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Tattoo Thread - including current policy [MERGED]

Tattoos.....A long and constantly asked topic.  Please read at your leisure:

http://army.ca/forums/threads/869.325






http://lmgtfy.com/?q=army.ca%2C+tattoos


 
READ

Posted by Sgt Lean

Sergeant Laen said:
To clear up the many questions about Tattoo's that keep appearing.  Recruiters and File Managers cannot tell you if your tattoo will or will not be approved upon your recruiting process.  The only people involved in that are the MCC, UPSO, CFRC CO, RPSO, CFRG CWO & CFRG Commander (acronyms defined below).

If you do not have a tattoo and you are thinking about getting one - your best bet is to hold off.  As a Recruiter I will not tell you not to get one, but when you are trying to join an organization with a tattoo policy your best bet is to hold off.

STEP 1

Initial assessment of eligibility by the Military Career Counsellor (MCC). When there is no doubt that the applicant is in compliance with the CAF tattoo policy, the MCC can continue processing the application. When in doubt, the MCC remains the main point of contact for applicant counselling and must take the following steps:
a. During the eligibility interview, the MCC must ask the applicant whether they have any tattoos and if so must ask the applicant for a description of all their tattoos, as well as their meaning and location, as set out in the interview guide;
b. The MCC must record the information concerning all tattoos in the interview guide;
c. When in doubt, the MCC can ask an applicant to take photos of his/her tattoos for evaluation purposes;
d. When in doubt, the MCC must do research to determine what the tattoos represent;
e. If still in doubt, the MCC must ask the UPSO (Unit Personnel Selection Officer) for his/her opinion;
f. The decision must be recorded; and
g. If the file must be sent to the CFRC CO for a final decision, the MCC must fill out the CFRG Tattoo Evaluation Request form and send it to the UPSO.

STEP 2

Eligibility evaluation and recommendation by the UPSO.  If required by the MCC, the UPSO must take the following steps:
a. Make sure that the MCC has considered and evaluated all compensating factors and/or all circumstances;
b. Review all CFRG Tattoo Evaluation Request forms to verify accuracy, perform quality control (QC) and verify the justification including any additional research regarding the meaning of a tattoo;
c. The CFRC CO must refer, via the UPSO, to precedents before making a final decision. All similar tattoos that have previously been evaluated and denied by a CFRC CO or the Comd CFRG are considered precedents. The CFRC CO can ask for the RPSO’s opinion before making a final decision;
d. Ensure that relevant notes have been written in the General Comments section (if applicable) and that the photos have been scanned;
e. Write his/her own evaluation in the general comments section (opinion, future actions if applicable);
f. Forward approval requests to the CFRC CO, in cases where there is serious doubt at to the application of the tattoo policy.  The UPSO can ask the RPSO’s opinion before submitting the file to the CFRC CO;
g. If the applicant wants to appeal, the UPSO must send the approval request to the Comd CFRG, via the RPSO;

STEP 3

Review and recommendation of the RPSO. When a request is sent to the RPSO, via the UPSO, for the Comd CFRG’s consideration, the RPSO will conduct an analysis and make recommendations, taking into account the research conducted, the descriptions and meanings provided, including compensating factors, and will forward the request to the CFRG CWO

STEP 4

Review and recommendation of the CFRG CWO. As senior advisor to the Comd CFRG on matters of dress, the CFRG CWO can make a recommendation to the Comd CFRG.

STEP 5

Final and binding decision of the Comd CFRG.

**** NOTE: No further questions will be answered about the tattoo policy and this thread is going to be locked.  The above information is accurate as of 14-Sep-2016 and may not be 100% accurate at any time past that date ****
 
Reply #561,
"If you do not have a tattoo and you are thinking about getting one - your best bet is to hold off.  As a Recruiter I will not tell you not to get one, but when you are trying to join an organization with a tattoo policy your best bet is to hold off."

And, if there is a possibility you may one day Release from the CAF and go through the Application Process with another employer, to perhaps consider the above advice.
 
This is general advice, that applies to many things, not just tattoos:

During the course of one's career in the armed forces, there will come a time when eccentricity and having an interesting and different personality will be admired, remembered and possibly rewarded (even if that only means not getting into too much crap).

THE RECRUITING PROCESS AND BASIC TRAINING ARE NOT THAT TIME.

