VISIBLE TATTOOS will disqualify you from entry into the Barbados Defence Force (BDF).
This warning came from Sergeant Sonia Jones, senior non-commissioned officer in the human resources department of the BDF, who was speaking at the organization’s career showcase for secondary schoolchildren yesterday.
The BDF is looking to recruit at least 70 people in August to fill approximately 50 vacancies within the force. However, Jones said that because of the tattoo policy that came into effect in 2009, applicants with visible tattoos would be turned away.
“Young people love to put the marks all over their skin . . . . [But] if you have tattoos that can be seen when in our sporting wear you will not be eligible to join the army. If tattoos can be seen on your arms and legs, do not forget we go on parade,” Jones said.
She explained that BDF officials always made it a point to mention the tattoo policy during career showcases in schools.“I always say a hundred dollars to put in, but thousands to get it out,” Jones said.
Concerning the compulsory drug testing policy, which came into effect in 2010 due to the BDF’s zero tolerance approach to the use of illegal drugs, adjutant of the Barbados Regiment, Captain Maria Ward, said that it had not impacted the numbers of individuals seeking recruitment.
She called the drug testing policy a plus for the BDF because it served to keep the undesirables out. Ward stated that as the BDF was charged with maintaining the law and assisting with law enforcement it could not have members of the force involved in drugs.
She said that current personnel had already been subjected to drug testing for the year and random drug testing was expected to continue. Jones said large numbers were still seeking entry into the force, and as a part of the recruitment process, the BDF started examinations in English and mathematics for those who did not have Caribbean Examination Council certification in those subjects, with exams taking place during the remainder of this week.