost_viewed.20F88DA3D7D369F 5BB70F372987EAE1F.html)
BENICIA — It wasn't a sexy half-naked lounging lady. It doesn't say "Mom."
Josh Parker's months-old tattoo just says his first name, in Hebrew, a language he said he admires.
But those six inches of lettering running across his right biceps were enough to bar him from entering the U.S. Air Force on Monday under a policy instituted just last week for those not fully enrolled in the service.
Parker, 18, was called to his recruitment office Monday morning, the day he was scheduled to report for basic training, for a review of the tattoo.
"They said, 'Can you salute me?' and they were just like, 'Oh,'" Parker said of his surprising turn in luck.
Bags packed and good-byes wished, Parker found himself shocked and alone when he was told his tattoo now meant a "no go" for the Air Force.
"They didn't know what to say or to do," Parker added. "I'm just kind of confused about why they couldn't have contacted me over the weekend."
Parker joined the Air Force's delayed entry program in March, and he has been waiting since graduating from Benicia High School for a job to open up in the special forces division.
"There are no tattoos (allowed) on the right arm or the hands — that's the modification," said Christa D'Andrea, chief of public affairs for Air Force Recruiting Services in San Antonio. "(It is) in an effort to keep up the military image."
The recruiting policy was adjusted when Air Force physical
training outfits — the ones members exercise in — were designated as official uniforms for the military branch.
The short sleeves of physical training outfits reveal arm tattoos, particularly when a salute is being executed, recruiters told Parker.
The former policy allowed for tattoos that covered no more than 25 percent of the skin — a regulation Parker had strictly complied with, and even had measured and documented the same day the policy was instituted, he said.
D'Andrea said she does not think the tattoo policy change will affect recruitment. Based on the first week of the modified policy, though, D'Andrea is forecasting the barring of about 15 delayed entry program recruits a week, she said. Recruits as far advanced as basic training could be affected, but not those beyond that point, she said.
Each case will be looked at individually, D'Andrea said, and recruits will be able to re-enter the program at the point they left off if they choose to remove their tattoos.
Parker's parents were upset Monday after hearing the news. Parker said he did not yet know what he will do next — remove the tattoo or consider another military branch.
"Everything he's been training for, working for, preparing for — it's all shot," said Parker's dad, Kevin. "He's given a year of his life waiting on this thing — not going to college in the fall (and) passed up on some jobs."
Snaquebite
12-05-2009, 08:16
They seem to have reversed this policy only one week after announcing it.
http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=71300&catid=2
SACRAMENTO, CA - One week after the Air Force adopted a strict prohibition of tattoos on the "saluting arm," the new policy has been scrapped.
A spokeswoman for the Air Force Recruiting Service in San Antonio, Christa D'Andrea, said the regulation that took effect Nov. 25 has been dropped and the entire tattoo policy will be reviewed.
"It's an effort to standardize the policy for all members of the Air Force," D'Andrea said.
dadof18x'er
12-05-2009, 08:49
They seem to have reversed this policy only one week after announcing it.
http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=71300&catid=2
SACRAMENTO, CA - One week after the Air Force adopted a strict prohibition of tattoos on the "saluting arm," the new policy has been scrapped.
A spokeswoman for the Air Force Recruiting Service in San Antonio, Christa D'Andrea, said the regulation that took effect Nov. 25 has been dropped and the entire tattoo policy will be reviewed.
"It's an effort to standardize the policy for all members of the Air Force," D'Andrea said.
there must be some wiggle room in these decisions, my daughter was accepted into the Navy with WAY to many tats but she also got a 90 on her ASVAB.:cool:
Utah Bob
12-05-2009, 16:57
there must be some wiggle room in these decisions, my daughter was accepted into the Navy with WAY to many tats but she also got a 90 on her ASVAB.:cool:
It was an Air Force thing. Not real military.:p
Defender968
12-06-2009, 19:16
It was an Air Force thing. Not real military.:p
Just a viable alternative to military service :cool:
1stindoor
12-07-2009, 09:43
It was an Air Force thing. Not real military.:p
Air Force...The world's largest paramilitary organization.
DbeforeD
12-08-2009, 06:48
Haters
:D
~Zoomie Medic
Yeah, haters. I know I’m in the ‘real military’! Now excuse me as I go put the new cover sheets on my TPS reports.
So the Air Farce* is the new Coast Guard/National Guard of my time? :p
Richard's inquisitive $.02 :munchin
* Spelling intentional.
Air Force gloves. Anybody remember those?
Back in the day real soldiers didn't carry umbrellas.
I got a 92 on my asvab and still got the nix. Just read an article about how 75% of texas youths are ineligable, this I will post when I find the link on the web. What I have come to think is we need a fourth branch. Just like when we descussed letting the air force be its own, we need to think of an American branch. If I am reading current doctrine right (counter insurg. fm), the hearts and minds of this population are just as important to this war as any other. Here's hoping for the finial V-day.
Air Force gloves. Anybody remember those?
Back in the day real soldiers didn't carry umbrellas.
NOMAX? Clothe / Leather mix.
I've got several pair, Green and Black. I've never trusted them for real tough work, but I liked them for patroling.
Air Force...The world's largest paramilitary organization.
NO. It's IBM in uniform, followed closely by HP, EDS, and maybe Google.
