By Paul J. O’Leary

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court voted on Friday to strike down Army Directive 2022-09 (Soldier Tattoo Policy), thereby reversing the recent policy that would allow soldiers to get tattoos on their hands, necks, and behind their ears. 

In a 5-4 ruling, the Court struck down the tattoo policy as overly broad since it was issued Army-wide. Under what court watchers are calling a controversial decision, tattoo policies will be decided by division commanders. Supporters of the Court’s decision say this is a command rights issue and should be decided by local commanders. 

On behalf of the majority, Justice Kavanaugh wrote, “the current tattoo policy is overly broad and takes away the freedom of individual division commanders to make choices. There is no room in our Republic for a Sergeant Major of the Army to play king, dictator, or God when it comes to decisions of professional appearance that may be acceptable for 82nd Airborne troops, but present a moral question for 10th Mountain troopers.”