SAN DIEGO – The Marine Corps is no longer allowing troops who have extra-large tattoos on their arms to serve as recruiters or security guards at U.S. embassies.
Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Carl Redding said Monday that the service's top general has extended a regulation on these so-called "sleeve" tattoos on biceps and forearms.
Redding said Gen. James T. Conway noted in his new order that recruiters and embassy guards have "significant impact on public perception" because of their daily dealings with civilians.
Conway had banned the large and often elaborate tattoo designs in April 2007.
Marines who already had the tattoos were exempt from that ban, but Conway's new order restricts their assignments.
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