<div><p>For Anthony Bauswelll, all he wanted to do was be in the Marines. </p><p>At 18 years old, Bauswell had a plan: to serve his country as long as he could. </p><p>But when the teen says the recruiter immediately DQ'd (disqualified) him. </p><p>"DQ, just automatically DQ," <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ark-teen-rejected-marines-confederate-flag-tattoo-article-1.2505764">said </a>Basuwell. "I felt pretty low. My own government wasn't going to let me serve my country because of the ink on my skin."</p><p>So what's the big deal about a tattoo? Many soldiers have them right? Right. </p><p>But there was something specific about Anthony Bauswell's tattoo that disqualified him. </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tattoo23n-1-web.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tattoo23n-1-web_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tattoo23n-1-web_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tattoo23n-1-web_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tattoo23n-1-web_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tattoo23n-1-web_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tattoo23n-1-web_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/tattoo23n-1-web_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>NY Daily News</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>The confederate flag. </p><p>The Marine Corps Recruiting Command has a strict tattoo policy that states tattoos "sexist, racist, eccentric, or offensive in nature" are prohibited. According to the USMC, thhe Confederate flag represents a time when slavery was applauded, making it racist. </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/MARINEPOLICY.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/MARINEPOLICY_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/MARINEPOLICY_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/MARINEPOLICY_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>KARK</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>57% of Americans <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ark-teen-rejected-marines-confederate-flag-tattoo-article-1.2505764">feel </a>the Confederate flag is a symbol of Southern pride rather than a symbol of racism. But, 72% of African-Americans polled said the flag is racist.</p><p>"I definitely don't want it to be seen as racism, which is 99% of the reason I got southern pride on it," Bauswell said. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>The Marine Corps is expected to make it more clear in its tattoo policy so people know exactly what is and is not allowed. </p><p>"Having talked to them, I don't think most Marines understand what the policy is," Commandant Gen. Robert Neller <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ark-teen-rejected-marines-confederate-flag-tattoo-article-1.2505764">said</a>. "I don't think they understand what they can do. They just know they can't get a sleeve."</p><p>As for Anthony Bauswell, the update won't help him...and now he's left in limbo. </p><p>"I kind of felt like I had a plan for my life, and now that I can't go, I am not sure where I stand," he said. </p><p>Do you think the USMC was right to ban Bauwell from the Marines? Let us know. </p></div>