MORE than 800 potential Army recruits were prevented from joining because of their tattoos — despite a hiring crisis.
Another 400 were banned from boot camp over their body piercings — and together the numbers would have been enough to fill the ranks of a brigade.
The Army relaxed its rules to allow tattoos on the neck and hands ten years ago but head and face inkings are “unacceptable”.
Tattoos depicting “sex acts, violence or illegal drugs” are also banned, along with piercings that “change the way you look”.
The Army is facing a shortfall of 12,000 recruits since 2018.
However, it has turned away 126,000 over the same period.
Figures released under Freedom of Information laws show the biggest reason recruits failed selection was medical, with some 70,000 rejected.
A further 23,000 Commonwealth applicants were told there were “no vacancies” despite warnings that all three services in the Armed Forces were losing personnel faster than they can replace them.
Former Armed Forces minister Mark Francois fumed: “We are haemorrhaging personnel. In a few years, the consequences will be operational failure.”
The boss of recruiting firm Capita has begged the Army to relax its stringent medical rules that prevent people joining.
He said current caps on Body Mass Index measurements would bar most of the England rugby team, who would be deemed “obese” based on the old-fashioned system.
Richard Holroyd told MPs: “The current English rugby team would struggle to join the Army. We are constantly challenging the Army to re-look at their policy and processes.”
An Army spokesman said: “To ensure that we remain the highly effective fighting force the nation expects and deserves, we require our people to be able to meet and maintain [our very high] standards throughout their careers.
“Unfortunately, not everyone who aspires to a career in the Army will be suitable.
“That’s why applicants can be rejected for a number of reasons, including employment and medical history, previous convictions and fitness standards.”
