The Air Force and Space Force are now allowing tattoos on the neck and hands, a policy change aimed at bringing younger talent into the ranks as the Air Force recovers from one of its toughest recruiting years in recent history.
Under the new policy, airmen and Guardians are allowed to have one tattoo on each hand and one tattoo on the back of the neck; they cannot exceed one inch or portray obscene, racist or violent symbols. Previously, the services allowed only ring tattoos limited to a single band.
“The Department of the Air Force is committed to recruiting talented and qualified individuals, while retaining the experienced Airmen and Guardians currently serving,” it said in a Wednesday press release. “One of the leading barriers currently being tackled is the increased prevalence of hand and neck tattoos among America's youth.”
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The policy revision comes as the number of people with tattoos has steadily grown during the last decade, while interest and eligibility for young Americans to join the ranks have dwindled.
A 2019 Ipsos poll showed that more Americans have tattoos than in early 2012, detailing that 30% of Americans have at least one tattoo, up from 21% in 2012.
Tattoos have hardly been the only hindrance to recruiting. Military.com reported last year that a Pentagon study showed that 77% of young…
