| The world of military tattoo designs can be broken | | | | at all. These tattoos, save for those who actually |
| down into two basic types: historic and modern. | | | | were in the service and in the respective units |
| Historic military tattoos usually contain mottos and | | | | represented by the artwork, should be considered |
| logos representative of the most well-known fighting | | | | generally off-limits. These are among the types of |
| men in history. Modern military tattoos represent the | | | | tattoos that are earned as much as they are |
| designs of various divisions or particular artwork used | | | | purchased. One should not get these tattoos in |
| as a device by particular units or smaller divisions of | | | | advance, under the assumption that they'll be |
| the armed forces. There are some basic guidelines | | | | accepted into a particular military unit before they |
| that one should follow when considering getting | | | | actually have been accepted. Some memorial tattoos |
| these tattoos applied to their body. | | | | contain the military insignia of the deceased's unit and |
| For military personnel, one must make certain that | | | | this is generally considered respectful. |
| any tattoo they get is in-line with the codes imposed | | | | Historic military tattoos are fair game for anyone and |
| by their particular branch. Most military tattoos are on | | | | they oftentimes serve to represent visually a |
| the upper arms where they can be concealed by | | | | heartfelt connection to a culture or the warriors of a |
| one's uniform while on duty. There are very specific | | | | particular culture. Some of the more popular designs |
| requirements where tattoos are concerned in the | | | | that have these associations include the crosses of |
| military so, before decorating one's body while on | | | | the Knights Templar, the mottos of the Roman |
| leave, make certain that the decision will not cause | | | | Legions and Spartans and Native American lances and |
| professional problems. Most military tattoos worn by | | | | other weapons. These tattoos can be among the |
| modern soldiers mimic their unit device, such as the | | | | most interesting that one bears and are usually |
| well known "Screaming Eagle" device used by | | | | conversation-starters. |
| airborne soldiers. These tattoos, of course, are | | | | Some of the most interesting military tattoos can be |
| probably most associated with sailors though their | | | | found on veterans of the Second World War. This |
| popularity has expanded throughout the various | | | | was one of the periods when this sort of tattooing |
| branches of the military. | | | | enjoyed a rebirth in popularity. Many of the designs |
| One should never get a tattoo of a modern military | | | | these veterans bear are from units whose artwork |
| division on their body if they have never served in | | | | has long since changed and which may no longer |
| that division. This is generally considered very insulting | | | | exist. If one is looking for a design with as much |
| by those who did serve in that division and is | | | | historical substance as modern sensibility, talking to |
| regarded with much the same attitude as is bragging | | | | such individuals and having a look at their tattoos is a |
| about one's military service when one never served | | | | good way to start. |