Disqualified for scarification on wrist

[MarineInMaking]

Hey, I don't really know how forums work so I apologize in advanced if i'm breaking any rules or if this is in the wrong category.

Long story short i have been disqualified from enlistment for a ridiculous reason. I have a design on my wrist that is from scarification. It's not a tattoo because there is no ink but it was done by a tattoo gun with no ink. This disqualified me because they said it was a tattoo. You can barely see it and they wouldn't have even noticed it if i wouldn't have pointed it out.

I have pictures of it here
http://omegaxea.deviantart.com/

If anybody can tell me if there is ANYTHING i can do please reply. I'm desperate too get into the marines and this is the ONLY thing holding me back. I scored 82nd percentile on the practice ASVAB and have zero health issues. If anybody can give me some information it will be GREATLY appreciated

[Zulu 36]

Hey, I don't really know how forums work so I apologize in advanced if i'm breaking any rules or if this is in the wrong category.

Long story short i have been disqualified from enlistment for a ridiculous reason. I have a design on my wrist that is from scarification. It's not a tattoo because there is no ink but it was done by a tattoo gun with no ink. This disqualified me because they said it was a tattoo. You can barely see it and they wouldn't have even noticed it if i wouldn't have pointed it out.

I have pictures of it here
http://omegaxea.deviantart.com/

If anybody can tell me if there is ANYTHING i can do please reply. I'm desperate too get into the marines and this is the ONLY thing holding me back. I scored 82nd percentile on the practice ASVAB and have zero health issues. If anybody can give me some information it will be GREATLY appreciated

Two things: #1 - You need to complete your profile. #2 - this belongs in the Ask A Marine thread in Poolee Hall.

[MarineInMaking]

ok sorry i just made this, i've never done forums before.

[USMC2571]

hmmmmm

[USNAviator]

hmmmmm

Odd but true Dave.

BTW my daughter use to post some of her art work on Deviantart. First time I saw the link, I thought it said deviant tart, nearly hit the roof

[USMC2571]

No, I mean, the "disqualification for a ridiculous reason" part.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarification

As well as the idea that scarification is on a completely different level than tattoos.

But he just posted this in the Ask A Marine section. I wonder why one out of a hundred reads the rules first. And they know they should, or else they would not state flat out that they apologize if this is in the wrong place, etc
So perhaps you have more patience than I do, Commander.
I am trying to understand the fascination with tattoos and body art, but I guess I'm just out of touch with modern times.
Thankfully.

[Zulu 36]

That's a tattoo in a no-no place as far as the Marine Corps is concerned. Did you show them this thing at MEPS, or the recruiters? Because at MEPS they would probably see it during the physical and the recruiters would be mad at you for not telling them.

What is the design anyway? The photos are too out-of-focus.

You can ask the recruiters if they will ask for a waiver, but they may not bother. The Corps is full and will be downsizing soon. If the recruiters are making mission on kids without any non-regulation tats, they probably won't bother trying for a tat waiver. Or, they know their boss up the line will deny it anyway. So they figure why bother and tick off the boss?

Happy you got it now?

[MarineInMaking]

well i apologize if it seems strange too you, it just seems a little strange too me that a perfectly healthy and bright young man would be disqualified for such a small thing. The whole reason behind the tattoo rule is so that the corps. looks more professional (or so I've been told) which in this case, it's completely invisible too the naked eye unless pointed out and looked at closely under good lighting.

I'm looking for information, not judgment or your opinions.

[MarineInMaking]

That's a tattoo in a no-no place as far as the Marine Corps is concerned. Did you show them this thing at MEPS, or the recruiters? Because at MEPS they would probably see it during the physical and the recruiters would be mad at you for not telling them.

What is the design anyway? The photos are too out-of-focus.

You can ask the recruiters if they will ask for a waiver, but they may not bother. The Corps is full and will be downsizing soon. If the recruiters are making mission on kids without any non-regulation tats, they probably won't bother trying for a tat waiver. Or, they know their boss up the line will deny it anyway. So they figure why bother and tick off the boss?