I was doing some work on Bragg last week and eating lunch at the small PX. I over heard two airmen talking while getting drinks and they were really sad that this food court didn't have the strawberry Fanta. :D
dadof18x'er
12-08-2009, 20:09
I got a 92 on my asvab and still got the nix. Just read an article about how 75% of texas youths are ineligable, this I will post when I find the link on the web. What I have come to think is we need a fourth branch. Just like when we descussed letting the air force be its own, we need to think of an American branch. If I am reading current doctrine right (counter insurg. fm), the hearts and minds of this population are just as important to this war as any other. Here's hoping for the finial V-day.
this link? http://www.star-telegram.com/texas/story/1777090.html
I know I’m in the ‘real military’! Now excuse me as I go put the new cover sheets on my TPS reports.
Now that's funny.
My old partner was in a rotary group and one of his clients was a retired major general in the Air Force. He actually served under general Le May. The president of the rotary group was a retired Marine one star. He asked him if it was okay if the air force general spoke to the group about the bombing of Japan. The Marine general said, "Sure. They were one of our allies, like the British and the French." :D
I was doing some work on Bragg last week and eating lunch at the small PX. I over heard two airmen talking while getting drinks and they were really sad that this food court didn't have the strawberry Fanta. :D
Yeah, I am sure no one in any of the other services ever says things like this!!!!:p
By the way, if we are so bad, why does the Army keep asking for us in droves??? I guess an AF body is better than no body at all.
The Reaper
12-10-2009, 09:04
Yeah, I am sure no one in any of the other services ever says things like this!!!!:p
By the way, if we are so bad, why does the Army keep asking for us in droves??? I guess an AF body is better than no body at all.
I would guess it is because you have all of the airplanes.:D
TR
I would guess it is because you have all of the airplanes.:D
TR
You are right, he who has the toys wins!!!:D
alright4u
12-10-2009, 14:27
Now that's funny.
My old partner was in a rotary group and one of his clients was a retired major general in the Air Force. He actually served under general Le May. The president of the rotary group was a retired Marine one star. He asked him if it was okay if the air force general spoke to the group about the bombing of Japan. The Marine general said, "Sure. He served with are allies, like the British and the French." :D
I suggest some look up the 20th SOS. They lost as many choppers as we lost men.
NOMAX? Clothe / Leather mix.........
Air Force gloves = pockets
Air Force gloves = pockets
Not in this woman's air force. I had a CMSgt as my Shirt when I was a Section Commander. This was one of her pet peeves, which she passed on to me. That, and "My dorms are not the Ramada Inn!!!!" made even funnier when she said it in her heavy Puerto Rican accent!!!
Not in this woman's air force. I had a CMSgt as my Shirt when I was a Section Commander. This was one of her pet peeves, which she passed on to me. That, and "My dorms are not the Ramada Inn!!!!" made even funnier when she said it in her heavy Puerto Rican accent!!!
Dorms? :D :p
Picture it: middle-of-nowhere Bosnia, 1997.
My buddy and I just finished our shift so we hit the gym. :lifter "Rules" were military could only wear BDUs or PT uniform. I was wearing my Naval Aircrew PT gear (only PT "uniform" the Navy had at the time) and my buddy was USAF, so he was wearing an old ratty Harvard sweat shirt and unmatching sweat pants. We finished at the gym and went to the chevapchichi stand for a quick bite and some software.
En route, we were stopped by an Army LtCol who chewed the Air Force Sgt a new one for being out of uniform. My buddy's only comment:
"Sir, I'm in the Air Force. We don't do PT."
The officer was clearly dumbfounded and told us both to get the hell outta there.
Dorms? :D :p
Of course. We don't have chow halls either, but Dining Facilities:rolleyes:
Stealthed
12-10-2009, 21:46
I got a 92 on my asvab and still got the nix. Just read an article about how 75% of texas youths are ineligable, this I will post when I find the link on the web. What I have come to think is we need a fourth branch. Just like when we descussed letting the air force be its own, we need to think of an American branch. If I am reading current doctrine right (counter insurg. fm), the hearts and minds of this population are just as important to this war as any other. Here's hoping for the finial V-day.
Why were you a no-go? (If it's not too personal.) Just asking because I doubt it was because you ASVAB'd a 92...
Of course. We don't have chow halls either, but Dining Facilities:rolleyes:
Why dine when you can chow down?
I don't want to get into a "sibling rivalry" discussion, but in my humble experience, military folks are happier when they are treated like they are in the military.
The best units I have been in spent the most time in the field, had the highest standards, and the hardest training.
That said, thank you for you and your service's unwavering support.
Dozer523
12-18-2009, 07:45
Son Numba One ("The MAJOR . . . and don't you forget it, Dad))* was in Kirkuk in 03 with the CAV. The Army waited patiently for the Air Force to deplane their water pallets. Took awhile cuz the Load Masters were having trouble with the new filtration system for the pool.
Later, the Bradleys would stop outside the FOB gate, waiting for the Leopard-skin Bikini girl to work on her tan around lunch time. We used to think it was nuts that a Bradley had a higher silhouette then an Abrams.
*He was assigned to FT Lewis (North Fort) while I was going through Guard train-up for my deployment. We would occasionally come across each other and he would do just about everything to avoid giving me the opportunity to salute him.) I finally ambushed his young ass. Finally, gave it up. . .:) The house in Stilekum was referred to as the Safe House. Even my PL got to visit.
Why dine when you can chow down?
I don't want to get into a "sibling rivalry" discussion, but in my humble experience, military folks are happier when they are treated like they are in the military.
The best units I have been in spent the most time in the field, had the highest standards, and the hardest training.
That said, thank you for you and your service's unwavering support.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I came in, just as the AF PC was getting under way. Fortunately for me I was raised in an outstanding enlisted household, where my father, when in his role of acting first sergeant, was pretty well known for his wall to wall counseling sessions. He taught me the right way to do things, not the PC way!!!