Get in, get settled and prove yourself professionally before letting your personality shine.  The goal is to be "that guy" who everybody remembers fondly and tells great stories about, not "that guy" who gets unceremoniously punted at Week 2 and whose name is forgotten by the end of the course.
 
So I've been in for two years now and am thinking about getting a piercing well on christmas leave and was looking for some insight. I was just wondering if anyone else here has got a piercing well on leave and how that worked out for them? how did you keep the holes open at work, because I know even piercings that have been there for over a year can heal when not in use. Any info would help.

thanks
 
delta_19 said:
So I've been in for two years now and am thinking about getting a piercing well on christmas leave and was looking for some insight. I was just wondering if anyone else here has got a piercing well on leave and how that worked out for them? how did you keep the holes open at work, because I know even piercings that have been there for over a year can heal when not in use. Any info would help.

thanks

The key factor that you haven't mentioned is location. Piercings on the nipple or genitalia, while technically in violation of the dress policy, in practice they are unlikely to be noticed or detract from a professional military appearance. Noses and eyebrows, on the other hand, are a pretty obvious violation of the rules.
 
delta_19 said:
So I've been in for two years now and am thinking about getting a piercing well on christmas leave and was looking for some insight. I was just wondering if anyone else here has got a piercing well on leave and how that worked out for them? how did you keep the holes open at work, because I know even piercings that have been there for over a year can heal when not in use. 

See also,

Body Piercings 
http://army.ca/forums/threads/66071.25
3 pages.
 
delta_19 said:
would be a single lip piercing.

Don't waste your money. The first time you go on an extended course, exercise, or operation, it will heal over.
 
AVS labs the chances of me getting a deployment in during the remainder of my contract is very small.
 
delta_19 said:
AVS labs the chances of me getting a deployment in during the remainder of my contract is very small.

Then why not wait until you get out?
 
A lot can happen in three years.  I wouldn't discount deployment quite yet.
 
Are you tell your base that you got a tattoo during xmas break or "let sleeping does lie"? Its healed and "non-offensive" so....

Thanks
OS FLAE
 
FlyLikeAnEagle said:
Are you tell your base that you got a tattoo during xmas break or "let sleeping does lie"? Its healed and "non-offensive" so....

Thanks
OS FLAE

You don’t need to inform your chain of command every time you get a tattoo. 

If you are worried about it, perhaps you should have sought information prior to getting a tattoo.
 
Pickle Rick said:
You don’t need to inform your chain of command every time you get a tattoo. 

If you are worried about it, perhaps you should have sought information prior to getting a tattoo.

Just making sure.

Thanks.
 
FlyLikeAnEagle said:
Are you tell your base that you got a tattoo during xmas break or "let sleeping does lie"? Its healed and "non-offensive" so....

BODY ADORNMENT

9. Body Tattoos and Body-Piercing. As of September 26th, 2012, members are not to acquire any tattoos that are visible on the head, face or ears. Additionally, members shall not acquire tattoos that are visible either in military uniform or in civilian clothing that could be deemed to be offensive (e.g., pornographic, blasphemous, racist or containing vulgar language or design) or otherwise reflect discredit on the CAF.
http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/pub/ins-265/CH2-POLICY-AND-APPEARANCE.pdf
 
mariomike said:
BODY ADORNMENT

9. Body Tattoos and Body-Piercing. As of September 26th, 2012, members are not to acquire any tattoos that are visible on the head, face or ears. Additionally, members shall not acquire tattoos that are visible either in military uniform or in civilian clothing that could be deemed to be offensive (e.g., pornographic, blasphemous, racist or containing vulgar language or design) or otherwise reflect discredit on the CAF.
http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/pub/ins-265/CH2-POLICY-AND-APPEARANCE.pdf

Sorry to tell you, but the policy has changed. It was updated I believe last September.

The location of tattoos has not though. I don't have access to the latest directives right now.

Regards
 
Nerf herder said:
Sorry to tell you, but the policy has changed. It was updated I believe last September.

The location of tattoos has not though. I don't have access to the latest directives right now.

Regards

Thanks. The one I posted is dated: 2016-07-12

Perhaps someone will post a more recent one.
 
Nerf herder said:
Sorry to tell you, but the policy has changed. It was updated I believe last September.

The location of tattoos has not though. I don't have access to the latest directives right now.

Regards

I don't think so, there's no CANFORGEN about the policy change.
 
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