Happy you got it now?

that's as in focus as the camera could get the design, it's extremely difficult too see as it healed up mostly, it's been there since i was 16. The recruiter tried too get a waiver with the reasoning that it could be considered a "removed tattoo" but it was denied
and it's just a tribal design with a line wrapping around the underside of my wrist

[USNAviator]

No, I mean, the "disqualification for a ridiculous reason" part.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarification

As well as the idea that scarification is on a completely different level than tattoos.

But he just posted this in the Ask A Marine section. I wonder why one out of a hundred reads the rules first. And they know they should, or else they would not state flat out that they apologize if this is in the wrong place, etc
So perhaps you have more patience than I do, Commander.
I am trying to understand the fascination with tattoos and body art, but I guess I'm just out of touch with modern times.
Thankfully.

Good research Dave as usual and yes I did notice a dup post in Ask a Marine. But I think the powers that be made a correct decission. To me a tattoo is a coloring process while scarification is just as suggested, a scaring process that perhaps is even more damaging.

Tattoos don't bother me, remember I'm Navy but I personally don't have one but to get one anywhere that cannot be covered, such as your face is idiotic. Doesn't Mike Tyson look normal to you??

[Zulu 36]

well i apologize if it seems strange too you, it just seems a little strange too me that a perfectly healthy and bright young man would be disqualified for such a small thing. The whole reason behind the tattoo rule is so that the corps. looks more professional (or so I've been told) which in this case, it's completely invisible too the naked eye unless pointed out and looked at closely under good lighting.

I'm looking for information, not judgment or your opinions.

Well, you're getting information, just not the information you want. If you really want to be a Marine, get used to people making judgements or rendering opinions about you. As many wanna-be's have been told here, being a Marine is a contact sport. If you can't hack criticism here, you darned sure won't hack it in the Corps.

[MarineInMaking]

Well, you're getting information, just not the information you want. If you really want to be a Marine, get used to people making judgements or rendering opinions about you. As many wanna-be's have been told here, being a Marine is a contact sport. If you can't hack criticism here, you darned sure won't hack it in the Corps.

I apologize if I seem a little sensitive, it's just my whole future depends on getting into the Marines. I assure that I'll take any good news along with the bad, however i think the thread was getting a little off topic when the debate of whether scarification is considered a tattoo or normal. That's not the information i'm looking for.

Again i'm new too forums and apologize for posting under the wrong category, I've read the rules now (didn't see them before)

I'm trying not too sound like an *******, but i'm an ******* by nature so apologies.

[USMC2571]

Actually, why don't you just tell your recruiter that the rules are BS
The information you are looking for you already found out from your recruiter.
What you are looking for are the answers you would like to hear, but we don't have those.
And you described it as scarification, which as the Google article indicated, is not all that far from tattoos, so I am suggesting to you that that is why you were disqualified.
Please don't worry about getting off topic, as scarification and tattoos are similar in some ways, as evidenced by your own description of it.
You're not being blindly criticized. You're making statements. We are addressing those statements.
Such as, a "ridiculous reason", as if you are in a much better position to judge what Corps standards should be than the Corps itself.
But we get this all the time. Quite a few young folks are squared away and courteous and respectful.
You have to ask yourself if you are like them.

[USNAviator]

I posted this a few days ago


"“A Marine with tattoos doesn’t mean you’re a bad Marine,” said Sgt. Maj. William Wiseman, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron sergeant major. “However, since tattoos are a visual reminder of your personal thoughts, feelings and ideas, a Marine with visible tattoos may not be the best candidate for a high-profile assignment. Since the Marine Corps has the most recognizable uniform in the world, this makes the Corps a high-profile assignment. … You joined the Corps; the Corps didn’t join you.”

[USMC2571]

I really think this is another case of Black Helo Syndrome.

And they were notified.