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In some ways, the updated policy is actually more lenient than past versions. Marines are now allowed to have an “unlimited” amount of tattoos on parts of the body covered by their uniform. Officers, though, are restricted to no more than four tattoos on exposed skin.

Existing bans on offensive or prejudicial designs are still enforced, while any tattoo on the head, neck and “in or around the mouth area” is also precluded. Chest and back tattoos are only allowed if they can be hidden by a “properly fitting crew-neck t-shirt.”

The policy is especially harsh on joints. The elbow has been deemed sacrosanct; no tattoos are allowed within two inches from above and one inch below, effectively barring any art that runs along the full arm. The same goes for the two inches above the wrist bone and the knee.

Arm and leg tattoos, meanwhile, are only allowed if a Marine can fully cover them with their hand. “The measurement will be from the base of the palm to the tip of the fingers and from the outside of the thumb to the outside of the palm,” the document further specifies.

“Our tattoo policy over the years has attempted to balance the individual desires of Marines with the need to maintain the disciplined appereance (sic) expected of our profession,” reads a quote attributed to Neller on the bulletin’s second page, printed below a photo of four armed Marines staring intently into the camera.

The bulletin directs Marines with non-compliant tattoos to report them within 120 days of June 2, to be eligible for grandfathering. Disobedience could jeopardize a Marine’s future assignments or lead to a court-martial.