---
title: "Gen. Mark Milley definitely has a tattoo and the mystery is killing me"
description: "Gen. Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, definitely has a tattoo on his arm — but no one will tell us what it is."
date: "2020-12-23"
modified: "2020-12-23"
authors:
  - name: "Haley Britzky"
    job_title: "Former Army Reporter"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/haley-britzky/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/culture/mark-milley-tattoo-coronavirus-vaccine/"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "Mandatory Fun"
tags:
  - "Covid-19"
  - "death"
  - "Leadership"
---

# Gen. Mark Milley definitely has a tattoo and the mystery is killing me

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/23/Milley.jpg>)
*Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley listens before a meeting with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, at the Pentagon in Washington, Sept. 22, 2020.*

There's nothing like a good mystery to end the year with — and that's what a photo of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley has blessed us with this week.

On Monday, [several military leaders](<https://twitter.com/ArmyChiefStaff/status/1341368416645632000>) received their novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines — including Milley. But a photo posted online immediately brought on speculation about something that had nothing to do with the novel coronavirus.

Immediately, one question came to mind: *Is that a tattoo?*

https://twitter.com/LucasFoxNews/status/1341373553799811073?s=20

A closer look:

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/23/Screen-Shot-2020-12-23-at-12.22.05-PM.png>)

When asked about the tattoo, Col. Dave Butler, a spokesman for Milley, only infused the situation with *more* mystery and intrigue.

"There’s a good story to it but we’re going to let the mystery live on for a little longer," Butler said.

As expected, there has been no shortage of speculation of what the tattoo actually is, ranging from "[part of a wing](<https://twitter.com/merlinrose16/status/1341455006881509378?s=20>)" or "[a signature](<https://twitter.com/Heatherhall84/status/1341706699640598528?s=20>)," to "[a heart with Mother in it](<https://twitter.com/NattyBumppo7/status/1341523959196639238?s=20>)" or the logo of [Wild Tiger](<https://twitter.com/D__Ray_White/status/1341456319564427264?s=20>), an [energy drink](<https://taskandpurpose.com/history/how-a-local-energy-drink-became-an-icon-of-the-iraq-war/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWild%20Tiger%20is%20the%20combat,inconvenience%20of%20blinking!!!>) from the Middle East.

https://twitter.com/5thSFAB/status/1341456297422594048

No matter what the tattoo is, my interest has officially moved from the "hmm this could be fun" camp, to "I will not rest until I have the backstory to this tattoo."

If you have said backstory, you know where to find me.

*If you know what Gen. Milley's tattoo is, please reach out to haley@taskandpurpose.com or haleybritzky@protonmail.com.*

*Feature Image: Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley listens before a meeting with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, at the Pentagon in Washington, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo: AP/Alex Brandon)*

## Author
Haley Britzky was the Task & Purpose Army reporter from 2019 to 2022. She previously worked at Axios covering breaking news. She reports on important developments within the service, from new uniforms to new policies; the realities of military life facing soldiers and their families; and broader cultural issues that expand outside of the Army, touching each of the military services.Â

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-britzky-b09022a0/>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/halbritz>)