When we think about the individual sacrifices made by those in our armed forces, we probably don't consider tattoos to be among them. But a decorated marine's inability to re-enlist over visible tattoos has thousands up in arms.
Sgt. Daniel Knapp is being denied re-enlistment to the Marines based on pre-existing restrictions to visible body ink, reports Marine Corps Times. He's been serving for six years and has been deployed to Afghanistan twice — he's even been presented with a valor award. But that's not enough to allow him to re-enlist in what his mother describes as a life-long passion.
He's filed a waiver in hopes of attaining re-enlistment, though it'll depend heavily on an individual consideration from Headquarters Marine Corps. Of his tattoos, Sgt. Knapp tells Marine Corps Times, "They never stopped me from keeping Marines safe. On patrol nothing ever happened because of my tattoos." He hopes his waiver paves the way for a change in tattoo stigma, if not for himself, then for future generations of Marines.
From the Change.org petition for his re-enlistment:
“Sgt Knapp is an exemplary Marine and is being denied a re-enlistment opportunity due to having one too many tattoos. After serving his country bravely for six years with an otherwise top notch record, Sgt Knapp’s life long dream of being a career Marine will be ended if this policy is not changed.” [sic]
If you’d like to join his family and supporters in signing his petition, please visit Change.org, and please SHARE this post on Facebook to spread the word.
