SUBJECT: INTERIM CHANGE (IC) NOTIFICATION 98-1 TO AFI 36-2903,

DRESS AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF AIR FORCE PERSONNEL



1. IC 98-1 IS APPROVED AND WILL BE POSTED ON THE AF PUBLISHING SITE WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AT HTTP://AFPUBS.HQ.AF.MIL

AND ON THE AIR FORCE PUBLISHING DISTRIBUTION LIBRARY (AFPDL).



IT IS MANDATORY FOR PAPER-BASED USERS TO POST IC'S.



2. IC 98-1 IMPLEMENTS THE NEW AIR FORCE POLICY ON TATTOOS AND BODY PIERCING IN AFI 36-2903, TABLE 2.5, ITEMS SIX, SEVEN, AND NOTES. THE AIR FORCE HAS A LONG-STANDING POLICY PROHIBITING INDIVIDUALS WITH EXCESSIVE OR OFFENSIVE TATTOOS FROM JOINING THE AIR FORCE. HOWEVER, THE AIR FORCE HAS NOT HAD A POLICY RESTRICTING THE DISPLAY OF TATTOOS, BRANDS, AND BODY PIERCING WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY. SIMPLY STATED, AIR FORCE MEMBERS ARE ADVISED TO REFRAIN FROM OBTAINING TATTOOS AND BRANDS OR FROM PIERCING THEIR BODY BECAUSE OF ASSOCIATED HEALTH RISKS AND THE FADDISH IMAGE THEY PRESENT. SHOULD AIR FORCE MEMBERS ELECT TO OBTAIN TATTOOS OR TO ENGAGE IN BODY PIERCING, THEY MUST ADHERE TO THE STANDARDS OUTLINED IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS.



3. TATOOS

(A) UNAUTHORIZED (CONTENT): TATTOOS/BRANDS ANYWHERE ON THE BODY THAT ARE OBSCENE, ADVOCATE SEXUAL, RACIAL, ETHNIC, OR RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION ARE PROHIBITED IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM. TATTOOS/BRANDS PREJUDICIAL TO GOOD ORDER/DISCIPLINE, OR OF A NATURE THAT TENDS TO BRING DISCREDIT UPON THE AIR FORCE ARE PROHIBITED IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM. THIS POLICY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE AIR FORCE ACCESSIONS POLICY. ANY MEMBER OBTAINING UNAUTHORIZED TATTOOS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ITEMS TO COVER UNAUTHORIZED TATTOOS IS NOT AN OPTION. MEMBERS FAILING TO REMOVE UNAUTHORIZED TATTOOS IN A TIMELY MANNER WILL BE SUBJECT TO INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION.



(B) INAPPROPRIATE (MILITARY IMAGE):

EXCESSIVE TATTOOS/BRANDS WILL NOT BE EXPOSED OR VISIBLE (INCLUDES VISIBLE THROUGH THE UNIFORM) WHILE IN UNIFORM. EXCESSIVE IS DEFINED AS ANY TATTOOS/BRANDS THAT EXCEED 1/4 COVERAGE OF THE EXPOSED BODY PART AND THOSE VISIBLE ABOVE THE COLLARBONE WHEN WEARING AN OPEN-COLLAR UNIFORM. MEMBERS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DISPLAY EXCESSIVE TATTOOS THAT WOULD DETRACT FROM AN APPROPRIATE PROFESSIONAL IMAGE WHILE IN UNIFORM. COMMANDERS SHOULD USE THESE GUIDELINES IN DETERMINING APPROPRIATE MILITARY IMAGE AND ACCEPTABILITY OF TATTOOS DISPLAYED BY MEMBERS IN UNIFORM. AIR FORCE MEMBERS WITH EXISTING TATTOOS NOT MEETING AN ACCEPTABLE MIITARY IMAGE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO



(1) MAINTAIN COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE TATTOOS USING CURRENT UNIFORM ITEMS (E.G. LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT/BLOUSE, PANTS/SLACKS, DARK HOSIERY, ETC.) OR

(2) VOLUNTEER TO REMOVE TATTOO(S). DEPENDING

ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES, COMMANDERS MAY SEEK AIR FORCE MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR VOLUNTARY TATTOO REMOVAL. FAILURE TO OBSERVE THESE MANDATORY PROVISIONS AND PROHIBITIONS BY ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE MEMBERS, USAFR MEMBERS ON ACTIVE DUTY OR INACTIVE DUTY FOR TRAINING AND ANG MEMBERS IN FEDERAL SERVICE, IS A VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 92, UCMJ.



