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
editThe rank insignia of commissioned officers.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 Royal Thai Army[2] |
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| จอมพล Chom phon |
พลเอก Phon ek |
พลโท Phon tho |
พลตรี Phon tri |
พันเอก Phan ek |
พันโท Phan tho |
พันตรี Phan tri |
ร้อยเอก Roi ek |
ร้อยโท Roi tho |
ร้อยตรี Roi tri | |||||||||||||||
| Anglicised version[2] |
Field marshal | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | ||||||||||||||
 Royal Thai Navy[2] |
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| จอมพลเรือ Chom phon ruea |
พลเรือเอก Phon ruea ek |
พลเรือโท Phon ruea tho |
พลเรือตรี Phon ruea tri |
นาวาเอก Nawa ek |
นาวาโท Nawa tho |
นาวาตรี Nawa tri |
เรือเอก Ruea ek |
เรือโท Ruea tho |
เรือตรี Ruea tri | |||||||||||||||
| Anglicised version[2] |
Admiral of the fleet | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant junior grade | Sub lieutenant | ||||||||||||||
 Royal Thai Air Force[2] |
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| จอมพลอากาศ Chom phon akat |
พลอากาศเอก Phon akat ek |
พลอากาศโท Phon akat tho |
พลอากาศตรี Phon akat tri |
นาวาอากาศเอก Nawa akat ek |
นาวาอากาศโท Nawa akat tho |
นาวาอากาศตรี Nawa akat tri |
เรืออากาศเอก Ruea akat ek |
เรืออากาศโท Ruea akat tho |
เรืออากาศตรี Ruea akat tri | |||||||||||||||
| Anglicised version[2] |
Marshal of the Air Force | Air chief marshal | Air marshal | Air vice marshal | Group captain | Wing commander | Squadron leader | Flight lieutenant | Flying officer | Pilot officer | ||||||||||||||
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
Student officer ranks
edit| Rank group | Student officer | ||||
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| Royal Thai Navy[2]
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| 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
editThe rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Thai Army[2] |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Thai Navy[2] |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Thai Air Force[2] |
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| 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
editThe 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
edit| Rank group | General/flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Royal Thai Police |
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| พลตำรวจเอก Phon Tam Ruad Ek |
พลตำรวจโท Phon Tam Ruad Tho |
พลตำรวจตรี Phon Tam Ruad Tri |
พันตำรวจเอก Phan Tam Ruad Ek |
พันตำรวจโท Phan Tam Ruad Tho |
พันตำรวจตรี Phan Tam Ruad Tri |
ร้อยตำรวจเอก Roi Tam Ruad Ek |
ร้อยตำรวจโท Roi Tam Ruad Tho |
ร้อยตำรวจตรี Roi Tam Ruad Tri |
นักเรียนนายร้อยตำรวจ Nak Rian Nai Roi Tam Ruad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abbreviation[3] | พล.ต.อ. | พล.ต.ท. | พล.ต.ต. | พ.ต.อ. | พ.ต.ท. | พ.ต.ต. | ร.ต.อ. | ร.ต.ท. | ร.ต.ต. | นรต. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anglicised version | Police General | Police Lieutenant General | Police Major General | Police Colonel | Police Lieutenant Colonel | Police Major | Police Captain | Police Lieutenant | Police 2nd Lieutenant | Police Cadet Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK equivalent Army ranks/Police ranks | General Commissioner |
Lieutenant General Deputy Commissioner |
Major General Assistant Commissioner |
Colonel Chief Superintendent |
Lieutenant Colonel Divisional Superintendent |
Major Superintendent |
Captain Chief Inspector |
Lieutenant Inspector |
Second Lieutenant Subdivisional Inspector |
Officer Cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-Commissioned Officers
edit| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Thai Police |
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| 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)
editThe 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Volunteer Defense Corps
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| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Volunteer Defense Corps
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| 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
editChom (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
editReferences
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "เครื่องหมายยศทหาร" [Military Rank Insignia]. navedu.navy.mi.th (in Thai). 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.
External links
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