Page 7 - issue17.05.2019
P. 7
Royal Air Force News Friday,May 17, 2019 P7
News
RAF ink
rethink
Tattoo rules relaxed
to make Forces more
attractive to Millenials
Staff Reporter outright ban will still be applied to the exception of a single finger
THE RAF is relaxing its all tattoos which are considered to tattoo which may be covered by
hardline policy on tattoos be offensive or crude. a ring.
to make the Service more The move comes as UK Forces Cosmetic eyebrow tattooing
attractive to one in five Brits battle with civvy street employers is permitted if it follows the
who now have body art. for the best recruits and close a natural line of the brow, are
While there is no ban on growing skills gap in some of the symmetrical and natural in
tattoos which are not on display, military’s technical trades. shape and colouring.
under the new rules airmen and According to recent survey, Tattoos will be allowed on
women will be allowed to sport more than one in five Brits has at the side and back of the neck,
neck and eyebrow tattoos for the least one tattoo while the figure provided they are not visible
first time. is even higher in the military. from the front when wearing
Personnel will also be able to The new regulations state that No.2A uniform. Tattoos will not
have a single finger tattoo that can tattoos on the hands and fingers be allowed to extend beyond the
be concealed by a ring, while the will still be prohibited with natural hairline.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT has your job. I think the RAF should go
received a mixed reaction for the a bit further with this. Tattoos are so No pain no gain
Services tattoo sporting population. commonplace these days. I don’t have
Cpl Fran Gavin who is based at any friends in the Service who don’t have
Marham as a dog handler said: “I got my them.
first tattoo when I was 17. It was some “When I was commissioned SQN LDR Stewart Green spent between appointments but I didn’t
lyrics from a song. It is awful and another officer told me thousands having the tattoos finish the whole lot as I got my
I wish I hadn’t had it but it was that he thought it wasn’t he got as a 16-year-old Army commission.
an act of rebellion. professional for women recruit removed when he took up “I have always been committed
“I’ve had a few since to even have tattoos. a commission as an intelligence to the Services and I would have
then. I have a full sleeve That made me really officer with the RAF. done whatever needed to be done to
which features figures angry.” He said: I joined the get in.
from Norse mythology SAC Alex Barnes, army at 16 and had a “Society has changed.
– my family are from 28, is a mover at Brize tribal pattern done in We obviously have to
Denmark. Norton. She said: “My. I INK THEREFORE I AM: Cpl Fran Gavin Germany. It was done maintain standards but
“I can cover my tattoos First tattoo was an eight by a bloke with a bottle you have to move with
and that is the way I prefer it. ball which I got done when doing my Phase 1 training at Halton. My of whisky in his hand. the times and the Armed
If I am in my Number 1 kit I don’t I was a teenager. Since friend and I both decided to get the same “I served in the Army Forces have to reflect
want them on display. then I have had quite a few. blue gecko design on an impulse. for 10 years before society.
“I think you have to move with “Despite that I don’t “I have also got one with the taking a commission in “Offensive tattoos
the times. They are more socially and think that we should be name of the Guaba beach bar in the RAF. I was advised should always be a no-
culturally acceptable today. It doesn’t relaxing the rules. It sounds Limassol I was fond of which I to get rid of them for selection. go but blocking someone who got
mean that you are a criminal or a sailor.” like pandering to popular got when I was at Akrotiri. “I opted for laser surgery at some ink during a gap year holiday
Flt Lt Jordine Deveraeau is culture and trends. “I think changing the rules is a a Harley Street practice. It was or something like that is a bit harsh.
currently on a posting to Gibraltar in the “I have a tattoo on the good thing if it allows people with about £300 a go and I had about 10 “It’s all about perception and it
Flight Operations section. She said: “I back of my neck which could SAC Alex Barnes tattoos to join up. sessions. doesn’t have the stigma it once did.
got two roses to represent my two sisters have been a problem for me “I am quite old school though. “They used a ruby laser which I am a huge advocate for the Forces
when I was 18. but fortunately it can be covered by my When you are in uniform you are in basically burns them off. It feels like and have done a lot of recruitment.
“Since then I have got eight more and shirt collar. uniform and I don’t think our people having hot elastic bands tied round “I would recommend the
all of them have significance to my life. “Rules are rules. If you don’t like it - should have them above the neckline. your arms. military career to everyone – even if
“I think the rules should have been don’t join up” “I am in two minds really. You “It burns and breaks down the it is just for a few years. It doesn’t
relaxed a while ago. Sgt Rachel Robertson is an Air should be able to express yourself with ink. My whole arm was blistered seem fair to deny a good recruit
“Having a tattoo does not say Traffic Controller at Shawbury. She said: your tattoos as long as it isn’t crude or and I kept it wrapped in cling film. the chance to serve because of a
anything about how well you can do “I got my first tattoo when I was 19 and offensive. I had to wait three or four weeks tattoo.”