From Tattoos to Training: How Recent Changes Policy are Reshaping the Marine Corps | MCRD San Diego, CA | Staff Sergeant Mary Phaly
2021 was a huge year for Female Marines and tattoo policy changes. Want to know more?
Staff Sergeant Mary Phaly 2023Who is Staff Sergeant Mary Phaly and what did the 2021 Marine Corps changes did for her?
Staff Sergeant Mary Phaly is among the first wave of drill instructors to serve at MCRD SD since the integration of female recruits on the west coast. She has been in the Marine Corps for six years and is currently billeted as a drill instructor. This blog post also shares images of her promotion to E6. “E6 in 6” was real for SSgt Phaly (and for me when I was in!).
Before becoming a drill instructor, SSgt Phaly served as a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructor (MCMAP). She then earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration at the same time as she went through Drill Instructor School House in San Diego (class 2-22!!). Juggling her studies with a full-time active-duty schedule, she took 18-20 classes per year, maxing out her TA, utilizing financial aid, and paying out of pocket for some classes to achieve her goal. Her drive, ambition, and resilience are inspired by her parents, who were refugees of the Khmer Rouge, and she honors them and her Cambodian heritage with her achievements.
SSgt Phaly is known for her distinctive look (and instagram famous!), with full sleeves of tattoos that were recently allowed under new Marine Corps regulations. Her family flew in from out of the country to watch her promotion to Staff Sergeant.
Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, is proud to have her as a DI. Her leadership and example show that female Marines are just as capable and deserving of serving their country as their male counterparts - even in integrated battalions in San Diego.
Just remember, Staff Sergeant Mary Phaly is a trailblazer in the Marine Corps, representing the first wave of female drill instructors at the San Diego MCRD. Her achievements as a Marine, a college graduate, and a Cambodian-American are a testament to her drive and resilience. With her full sleeves of tattoos and unique background, she is a symbol of the diversity and strength of the United States Marine Corps.
Female Marines at MCRD San Diego?!
Yes, you read that right. The decision to allow female recruits at MCRD San Diego was made in response to a congressional mandate in 2019 that required the Marine Corps to integrate its recruit training. Prior to 2021, female recruits trained exclusively at MCRD Parris Island in South Carolina. The integration of female recruits at MCRD San Diego was a historic moment for the Marine Corps, which had trained only male recruits on the West Coast for 99 years.
The integration process began with the arrival of the first cohort of female recruits in February 2021. The recruits underwent the same 13-week training program as their male counterparts, which includes marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, physical fitness, and other military skills. The integration was seen as an important step towards gender equality in the Marine Corps, which has historically been one of the most male-dominated branches of the U.S. military.
Full Tattoo Sleeves in the Marines?!
The Marine Corps has also made changes to its policies on tattoos in recent years. Here are some facts:
2007: Sleeve tattoos were first banned after the 2006 Sergeants Major Symposium found Marines of the times to have “excessive” tattoos.
2016: The Marine Corps issued a directive that banned tattoos on the neck and hands and limited the size and number of tattoos on the arms and legs. Overall, visible tattoos, while in physical training uniforms, block Marines from special duty assignments. This policy allowed an unlimited number of tattoos for enlisted Marines, as long as they were not sleeves, officers and officer candidates were limited to just four visible tattoos in their PT uniform.
2021: Updated their tattoo policy to allow tattoo sleeves that cover the entire arm. The new policy also removed restrictions on the size and number of tattoos on the legs and authorized certain tattoos on the neck - allowing officers and enlisted to have the same instruction. The Corps relaxed its restrictions on the size and placement of tattoos, allowing Marines to have larger and more visible tattoos on their arms and legs.
These changes were made in response to feedback from Marines and to better reflect the culture of the modern military.
"The tattoo policy over the years has attempted to balance the individual desires of Marines with the need to maintain the disciplined appearance expected of our profession. This Bulletin ensures that the Marine Corps maintains its ties to the society it represents and removes all barriers to entry for those members of society wishing to join its ranks," the policy change said.
This change allowed Staff Sergeant Mary Phaly to display her full sleeve of tattoos as a drill instructor.
The Army and the Air Force also allow tattoo sleeves that cover the entire arm. The Navy has updated its tattoo policy to allow full-sleeve tattoos and hand tattoos (including ring tattoos). However, tattoos on the head, face, ears, or scalp are still not allowed. The Navy also prohibits offensive, racist, extremist, and sexist tattoos. It's worth noting that the Navy's tattoo policy is considered more relaxed than other branches of the military, such as the Army, which still prohibits visible tattoos on the neck and hands. Each branch of the military has its own unique tattoo policy, and they can (and do) change it from time to time.
Overall, the integration of female recruits at MCRD San Diego and the relaxation of tattoo policies reflect the Marine Corps' ongoing efforts to modernize and become more inclusive. These changes have opened up new opportunities for women in the military and have helped to make the Marine Corps a more diverse and welcoming organization.
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