Marines Say No To Ink

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Marine Corps is no longer allowing troops
who have extra-large tattoos on their arms to serve as recruiters
or security guards at U.S. embassies.
Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Carl Redding said Monday that the
service's top general has extended a regulation on these so-called
"sleeve" tattoos on biceps and forearms.
Redding said Gen. James T. Conway noted in his new order that
recruiters and embassy guards have "significant impact on public
perception" because of their daily dealings with civilians.
Conway had banned the large and often elaborate tattoo designs
in April 2007.
Marines who already had the tattoos were exempt from that ban,
but Conway's new order restricts their assignments.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)