NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU 111 SOUTH GEORGE MASON DRIVE ARLINGTON VA 22204 1382 ARNG GSS 12 024 6 January 2012 MEMORANDUM FOR NG J1 RRF (All Entire RRF) SUBJECT: Enlistment Eligibility Concerning Extremist Organizations, Gangs, Tattoos/brands, & 1. References: a. Army Regulation 670 1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniform and Insignia, dated 3 February 2005. b. Army Regulation 601 210, Active and Reserve Component Enlistment Program, dated 8 Feb 2011, (with operational changes), dated 14 Jun 2011. c. TRADOC Regulation 350 6, Enlisted Initial Entry Training (IET) Policies and Administration, dated 28 January 2011. d. USAREC Message, 12 010, SUBJECT: Enlistment eligibility concerning extremist organizations, gangs, tattoos, brands, body mutilation. (Updated), dated 12 Oct 2011. 2. The ARNG cannot afford to have Soldiers returned from training due to pierced ear lobes, body mutilations, body ornamentation or tattoos/brands. Clarification of tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation for enlistment purpose is provided below: a. Tattoos/brands/body mutilation and ornamentation anywhere on the head or face is prohibited except for permanent make up. (1) Tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation that are extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist are prohibited, regardless of location on the body, as they are prejudicial to good order and discipline within units. This includes body mutilation and ornamentation. Tongue splitting or forking, facial ornamentation, piercing of the ear lobes in excess of one quarter of an inch in diameter are not AUTORIZED for enlistment. NO WAIVERS. (a) Extremist tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation are those affiliated with, depicting, or symbolizing extremist philosophies, organizations, or activities. Extremist philosophies, organizations, and activities are those which advocate racial, gender or ethnic hatred or intolerance; advocate, create, or engage in illegal discrimination based on race, color, gender, ethnicity, religion, or national origin; or advocate violence or other unlawful means of depriving individual rights under the U.S.
Constitution, Federal, or State law. (b) Indecent tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation are those that are grossly offensive to modesty, decency, or propriety; shock the moral sense because of their vulgar, filthy, or disgusting nature or tendency to incite lustful thought; or tend reasonably to corrupt morals or incite libidinous thoughts. (c) Sexist tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation are those that advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on gender, but may not meet the same definition of "indecent." (d) Racist tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation are those that advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. (e) Existing tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation on the hands or neck that are not extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist, are allowed after an determination by RRC (O 5 or above) IAW current guidance. This authority will not be delegated further. (2) Directing the removal of a tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation for enlistment purposes is strictly prohibited. Recruiting personnel will not participate in any activity to assist the applicant or future Soldier to remove or cover a tattoo or brand. No government resources will be utilized to assist an applicant to meet enlistment standards (remove or cover a tattoo). b. An applicant who is currently a member of a gang that has criminal elements associated with its membership, criminal activity and/or extremist views or actions, will be denied enlistment based on questionable moral character. c. A former gang member who can demonstrate through interview that he or she is no longer a member of a gang will not be denied entry solely based on former membership unless the RRC has determined past acts warrant such denial. d. An applicant who is currently a member and/or participates in a group or organization that is considered extremist will be denied enlistment based on questionable moral character. (1) You may discover that in those instances that person's behavior, verbal and written communication, appearance, or gestures, tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation indicate that he or she may be associated with, has views towards, and/or is a member of an extremist group or organization that advocates the denial of civil rights under the Constitution of the United Sates. (2) The membership and/or participation in a group or organization that is considered extremist in its beliefs and/or has condoned the use of force to attain its agenda are also signs that an individual does not, nor could not meet the standards of conduct expected of Soldiers in the Army National Guard. 2
3. Completing USAREC Form 1241: a. All applicants will complete this form prior to enlistment. b. RRNCO will complete this form for all enlistments, prior to enlistment. c. RRNCOIC will complete this for all applicants that admit or is discovered to have tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation prior to enlistment. RRNCOIC will sign as First Sergeant block. d. RRM will complete this form for all applicants that have tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation above the collar bone or RRNCOIC classifies as "may not be". RRM will sign as Battalion Commander. e. RC Commander blocks are not used. f. The "DEP IN & DEP OUT" blocks are not used. g. The determination "are", "are not", and "may not be" are to complete the statement: "In accordance with AR 670 1 and current policy". h. If the soldier obtains additional tattoos/brands after enlistment, on ship day a new form will be completed and added to the enlistment packet before Soldier is shipped to training. 