The Army has ordered a nationwide inspection of personnel to strictly control visible tattoos. Intentional violations will be punished with penalties ranging from reprimands to immediate dismissal from service.
On 2 April 2026 GMT+7, reporters reported that the Army issued an urgent directive setting strict criteria and guidelines for overseeing personnel with visible tattoos after enlistment. It stated that although society increasingly accepts tattoos as body art, military officers still require appropriate oversight measures to maintain the Army's image, credibility, discipline, and honor, focusing on clearly visible tattoos.
The measures require units under the Army, down to the battalion level, to conduct thorough inspections of all male and female personnel at every rank by April 2026 GMT+7, using the sports uniform tattoo standards of the 904 King's Guard Special Task Force as the benchmark. Initial discovery of visible tattoos outside undergarments will not be considered a disciplinary offense, but units must record photographic evidence with signatures for storage in the PDX database and conduct annual continuous inspections.
Personnel found to have additional tattoos after the initial recording must undergo a fact-finding investigation, divided into two cases:
1. If there is no intent to avoid duties, they will receive disciplinary reprimands for misconduct and be ordered to correct the tattoos. Disciplinary punishments may range from reprimands to confinement or imprisonment.
2. If there is intent to tattoo in order to avoid duty, it is considered a serious disciplinary offense punishable by immediate dismissal from the Army and removal of military rank according to Ministry of Defence regulations.
The Army confirmed that these criteria align with the Ministry of Defence Administration Act and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, which allow restriction of military personnel's rights and freedoms related to discipline and ethics. Visible tattoos outside undergarments may affect critical missions and the security agency's image, which must strictly maintain military decorum to uphold uniform standards throughout the Army.