Marine Tattoo

If you are a member of the Marine Corps, chances are you have considered a marine tattoo. Men and women who serve in the Marine Corps have long held the tradition of tattooing themselves with a meaningful tattoo to express their dedication and faithfulness to the Marine Corps.

Because the motto of the Marine Corps is Semper Fidelis, which means always faithful, Marines often incorporate the words Semper Fidelis or Semper Fi into a marine tattoo. Other popular Marine Corps tattoos include the USMC Insignia, bulldogs, camouflage, unit designs and rank stripes.

Marines have many different reasons to get tattoos. Sometimes Marines get tattoos as a rite of passage. They feel that they do not live up to some Marine Corps standard if they do not have a tattoo. Other Marines get tattoos to commemorate their service and faithfulness to the Marine Corps. Sometimes, Marines choose to tattoo themselves in order to honor was a Marine who lost his or her life in service.

Recently, the Marine Corps prohibited Marines from getting large tattoos below the elbow or knees. This rule is meant to keep Marines looking clean-cut as the Marine Corps feels is befitting for its soldiers.

While many Marines disagree with this philosophy, they abide by it in order to continue to be in good standing with the Marine Corps. These marines now usually choose to get any large marine tattoo on their back or chest so that it does not break any rules.

While most marines think of ink beneath the skin when they think of marine tattoos, other marines think of marine tattoos as a musical performance. Originating from the early custom of relaying orders through specific bugle calls on a battlefield, music has become an important part of the Marine Corps tradition. The longest of the bugle calls is the "Tattoo" which the Marine Corps still uses. The bugler plays Tattoo a half an hour before Taps to signal for soldiers to return to the barracks and prepare for lights out.