sailors and tattoos

[CarolJ * Courtney's Mom *]

I know that sailors and tattoos go hand and hand.... just wondering how other moms out there are feeling about this?

added after discussion started:

...she is wanting to get tats that signify members of the family, I know it's her choice , the problem I have is placement. one on ankle and one on top of foot. they are coverable as far as the Navy is concerned but what about when she gets out or wants to dress up in a dress and strappy heels or just shorts and flip-flops. Guess i'm just old fashion.. granted I have thought about it for myself, even went into a shop and talked to the artist, just couldn't bring myself to find something that i wanted on my body for the rest of my life, covered or not.
I know it's her life and her body, and if one of my two sons wanted one later in life i probably wouldn't have such a problem with it.... just the momma of my babygirl coming out in me i guess.

[JANIE HAZELBAKER]

My son has 9 tattoos total, this includes his whole back has wings. They count as 2 tats. The one on his leg he designed himself

[Anti M]

I love the ankhs and the Eye of Ra. Hubby and I both have an ankh tatt.

[Sandy S]

My DH always told our 4 DC (2 DS in NAVy and 2 DD) that if they ever got a tatoo he would sand it off with the sander. They were young when he told them that (6-7) They are all now in their mid-late 20s and no tats. It is a huge family joke among us. We are against them. Big risk for getting something nowadays if they don't go to the right shop.

[NavyMom(Robin)]

Appaling in uniform and degrades the service? That's a little harsh....I would say at least 1/2 the military has a tattoo of some kind....to say they are degrading their service....when they put their life on the line for us every day.....well that was a little more than I could stomach.....and no my Sailor doesn't have any tattoo's .....yet...

[April , PNM of Tyler]

Amen Robin........

[wendy]

My daughters says Someday and it stands for alot of things but one is peace on earth...... Someday. Im
not a big fan but feel everyone has a right to expression after all we are the land of the free.
My daughter got her tattoo before going into the service.

[Anti M]

Tattoos within regulations are an expression of what makes this country great, freedom of expression. I'm ex-Navy and I don't think it degrades the service one bit. And as for old Navy ... excuuuuse me, there are more sailors with tattoos now than I ever saw in my day, or even my dad's time. Nice ones too, far more artistic and professional ink than I've ever seen.

[Lori (AKA Lu-Lu)]

My son had a small tattoo on his upper arm when he joined. It was a trinity sign and i was not happy about it but at least it had meaning. However, when he was in San Diego for some training he came home with a squid that ran from his forearm to his upper arm just below the trinity. i was devastated. i had heard that if they have a tattoo that shows in a short sleave shirt thay can never advance past cheif petty officer. i do not know if that is true or not. i began to search for answers from th Bible. There is an awesome website called Sacred Ink tatoos and the Bible. The Bible is very clear that we are not supposed to mar our bodies but it is definitely referring to cults and sacreligous reasons. i aslo feared it may hinder him getting a job when he is out of the service. Who knows. So many young people have them these days it will be difficult to find someone who does not have one.

[April , PNM of Tyler]

I am not against tattoos, as long as they are tasteful. My husband and I have a couple and actuallly were going to get our oldest one for his 18th birthday. When the recruiter asked if he had any he said no, but mom and dad are getting me one for my b-day next week. He said wait until after BC. Mine is on top of one foot and the other is on the outside of my leg just above my ankle. This is 2008 now people, they aren't that bad.....

[Lynda (Sailors Jeremy & Gregg]

One of my sons has a ton of tatoos which has eliminated some shore duty billets that could have been available to him. The reason . . . that's not the image the navy wants to project anymore. My other son doesn't have any tatoos and was told by his command that any tatoos had to be preapproved and the location determined prior to getting one. I know for a fact that some of the younger sailors get them over seas, but there is a penalty they will pay if the command finds out. Trust that your son or daughter will make a good choice and live with whatever they decide.

[Sonya Turner]

My son started getting his tatoos in the Navy. Our only request was that he keep the tatoos in places that cannot be seen when he is in civilian clothes for future use and job interviewing. So far he has complied with that and now that he is a new Vet he is pleased with this decision. Try and talk you kids into tatooing only in areas that cannot be seen in civies.

[Anna-Andrew's Mom!]

Hi, It really doesn't matter what you say to them, and how much advice you give to them. They are going to do what they want to do because they feel like they are independant and it's their money. I told my son, before he went in, please don't get a tattoo. 2 weeks before his 19th Birthday, he got the tattoo and kept it a secret for about 2 months. We discussed when he's 40, 50, 60..is he still going to love that tattoo, his response is yeah i will. So sometime we just need to let them make their decisions and let them live with it, even though we are against the tattoos. What we need to enforce to them is if they are going to get a tattoo they should go to a reputable place where the equipment being used is clean and so that they don't contract something. Good Luck...I'm living with my 19 year old and he has to live his ugly tattoo.