Marine Corps tattoo policy: where tattoos are allowed

MCBul 1020 allows Marines tattoos anywhere except the head, neck and hands. Lower arm tattoos may not pass the wrist bone, chest and back tattoos must be covered by a crew-neck t-shirt, and the only hand exception is a single band up to 3/8 inch on one finger of each hand.

Marine Corps tattoo policy lives in MCBul 1020, the Marine Corps Tattoo Policy bulletin, rather than in the uniform regulations. That is worth knowing: a bulletin is reissued more often than an order, so check the current one rather than relying on a summary.

The rule is stated by exclusion:

Marines may have tattoos on any area of the body, excluding the head, neck, and hands in accordance with this Bulletin

MCBul 1020, para 4a(1)

The bulletin then defines the edges, which is where most questions actually sit.

On the arms, the boundary is anatomical rather than a measurement:

Lower arm tattoos may extend down no further than a line around the circumference of the wrist measured at the wrist bone

MCBul 1020, para 4a(2)(d)

On the hands, there is exactly one exception:

Tattoos on the hands and fingers are prohibited, with the exception of a single band tattoo of no more than 3/8 of an inch in width on one finger of each hand

MCBul 1020, para 4a(2)(e)

And the hand is defined so the wrist question does not have to be argued: it is the area from the wrist bone to the end of the fingertip.

Chest and back tattoos are permitted but must stay covered:

Tattoos on the chest or back must be covered by wearing a properly fitting crew-neck t-shirt with no portion of the tattoo showing

MCBul 1020, para 4a(2)(c)

Three points that catch people out:

  • UV tattoos are not a loophole. A tattoo visible only under ultra-violet light must still comply with the bulletin.
  • Brands and other body art are held to the same requirements, limits and prohibitions as tattoos.
  • A tattoo that is not specifically prohibited can still cost you an assignment — the bulletin says so directly.

A tattoo that is not specifically prohibited may still prevent future duty assignments

MCBul 1020, para 4a(1)

Content is restricted regardless of placement: tattoos prejudicial to good order and discipline, or of a nature to bring discredit upon the naval service, are prohibited — including drug-related, gang-related, extremist, obscene, indecent, sexist and racist tattoos.

Marines or applicants with tattoos outside the authorised areas may request an exception to policy in writing, under paragraph 5.c of the bulletin.

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