Air Force football players sport tattoos

Air Force junior tight end Keith Madsen wanted a tattoo, but he didn’t want buyer’s remorse.

“I always wanted to get one that I wouldn’t be like, ‘Aw, why did I get that,’ a couple years down the road,” he said.

So near the end of his year at the academy’s prep school, Madsen got a tattoo on his leg of an eagle in front of an American flag with the word “Freedom” below the image.

“I figured I’m serving my nation, I love this country, so putting that on there I wouldn’t be embarrassed,” he said. “And a couple years later, I still like it.”

Madsen decided to put the tattoo on the back of his left calf so it wouldn’t be noticeable in business or military dress or in professional situations. On the football field, however, it’s visible between his pants and sock.

“I didn’t realize until after I got it about football — ‘Wait, I think people will see it,’” Madsen said. “But it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’m proud of it.”

Tattoos might seem counter to the image portrayed by uniformed cadets, who stand at attention, wear closely cropped hair and pepper each sentence with “Yes, sir” and “Yes, ma’am.” But at least ten players on the varsity football roster have them.

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said the number of players on this team with tattoos is “more than probably ever have been here.”

“Probably a good chunk of it’s generational,” Calhoun said. “You see the number of tattoo parlors, no matter where you go, up and down streets nowadays. It’s much more prevalent than it was 20 years ago. That’s this age group.”

A 2006 study by the American Academy of Dermatology said about 36 percent of Americans between 18 and 29 had at least one tattoo.

But tattoos long have been part of military culture. Soldiers have been known to pay tribute to their country, their branch of service or a fallen comrade with ink.

Madsen said during summers when he’s been assigned to various Air Force bases he has seen “a whole bunch of people with tattoos.”

There are, however, tattoo regulations for cadets.

According to Air Force Cadet Wing Manual 36-3501, “The Cadet Sight Picture,” cadets must comply with the Air Force policy on tattoos, which is outlined in AFI (Air Force Instruction) 36-2903, Table 2.5.

That instruction forbids any tattoos or brands “that are obscene or advocate sexual, racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination,” those “that are prejudicial to good order and discipline or that are of a nature that tends to bring discredit upon the Air Force,” and those that are associated with gangs.

As for tattoos or brands that do not fall into the above categories, the instruction states that “excessive tattoos/brands will not be exposed or visible (includes visible through the uniform) while in uniform.” The instruction defines “excessive” as any tattoos or brands “that exceed one-quarter of the exposed body part and those above the collarbone and readily visible when wearing an open collar uniform.”

The instruction asks commanders to use these guidelines to determine “appropriate military image and acceptability of tattoos displayed by members in uniform.”

While Madsen’s tattoo references his military service, other players’ tattoos have religious imagery. Senior Josh Clayton has an armband with a biblical verse, and both sophomore receiver Josh Cousins and senior cornerback Carson Bird have crosses.

Bird’s younger and older brothers each got a tattoo of a cross about a year ago along with Bird “as something to connect us,” Bird said, when they were located in different parts of the country.

“We never really saw each other, didn’t get to talk to each other too much, so I came up with the idea,” Bird said. “We got a cross because it was something we thought we could always be passionate about and it’s something that can’t really be shameful.”

Several players’ tattoos play off their names. Senior fullback Ryan Williams’ nickname, “R-Dub,” appears in cursive on his left shoulder. Freshman tailback Savier Stephens has an “S” on each of his arms, Clayton has his initials down the back of his right arm and senior outside linebacker Julian Madrid has “Madrid” down the back of his right arm.

Senior quarterback Shaun Carney’s tattoo is a tribute to his Irish heritage. Carney has a leprechaun holding an Irish flag on the right side of his right calf.

Some players have multiple tattoos. In addition to his name, Madrid has a tattoo of a wave with Poseidon — in Greek mythology, the god of the sea — on it. Madrid, from San Diego, surfs and said he loves the ocean.

Clayton has a superman logo in addition to his initials and armband.

Air Force junior fullback Todd Newell has a team-high five tattoos. He got his first, a bulldog on the right side of his right calf, when he was 10.

That’s right — 10 years old.

He said he didn’t cry, nor did he get any strange looks from his tattoo artist regarding his age.

“He said his first tattoo was when he was 12, so he was cool about it,” Newell said.

Newell said he wasn’t sure if he would get any more. He, like Madsen, doesn’t want to feel that buyer’s remorse.

“I have a lot right now,” Newell said. “And I don’t know when I think about myself as a grandpa with all these tattoos.”