Leaving aside the whole gays-in-the-military thing, some current regulations and guidelines on what will, or won’t, disqualify you as a recruit are … well, damned goofy.
I previously related that my eldest son was nearing a decision to enlist in the Army or the Marine Corps. In a conversation with the Marine recruiter, he said that they can get waivers to approve enlistment if a prospect has used narcotics or smoked marijuana, has a record of repeated arrests, or, in one approved waiver, had one leg literally pinned together with steel rods.
But absolutely no waivers whatsoever are granted for a prospect who has more than six tattoos or has any tattoo that cannot be covered by the recruiter’s hand. Period. It doesn’t matter what the tattoo depicts – gang related, drug related, or a full-color American flag, doesn’t matter.
It gets better. Or worse.
(via Randy)