26 Air Force recruits were turned away from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. The situation was the result of tougher tattoo rules sent to recruiting personnel on 25 November banning tattoos on a recruit’s right “saluting arm.” The rule was approved by the Recruiting Service commander Brig. Gen. A.J. Stewart and was created when an investigation of trainees found 80 to be non-compliant with the existing Air Force policy.
The Air Force’s official tattoo policy bans tattoos that are obscene or do not fit a “military image,” cover more than one-fourth of a body part, or are above the collarbone.
Several recruits that were affected by the ban were reportedly confused over the issue and did not understand the reason for the revised policy.
As the outcry from recruits was heard, Air Force officials held an emergency meeting at the Pentagon to review the situation. On Thursday, 3 December, the revised policy had been rescinded and the issue would be reviewed relative to the dress and personnel appearance regulations so that a standardized implementation could be formulated.
Of the 26 recruits affected by the situation, 20 were rebooked for shipping to basic training and three decided that the Air Force wasn’t for them.
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Three members of the Navy’s elite SEAL unit have been charged with assault surrounding the capture of Ahmed Hashim Abed, the alleged mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah in 2004.
Matthew McCabe, a Special Operations Petty Officer Second Class (SO-2), is facing three charges: dereliction of performance of duty for willfully failing to safeguard a detainee, making a false official statement, and assault. Petty Officer Jonathan Keefe, SO-2, is facing charges of dereliction of performance of duty and making a false official statement. Petty Officer Julio Huertas, SO-1, faces those same charges and an additional charge of impediment of an investigation.
The SEALs are accused by Ahmed Hashim Abed of punching him and he claimed that he had the bloody lip to prove it. All three men have refused non-judicial punishment — called a captain’s mast — and have requested a trial by court-martial.
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