Skip to content

No tattoos for aspiring U.S. Marine

Adrienne Ashtari, left, a nurse at the Skin Centre in Pittsburgh, uses a laser in the first treatment on Wednesday, to remove a tattoo from Christopher Guajardo, 24, to help him in his goal to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.
Christopher Guajardo, Adrienne Ashtari
Array

Adrienne Ashtari, left, a nurse at the Skin Centre in Pittsburgh, uses a laser in the first treatment on Wednesday, to remove a tattoo from Christopher Guajardo, 24, to help him in his goal to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. Ashtari said it usually takes six similar treatments, five weeks apart to lighten the tattoo significantly. The tattoo on the arm he would salute with caused his initial enlistment request to be denied. According to the Marine Corps military web page, their tattoo policy is set to assure a tattoo would not limit the world-wide assignability of a marine, and also to present a sharp military appearance. Guajardo may need to undergo five more such treatments for full effectiveness. The Skin Centre is providing the treatment for military recruits at no cost in the month July.