Piercing and the Military
DarkLight
On 1 Nov 1995, Nafana wrote:
> After recently reading a nipple-pierce post from someone who appeared to
> be in the navy- I got to wondering- what is government policy regarding
> piercing and members of the armed-forces?
I'm not certain if there is an "official" policy. Here is my take on the
matter, though:
I would imagine that the Dress and Health codes would be the ones that
could be invoked AGAINST body piercing.
Dress codes tend to only regulate visible jewelry, though. Facial and
multiple ear piercings are pretty much out. Earrings for males, in
uniform and at Army functions, are prohibited unless specifically stated
otherwise. Earrings for females are (I believe) allowed in uniform, one
per ear and they must not be gawdy (huge or dangly). Non-visible
piercings (genital, navel, nipple, etc.) are
in a limbo-state. As long as they can't be seen while in uniform there
isn't much that can be objected to. Yet I'm certain that if it is known
that an enlisted person had body piercings they are subject to ridicule
from other service members and to the contempt of those in charge of them.
That's where health codes might come in...
If a superior were to really see body piercings as a hazard to their
unit (and since homosexuality is generally considered hazardous, who
knows what else may be deemed so?) they might send their soldier to a
military physician. Should the physician decide that the piercing is a
health risk, the soldier can be ORDERED to removed the jewelry. This is
all hypothetical but well within the realm of military possibilities.
While I was in the Army I was fortunate to have been where I was for my
last duty station. I had my nipples pierced while there, and outside of
an occasional joke I had a relatively easy time there. My First Sergeant
knew about my piercings and would even make references to them in
formation: "And remember, the party tonight is a unit function, so no
earrings for you men. Miller is excepted because his can't be seen.
Just keep your shirt on, boy."
Likewise, my roommate had a septum piercing which he kept via a black
septum retainer. People knew he had it in while in uniform, but since it
wasn't visible at the time (I guess this is the exception to the facial
piercing exclusion) he was allowed to keep it. After duty hours and all
weekend he would have his CBR in, if not his homemade chicken bone
"tusk".
He also had a hafada, a PA and a
foreskin piercing as well. He took quite a bit of flack for some of
those: "Man? You got your WHAT pierced? What made you do something that
stupid?" He would come up with witty responses for a while, but
eventually his patience wore thin and he would just ignore the blatantly
ignorant.
Don't know if this is the kind of information you are looking for...
There's probably some military people in here who could pull out the regs
and quote them in here, but the last I knew there were no specific
restrictions to body piercing within the military codes.
----------
Got your hands bound Do unto others
And your head down What has been done to you
And your eyes closed Do unto me now
You look so precious now What has been done -TOOL
Mama Lani
> After recently reading a nipple-pierce post from someone who appeared to
>be in the navy- I got to wondering- what is government policy regarding
>piercing and members of the armed-forces?
No visible piercings allowed. Having said that, certain fields in certain
branches have traditionally gotten different pierces to signify different
things.
However, don't wear an earring on base if you are a male. I know
third-hand of a couple incidents of earrings being yanked out of earlobes
by drill sargeants, etc. If you're not in uniform and off-base, not too
much of a problem, though.
Government policy has nothing to do the military. It's MILITARY policy
you're concerned with--and sometimes I believe the military is wholly
discrete from the government!! ;>
--
* This is Lani Teshima-Miller, posting live from Honolulu, Hawaii on LAVA *
* We paved paradise, put up a parking lot--and now our state govt's broke *
* la...@lava.net--fun stuff; tes...@hawaii.edu--work stuff, tax-supported *
*'Cuz I'm the FAQ maintainer, that's why--buncha FAQs on rec.arts.bodyart *
Rev. Drew
: On 1 Nov 1995, Nafana wrote:
: > After recently reading a nipple-pierce post from someone who appeared to
: > be in the navy- I got to wondering- what is government policy regarding
: > piercing and members of the armed-forces?
: I'm not certain if there is an "official" policy. Here is my take on the
: matter, though:
I do not know if this a Marine wide policy, or limited solely to Quantico, but
some of my clients have informed me that any Body Piercings are now violations of
Marine regulations.