4. Recruiting personnel will complete USAREC Form 1241 on ALL applicants complete with photographs. This document will become part of the enlistment packet. No personnel assigned to ARNG, to include Soldiers, contractors, or civilian personnel will view or photograph any tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation that is located in a private area of the body. "Private area" is defined as those areas of the body where a short sleeve shirt and shorts cover the body marking, regardless of gender. a. Applicants that do not have any tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation will sign and date the form checking the block "I do not have any tattoos/brands." b. Applicants that have tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation will sign and date the form checking the block " I do have tattoos/brands and I certify the above tattoos and brands list completely and accurately describes all my tattoos and brands." c. RRNCO will complete and sign if applicants tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation are either "in compliance" or "may not be" and forward to their respective RRNCOIC complete with photographs. d. If the RRNCO feels the tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation are not in compliance, he/she will inform the applicant they are not eligible to process. 3
e. RRNCOIC will review, evaluate, all UF 1241 forms: (1) "are" Sign and return to RRNCO to continue processing. (2) "may not be" Sign and forward to RRC. (3) "are not" Sign and return to RRNCO to inform applicant they are not eligible to process. (4) RRNCOIC will sign as First Sergeant. f. RRC will review, evaluate, all UF 1241 forms: (1) "are" Sign and return to RRNCOIC to continue processing. (2) "may not be" not an option. (3) "are not" Sign and return to RRNCOIC to inform applicant they are not eligible to process. (4) RRC must review all tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation above collar bone. g. If the tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation were not previously disclosed but discovered during the medical examination or before enlistment, the RRNCO/MEPS GC will initiate the UF 1241. This form will be completed BEFORE enlistment is authorized. h. MEPS GCs/Direct Ship Sites will verify the UF 1241 prior to shipping any soldier to training and update if necessary. 5. Those applicants who state they have tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation located above collarbone/shoulder will be identified as "may not be" on UF 1241 and forwarded through the chain of command for review to RRC. No personnel assigned to ARNG, to include Soldiers, contractors, or civilian personnel will view or photograph any tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation that is located in a private area of the body. "Private area" is defined as those areas of the body where a short sleeve shirt and shorts cover the body marking, regardless of gender. 6. Gang affiliation/membership: An applicant for enlistment into the ARNG who is currently a member of a gang that has criminal elements associated with its membership, will not be enlisted into the ARNG (if it is discovered through interview, signs or brands that may be displayed on clothing, Tattoo, markings, police or other official government agency reports that an applicant is associated with a gang, then he or she will be interviewed by the RRC to determine current status in that gang). Being a member of a gang that is associated with criminal activity or extremist views or actions are inconsistent with Army values and the applicant will be denied entry based on questionable moral 4
character. A former gang member who can demonstrate through interview that he or she is no longer a member of a gang will not be denied entry solely based on former membership unless the RRC has determined past acts warrant such denial. Inquiries to local police departments to determine gang affiliation on record as well as to determine what law enforcement agencies list the gang's criminal acts to be. Examples of these groups, but not limited to: Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, Flying Dragons. 7. Extremist affiliation/membership: If a person is discovered to be a member of an extremist organization then he or she will be denied enlistment based on questionable moral character: You may discover that in those instances that a person's behavior, verbal and written communication, appearance, or gestures, tattoos/brands indicate that he or she may be associated with, has views towards, and/or is a member of an extremist group or organization that advocates the denial of civil rights under the Constitution of the United States. The membership and participation in a group or organization that is considered extremist in its beliefs and/or has condoned the use of force to attain its agenda are also signs that an individual does not, nor could not, meet the standards of conduct expected of Soldiers in the ARNG. Examples of these groups, but not limited to: KKK, Neo Nazi, Black Panther, Skin Heads. 8. Directing the removal of a tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation for enlistment purposes is strictly prohibited. Recruiting personnel will not participate in any activity to assist the applicant to remove or cover a tattoos/brands/body mutilation or ornamentation. No government resources will be utilized to assist an applicant to meet enlistment standards that directly involve removal or covering a tattoo/brand. 9. Point of contact is SFC Bryan Spencer, ROC NCOIC, at 1 800 356 ARNG (2764) or email roc@ng.army.mil. 1 Encls 1. UF 1241.xfdl GREGORY S. MICHEL COL, IN Chief, Army National Guard Strength Maintenance Division 5