COMDTINST 1000.1F governs Coast Guard standards for tattoos, branding, body piercing, and mutilation for service members and applicants.
View COMDTINST 1000.1F on armypubs.army.mil
It establishes rules for tattoo and brand placement, content, body piercing, jewelry, and body modification. It also addresses grandfathering, disqualification, violations, and waivers.
Applies to: This Instruction applies to all active and reserve service members as well as Coast Guard applicants.
No tattoo, of any type, is authorized on the head, face, neck, hands, within the natural hairline, or inside of the mouth, except as described below.
A single tattoo per hand, no larger than two- and one-half inches in any direction (height/width/diameter), is authorized on the back of the hand.
Eyebrow microblading is authorized for all members.
Tattoos or brands promoting racism, discrimination, indecency, extremism, supremacist philosophies, lawlessness, violence, or containing sexually explicit material are prohibited, regardless of their location on the body.
No piercings, other than those for earrings as described in paragraph 15.a. will be made through the ear, nose, tongue, chin, eyebrow, or any other body part that would be visible while in any uniform.