Royal Thai Army to enlist new 75,365 soldiers nationwide

-General Paiboon Kumchaya, the assistant of the army chief, visited the Armed Forces enlistees who will join the Royal Thai Army in 2014-

General Paiboon Kumchaya said his overview of the Armed Forces selection 7 days ago was orderly. He thanked everybody and all parts of the Armed Forces for their cooperation.

For this Armed Forces enlistment period, Royal Thai Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has set policies to facilitate enlistment to the fullest, and he confirmed that the Armed Forces enlistment operated in a fair manner. If anyone finds something unusual, they can send information to the Royal Thai Army’s officers. For next year’s selection, the armed forces will improve the process more quickly.

This year, the Royal Thai Army conducted the Armed Force enlistment on 1–11 April 2014. 7 days ago, during the Armed Forces enlistment, the ambience was bustling.

Combined, all parts of the Thai military require 100,865 new officers from the 347,831 Thai males who enlist. Of these recruits, the Royal Thai Army will add 75,365 officers, the Royal Thai Navy will add 16,000 officers, the Royal Thai Air Force will add 7,788 officers, the Royal Thai Armed Forces will add 986 officers and the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Defence will add 735 officers.

The Royal Thai Army wants 10,000 more troops this year, compared to last year, because of the new companies, including the 3rd Cavalry Division at Khon Kaen province, the 7th Infantry Division at Chiang Mai province and the 1st Army Area in the Central Region and Bangkok, which require officers to supervise the political situation.

General Paiboon said that an enlisted battalion is comparable to a school that improves troops and generates discipline for the nation’s people. Although the armed forces cannot count or touch as students do, it can demonstrate the development of the people to the leader and generates great army officers for the nation.

By Kittima Chanwattanasil
April 19, 2014