Why KDF recruitment disqualify for teeth, tattoos- Lt Gen John Mwangi

Lt Mwangi who spoke during Citizen TV’s JKlive Show on Wednesday revealed why some requirements such as lack of proper oral health and having tattoos have raised controversy among many recruits.

Mwangi underscored that even though the military is a bit lenient while handling issues to do with dental structures and health, to some extent damage, one cannot be accepted since the forces require one to be physically and medically fit.

He argued that recruitment officers sometimes underlook a medium to low discolouration of teeth due to geographical factors but if the discolouration is high, one is disqualified.

According to the Vice Chief of Defence, allowing someone who does not meet the oral standards poses a future dental accident which might force a trainee to be hospitalised instead of participating in training.

“In a recruit, we look for 3 things: you’ve got to have the correct physical standards, medically you need to be fit and you’ve got to have the right papers…We realized that there are areas in this country where you have water that has fluoride content and therefore you will have people that have low to medium teeth discolouration and those that are severe,” he said.

 “From low to medium, that can be looked at by the medic... If you have severe discolouration, it’s an indication that you probably have a problem with the bone structure and you are prone to dental accidents. If you get into a dental accident, that will force us to out in you in the hospital instead of training, so it’s a disadvantage to you.”

Likewise, the military chief underscored that recruits who have tattoos and some levels of birthmarks cannot be allowed.

As for the tattoos, even though Mwangi did not specify the medical reasons behind barring tattooed candidates, he said large birthmarks are indicators of a level of weakness in the skin and thus can cause an injury while undergoing training.

“Tattoos have been an issue but I will relate it more to policy; the army recruitment says that you are not supposed to join with a tattoo and when that policy was promulgated was because of what happens in that space..but let us leave it at policy,” he explained.

Mwangi added: “A birthmark could be an indicator  of a weakness in the skin structure; on your shoulders, for example, if you have certain birthmarks and they get into contact with the weight, then it can cause an injury which would put you off training.”