Moral Problems in the Usmc

August 5, 2017 History

Moral Problems in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Sgt Karen A Holliday, USMC Trident University International Moral problems can be found in every common place work environment. They may not be issues that stand out, but even the smallest conflict or policy can cause problems (or rebellion) within a workforce. The United States Marine Corps began with the founding of the Continental Marines in 1775 to conduct ship-to-ship fighting, provide shipboard security and discipline enforcement, and assist in landing forces. Its mission evolved with changing military doctrine and foreign policy of the United States.

Owing to the availability of Marine forces at sea, the United States Marine Corps has served in nearly every conflict in United States history. It attained prominence when its theories and practice of amphibious warfare proved prescient, and ultimately formed a cornerstone of the Pacific Theater of World War II. By the early 20th century, the Marine Corps would become one of the dominant theorists and practitioners of amphibious warfare. Its ability to rapidly respond on short notice to expeditionary crises has made and continues to make it an important tool for American foreign policy. (http://en. wikipedia. rg/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps) I feel that one of the most debated moral issues in the Marine Corps today is the updated policy on tattoos. Tattoos have long been associated with the military. The first permanent tattoo shop was established in New York City. It was started up in 1846 and began a tradition by tattooing military servicemen from both sides of the civil war. The new MARADMIN (Marine Administration Message) prohibits enlisted Marines with sleeve tattoos from becoming commissioned officers, even if the tattoos, which were banned in 2007, had been grandfathered in according to protocol.

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To the list of banned tattoos the regulation adds markings on the fingers, hands and wrists, tattoos inside the mouth, and tattoos visible in PT gear that are larger than a hand with fingers together and extended. Sleeve tattoos already preclude enlisted Marines from certain special duty assignments, including recruiting positions and Marine Security Guard assignments, according to a MARADMIN released in September 2008. (http://www. jdnews. com/articles/tattoos-72068-marine-new. html)

Utilitarian thought causes us to ask if this morally correct course of action is the one that produces benefit for the greatest number of people. Personally I have one small tattoo that is not visible in any uniform and I had it before I joined the Marine Corps. Because of this policy, I know Marines that have not gotten the opportunity to become officers, lost their current rank, and have been denied reenlistment due to this new policy. I have no desire to get any more tattoos, but I also feel that their needs to be more leeway in this policy.

I don’t think that the policy creates the best benefit for the largest number of people in that there is a LARGE percentage of the Marine Corps with many tattoos. I think that looking at this issue in a deontological sense, one can say that as a Marine one should know that they are upheld to the highest standards. Thus, tattoos can be a part of one’s appearance, but according to everything else that one has learned about being a Marine, they should know that a crazy colored sleeve with a naked woman on it does not conform to the society that they have chosen to be involved and associated with.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps 2. http://www. designboom. com/history/tattoo_history. html 3. http://www. jdnews. com/articles/tattoos-72068-marine-new. html 4. http://atheism. about. com/od/ethicalsystems/a/Deontological. htm 5. http://dictionary. reverso. net/english-cobuild/utilitarian%20considerations

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