I've often considered getting a tattoo, but I never did. While many Sailors DO get tattoos, I've never really found anything I'd want on my body permanently. During a rough time in my life, I did get my left ear pierced and wore an earring for a while ( maybe a year). The Navy came out with a directive that earrings were not allowed, either on duty or off. Once that directive came out, I quit wearing it. The hole's closed some 24 years later. I don't miss it. Tats on a man don't bother me much unless they are too blatant and cover a lot of area. My nephew, who's in the 10th Mtn. has tattoos all over his torso and arms. While he thinks they are artwork, I think that they're too overdone. I think he'll have problems once he gets out of the Army (if he hasn't already). Tats on women simply make them look "cheap". Pierced ears are OK, to some extent. Those, too, can be overdone.