U.S. Army relaxes strict tattoo policy

… relaxing strict regulations that came out just last year. ABC-7’s andrew j. polk is live with our top story. rick, it wasn’t an april fools joke. the sargent major of the army clarified today the army is reversing course … letting soldiers get tattoos anywhere on their body as long they are not in their hands, wrists, necks, and face. “natural sound: tattoo needle gun buzzing” around this time last year, the army published tough new regulations… limiting visible tatoos soldiers could get… and even preventing soldiers that already had clearly visible tattoos from becoming officers. according to the army times, the change comes from the sargent major of the army, who listened to feedback from soldiers. i visited local tattoo shops in el paso, and the owners are happy the army is backtracking: richard rodriguez, tattoo artist: “It’s a decent pick up considering when you’re doing between 10 and 12, and now we’ll be up to around 15 to 18, yeah, that’s an extra $400 to $500. So it does, it makes a nice difference.” rick — one thing to point out. soldiers are still not allowed to get offensive or derogatory tattoos … regardless of wether those tattoos can be covered up. coming up at 6, we’ll hear more from tattoo shops and soldiers on what these changes could mean for the army.

the united states army is changing course when it comes to heavily regulating the number of tattoos a soldier can get … and where on his or her body they can get them. as abc-7’s andrew j. polk reports, it could create a boost in soldier morale and for local businesses: :20 :33 nats – tatoo machine tight they say a tatto is forever… but apparently the army’s strict regulations on tattoos on service members is not. doing an about face, the army just announced it’s easing up on those tattoo rules. it’s news that’s buzzing with ink lovers… Nats of buzzing tattoos and el apso’s economy. nats – tatoo machine wide “located just right across us-54 from ft. bliss itself, tattoo parlors like tom fooleries tattoos here say they didn’t see a big change in business even when the tougher regulations were in place” “We didn’t really see difference as far as how many people were walking through the door that are military. The only difference we really saw was where they were, the location of the tattoo. More of these pieces went on the ribs than on the arms, you know, and the things they were doing before.” last year’s regulations cracked down on tattoos visible in p-t attire, which is shorts and a t-shirt. in the near future, a soldier is o-k as long as its covered by the full uniform and its not offensive or derogatory. the change in types of tatoos could bring more business at tattoo shops.. and it could impact recruiting for the army overall. “Well obviously, people who already have full sleeves, if they change it, will be able to look at joing.” ” couple people told me they want to get sleeves or whatever. But i don’t judge people. I’m just not that big into tattoos, so.” andrew j polk, abc-7. and according to the army times, the changes are expected to become official in the “very nea future.”