(C) MEMBERS WHO RECEIVE TATTOOS/BRANDS NOT MEETING THESE STANDARDS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE INTERIM CHANGE ARE REQUIRED TO INITIATE REMOVAL OF SUCH TATTOOS/BRANDS UPON NOTIFICATION BY THEIR COMMANDER AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE (MAY NOT USE AIR FORCE MEDICAL CENTERS FOR REMOVAL). MEMBERS NOT COMPLYING WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH AIR FORCE STANDARDS AND MAY BE INVOLUNTARILY SEPARATED.



4. BODY PIERCING

(A) IN UNIFORM: MEMBERS ARE PROHIBITED FROM

ATTACHING, AFFIXING OR DISPLAYING

OBJECTS, ARTICLES, JEWELRY OR ORNAMENTATION TO OR THROUGH THE EAR, NOSE, TONGUE, OR ANY EXPOSED BODY PART, (INCLUDES VISIBLE THROUGH THE UNIFORM). EXCEPTION: FEMALES ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR ONE SMALL, SPHERICAL, CONSERVATIVE, DIAMOND, GOLD, WHITE PEARL, OR SILVER PIERCED/CLIP EARRING PER EARLOBE. EARRING SHOULD FIT TIGHTLY WITHOUT EXTENDING BELOW THE EARLOBE (EXCEPTION: CONNECTING BAND ON CLIP EARRINGS), AND THE EARRING WORN IN EACH EARLOBE MUST MATCH.



(B) IN CIVILIAN ATTIRE WHILE ON OFFICIAL DUTY: MEMBERS ARE PROHIBITED FROM ATTACHING, AFFIXING OR

DISPLAYING OBJECTS, ARTICLES, JEWELRY OR ORNAMENTATION TO OR THROUGH THE EAR, NOSE, TONGUE, OR ANY EXPOSED BODY PART (INCLUDES VISIBLE THROUGH CLOTHING). EXCEPTION: FEMALES ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR ONE SMALL, SPHERICAL, CONSERVATIVE, DIAMOND, GOLD, WHITE PEARL, OR SILVER PIERCED/CLIP EARRING PER EARLOBE. EARRING SHOULD FIT TIGHTLY WITHOUT EXTENDING BELOW THE EARLOBE (EXCEPTION: CONNECTING BAND ON CLIP EARRINGS).



(C) IN CIVILIAN ATTIRE OFF DUTY

ON A MILITARY INSTALLATION: MEMBERS ARE PROHIBITED FROM ATTACHING, AFFIXING OR DISPLAYING OBJECTS, ARTICLES, JEWELRY OR ORNAMENTATION TO OR THROUGH THE EAR, NOSE, TONGUE, OR ANY EXPOSED BODY PART (INCLUDES VISIBLE THROUGH CLOTHING).EXCEPTION: PIERCING OF EARLOBES BY WOMEN IS ALLOWED, BUT SHOULD NOT BE EXTREME OR EXCESSIVE. THE TYPE AND STYLE OF EARRINGS WORN BY WOMEN ON A MILITARY INSTALLATION SHOULD BE CONSERVATIVE AND KEPT WITHIN SENSIBLE LIMITS.



(D) THERE ARE SITUATIONS IN WHICH THE COMMANDER MAY RESTRICT THE WEAR OF NON-VISIBLE BODY ORNAMENTS. THESE SITUATIONS INCLUDE ANY BODY ORNAMENTATION THAT INTERFERES WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MEMBER'S MILITARY DUTIES. THE FACTORS TO BE EVALUATED IN MAKING THIS DETERMINATION INCLUDE,BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: IMPAIR THE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE OPERATION OF WEAPONS, MILITARY EQUIPMENT, OR MACHINERY;POSE A HEALTH OR SAFETY HAZARD TO THE WEARER OR OTHERS; OR INTERFERE WITH THE PROPER WEAR OF SPECIAL OR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING OR EQUIPMENT (EXAMPLES: HELMETS, FLACK JACKET, FLIGHT SUITS, CAMOUFLAGED UNIFORMS, GAS MASKS, WET SUITS, AND CRASH RESCUE EQUIPMENT).



5. INSTALLATION OR HIGHER COMMANDERS MAY IMPOSE MORE RESTRICTIVE STANDARDS FOR TATTOOS/BRANDS AND BODY ORNAMENTS, ON OR OFF DUTY, IN THOSE LOCATIONS WHERE AIR FORCE-WIDE STANDARDS MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE TOADDRESS CULTURAL SENSITIVITIES (E.G.; OVERSEAS)OR MISSION REQUIREMENTS (E.G.; BASIC TRAINING ENVIRONMENTS).





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