As for other branches of the Military, I am told that the powers that be can
conncievably charge you with Destruction of Government Property.
--
Rev. Drew Perforations Piercing Studio
perf...@access.digex.net 900 M St., N.W. Washington, D.C.
http://www.access.digex.net/~perforat (202) 289-8863
boy brent
DarkLight <demi...@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu> wrote:
:If a superior were to really see body piercings as a hazard to their
:knows what else may be deemed so?)
Homosexuality is *officially* considered hazardous. This opinion
is by no means general.
--
boy brent |
bca...@cse.ogi.edu |
Yn3 Brent White
military. As "Mama" Lani said, we can have pierces, just not visible while in
uniform. Anyway, have worn earrings on base (on mistake) and never had a
serious problem. Most people are understnading that it is easy to forget and
will just remind you before being too ...for lack of better words, "much of an
ass" about it. Nuff bout the military (I'm getting out in 6 mos). Tonite is
Dennis Rodman's season debut with the Bulls and I can't wait to see what new
additions he's gotten in the off-season. He is the king!
Kreepy
INET: 0...@pnet16.navy.mil
Ynsn Chris Williams
can see I'm in the navy also, but I to have body jewerly- nipple ring. This
is how I see it, what they don't know won't hurt them. They even have
something about Tattoos, they consider it to be destruction of government
property, but thats never stopped me, 5 and still going.
Laters
Will
INET: n1...@pnet16.navy.mil
tom...@primenet.com
DarkLight <demi...@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu> wrote:
>
>On 2 Nov 1995, Rev. Drew wrote:
>
>> DarkLight (demi...@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu) wrote:
>>
>> : On 1 Nov 1995, Nafana wrote:
>>
>> : > After recently reading a nipple-pierce post from someone who appeared
to
>> : > be in the navy- I got to wondering- what is government policy
regarding
>> : > piercing and members of the armed-forces?
>>
>> : I'm not certain if there is an "official" policy. Here is my take on the
>> : matter, though:
>>
>> I do not know if this a Marine wide policy, or limited solely to Quantico,
but
>> some of my clients have informed me that any Body Piercings are now
violations of
>> Marine regulations.
>>
>> As for other branches of the Military, I am told that the powers that be
can
>> conncievably charge you with Destruction of Government Property.
>
>forgotten about the "damaging government property" reg. Someone more
>familiar with military codes could (once again) shed more light upon
>this, but this is what I had _heard_ while in the Army. It seems that a
>soldier may be punished for damaging government property if there is
>negligent or willful injury to military personnel, either to one's self
>or to another soldier. Supposedly this could be from just about
>anything, from getting sunburned up to brawling or gettting tattooed. I
>never found out it this was an actual regulation, nor did it really
>concern me.
>
>I was in the Army for 3+ years (not long by any means) and
>during that time had seen some really stupid stuff going on. Fights,
>infections due to tattooing (or lack of care) and even suicide attempts.
>Out of all of that I had never once heard of anyone actually being hit
>with the "damaging" regulation. Either it's a myth or it's seldom
>enforced. Other branches may enforce it more than the Army did/does. I
>leave the subject open for others to comment on.
>
>Thanks for bringing up the point, Rev. *tip o' the stubborn hat*
>
>----------
>Got your hands bound Do unto others
>And your head down What has been done to you
>And your eyes closed Do unto me now
>You look so precious now What has been done -TOOL
>
Well speaking as a Former CID officer, I can tell you that it is enforced...
You really have to step on it ( if you know what I mean ) for them to
file the charges, but I have seen it happen..
Jeremy Pitzer
According to the U.S Navy Uniform Regs:
"Earrings. While in uniform not authorized. Additionally, earrings are
not authorized with civilian attire when in a duty status or while
in/aboad any ship, craft, aircraft, or in any military vihicle or
within any base or other place under military jurisdiction... No other
atricles shall be attached to or through the ear, nose, or any other
body part."
I guess I'll just have to keep my shirt on. What they don't know
won't hurt me.
jp...@pixi.com
