Military ranks of the Thai armed forces
The military ranks of Thailand are the military insignia used by the Royal Thai Armed Forces. The officer ranks are influenced by the ranks of the United Kingdom and United States, while the non-commissioned ranks are influenced by those of the United Kingdom and France.[1]
Commissioned officer ranks
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
Student officer ranks
Rank group | Student officer | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
File:Flag of the Royal Thai Navy.svg Royal Thai Navy[2] | File:Blank.svg | File:Blank.svg | File:Blank.svg | File:Blank.svg | File:Blank.svg |
ชั้นปีที่ 5 Chận pī thī̀ 5 |
ชั้นปีที่ 4 Chận pī thī̀ 4 |
ชั้นปีที่ 3 Chận pī thī̀ 3 |
ชั้นปีที่ 2 Chận pī thī̀ 2 |
ชั้นปีที่ 1 Chận pī thī̀ 1 |
Other ranks
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
File:Flag of the Royal Thai Army.svg Royal Thai Army[2] |
File:RTA OR-9 (Master Sergeant 1st Class).svg | File:RTA OR-8 (Master Sergeant 2nd Class).svg | File:RTA OR-7 (Master Sergeant 3rd Class).svg | File:RTA OR-5 (Sergeant).svg | File:RTA OR-4 (Corporal).svg | File:RTA OR-3 (Lance Corporal).svg | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
จ่าสิบเอก Cha sip ek |
จ่าสิบโท Cha sip tho |
จ่าสิบตรี Cha sip tri |
สิบเอก Sip ek |
สิบโท Sip tho |
สิบตรี Sip tri |
พลทหาร Phon thahan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Anglicised version[2] |
Sergeant major 1st class | Sergeant major 2nd class | Sergeant major 3rd class | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
File:Flag of the Royal Thai Navy.svg Royal Thai Navy[2] |
File:RTN OR-9 (Chief Petty Officer 1st Class).svg | File:RTN OR-8 (Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class).svg | File:RTN OR-7 (Chief Petty Officer 3rd Class).svg | File:RTN OR-5 (Petty Officer 1st Class).svg | File:RTN OR-4 (Petty Officer 2nd Class).svg | File:RTN OR-3 (Petty Officer 3rd Class).svg | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
พันจ่าเอก Phan cha ek |
พันจ่าโท Phan cha tho |
พันจ่าตรี Phan cha tri |
จ่าเอก Cha ek |
จ่าโท Cha tho |
จ่าตรี Cha tri |
พลทหาร Phon thahan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Anglicised version |
Chief petty officer first class | Chief petty officer second class | Chief petty officer third class | Petty officer first class | Petty officer second class | Petty officer third class | Seaman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
File:Flag of the Royal Thai Air Force.svg Royal Thai Air Force[2] |
File:RTAF OR-9 (Flight Sergeant 1st Class).svg | File:RTAF OR-8 (Flight Sergeant 2nd Class).svg | File:RTAF OR-7 (Flight Sergeant 3rd Class).svg | Sergeant | File:RTAF OR-4 (Corporal).svg | File:RTAF OR-3 (Leading Aircraftman).svg | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
พันจ่าอากาศเอก Phan cha akat ek |
พันจ่าอากาศโท Phan cha akat tho |
พันจ่าอากาศตรี Phan cha akat tri |
จ่าอากาศเอก Cha akat ek |
จ่าอากาศโท Cha akat tho |
จ่าอากาศตรี Cha akat tri |
พลทหาร Phon thahan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Anglicised version |
Flight Sergeant first class | Flight Sergeant second class | Flight Sergeant third class | Sergeant | Corporal | Senior Airman | Airman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted |
There is a special rank (Army: Special Sergeant Major 1st Class (Thai: จ่าสิบเอกพิเศษ, romanized: Cha Sip Ek Phiset); navy: Fleet chief petty officer (Thai: พันจ่าเอกพิเศษ, romanized: Phan cha ek phiset); air force: Special flight sergeant 1st class (Thai: พันจ่าอากาศเอกพิเศษ, romanized: Phan cha akat ek phiset)) which is an honorary rank given to senior enlisted members who are deserving of recognition above and beyond that of the highest enlisted rank. There is no difference in the rank insignia worn, and they do not outrank the normal highest enlisted rank, although in a group situation they will normally be assigned control. They receive a higher salary.[citation needed]
Royal Thai Police
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) is sometimes considered as the fourth armed service of Thailand (๔ เหล่าทัพ), but reports directly to the Prime Minister's Department rather than to the Ministry of Defense. The Royal Thai Police share the same rank system as the Royal Thai Army but the particularities of the police are the star representing the commissioned officer and the crown over the star. The Royal Thai Police uses the eight-pointed silver star and the silver crown with a halo on top, while the Royal Thai Army uses the five-pointed gold star and the gold crown with no halo for its officer shoulder boards.
