Military Tattoo Designs

There are many reasons why you want to have a military tattoo design, but there are two main ones: either have had military experience or wish to honour someone who has.  There have been more desire to have military designs in the recent years after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Although the death rates are relatively low, the life changing injuries are high and so there are many troops coming back and wanting to commemorate their experience.

There are many design ideas that overlap the different services.  Using your countries flag as a back drop with the badge can make an effective design, or just the badge on its own can be equally as meaningful. 

To make your design more unique try having the badge or flag in different style.  Graffiti and cartoon styles make for a more personal spin on a popular design.

Vintage Military Tattoos

If you would like to get one of the old navy tattoos there are some classics to chose from.  Sailors would use designs of mandalas and wheels of life which symbolise that eternal circle of birth, life and death.  Designs like this are found in many of the world religions, especially eastern religions, which is unsurprising considering how far the old sailors used to travel, it would be only natural that they picked up some of those religious symbols.

Nautical stars, especially the Southern Cross with compasses were used in many nautical tattoo designs.  They were a tribute to their navigational methods and asking which ever gods were listening for guidance and protection.

Sailors would often use dragons in their tattoo designs to show that they had been to the orient, if the dragon was gold it meant they had sailed across the International Date Line. (for more Dragon Tattoo Design ideas see Chinese Animal Tattoos and Japanese Tattoos)

The figure of the mermaid was a recurring theme in sailors' tattoos. (for more information see Mythical Creature Tattoo Designs)

In the Second World War the pin up girl became popular as men far away from home and their women would have the girls to keep them company in those men filled contact zones.