Officers
Non-Commissioned Officers
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
File:Thai National Police Flag.svg Royal Thai Police |
File:RTP OR-9 (Police Senior Sergeant Major).svg | File:RTP OR-8 (Police Sergeant Major).svg | File:RTP OR-5 (Police Sergeant).svg | File:RTP OR-4 (Police Corporal).svg | File:RTP OR-3 (Police Lance Corporal).svg | No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ดาบตำรวจ Dap Tamruat |
จ่าสิบตำรวจ Cha Sip Tamruat |
สิบตำรวจเอก Sip Tamruat Ek |
สิบตำรวจโท Sip Tamruat Tho |
สิบตำรวจตรี Sip Tamruat Tri |
พลตำรวจ Phon Tamruat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
English | Police sergeant major | Police Master sergeant | Police sergeant | Police corporal | Police lance corporal | Police constable |
Volunteer Defense Corps (Thailand)
The Volunteer Defense Corps (กองอาสารักษาดินแดน; abbreviated VDC) is a Thai paramilitary under the authority of the Department Of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior.[4] It was founded in 1954 to provide extra military support to the Royal Thai Armed Forces and to protect local civilians living near Thailand's borders. Its ranks mirror those of both the RTA and the RTP.[5]
- Officers
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volunteer Defense Corps | File:Thailand Volunteer Defense Corps General.svg | File:Thailand Volunteer Defense Corps Colonel.svg | File:Thailand Volunteer Defense Corps Lieutenant Colonel.svg | File:Thailand Volunteer Defense Corps Major.svg | File:Thailand Volunteer Defense Corps Captain.svg | File:Thailand Volunteer Defense Corps First Lieutenant.svg | File:Thailand Volunteer Defense Corps Second Lieutenant.svg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VDC General | VDC Colonel | VDC Lieutenant Colonel | VDC Major | VDC Captain | VDC First Lieutenant | VDC Second Lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VDC Gen | VDC Col | VDC Lt Col | VDC Maj | VDC Capt | VDC 1st Lt | VDC 2nd Lt |
- Enlisted
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volunteer Defense Corps | File:Thailand VDC - Sergeant Major.svg | File:Thailand VDC - Sergeant.svg | File:Thailand VDC - Corporal.svg | File:Thailand VDC - Lance Corporal.svg | File:Thailand VDC - Member-4.svg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VDC Sergeant Major | VDC Sergeant | VDC Corporal | VDC Private First Class | VDC Member | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VDC Sgt Maj | VDC Sgt | VDC Cpl | VDC Pfc | VDC Mbr |
Rank structure
Chom (จอม) (Also used as Chom Thap (จอมทัพ)) is Head of Forces, there can only be one Chom Thap at a time, the King is the Chom Thap.[6] (Phon พล.) Ranks below commander-in-chief use Thai alternate numbers.
See also
References
- ↑ Haseman, John B. (1989). "National Security". In LePoer, Barbara Leitch (ed.). Thailand: a country study. Area Handbook (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 265. LCCN 88600485. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ↑ Jump up to: 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 "เครื่องหมายยศทหาร" [Military Rank Insignia]. navedu.navy.mi.th (in ไทย). Thai Naval Education Department. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ↑ [1], กรมการกงสุล กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ
- ↑ [2] [bare URL PDF]
- ↑ 63 Years of Volunteer Defense Corps (Thailand) in 2017 News page 78-79
- ↑ "Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters English version". Archived from the original on 2009-04-18. Retrieved 2014-05-11.