Military ranks of the Thai armed forces
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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]
Royal Thai Army
[edit]Officers
[edit]Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 |
นักเรียนนายร้อย Nak-rian nairoi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Anglicised version |
Field Marshal | General | Lieutenant General | Major General | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | Army Cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation[3] | - | พล.อ. Gen |
พล.ท. Lt.Gen. |
พล.ต. Maj.Gen. |
พ.อ. Col. |
พ.ท. Lt.Col. |
พ.ต. Maj. |
ร.อ. Capt. |
ร.ท. Lt. |
ร.ต. 2Lt. |
นนร. Cdt. |
Other ranks
[edit]Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 |
Sergeant Major 1st Class | Sergeant Major 2nd Class | Sergeant Major 3rd Class | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance Corporal | Private | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation[3] | จ.ส.อ. SM1 |
จ.ส.ท. SM2 |
จ.ส.ต. SM3 |
ส.อ. Sgt. |
ส.ท. Cpl. |
ส.ต. Pfc. |
พลฯ Pvt. |
The rank of "Special Sergeant Major 1st Class" (Thai: จ่าสิบเอกพิเศษ, romanized: Cha Sip Ek Phiset) 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 master sergeant 1st class, although in a group situation they will normally be assigned control. They receive a higher salary. In the same way, the RTN has the rating of "fleet chief petty officer (special rank)" and the RTAF has the rank of "special flight sergeant 1st class".[citation needed]
Royal Thai Navy
[edit]The Royal Thai Navy is the sea-based part of the Thai military. The Royal Thai Marine Corps is part of the RTN, and uses the same rank structure. Depending on the uniform, the rank insignia can be located on the shoulder (on white and khaki uniforms) or on the sleeves (on dark blue uniforms).
Officers
[edit]Rank group | General/flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 |
นักเรียนนายเรือ Nak-rian nairuea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Anglicised version |
Admiral of the fleet | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant junior grade | Sub Lieutenant | Naval Cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation[3] | - | พล.ร.อ. Adm. |
พล.ร.ท. VAdm. |
พล.ร.ต. RAdm. |
น.อ. Capt. |
น.ท. Cdr. |
น.ต. LCdr. |
ร.อ. Lt. |
ร.ท. Lt.JG. |
ร.ต. SubLt. |
นนร. - |
Naval officers will additionally add the post-nominal ร.น. as an abbreviation for ราชนาวี (râat-chá-naa-wee, literally "the Royal Navy").
Other ranks
[edit]Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
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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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation[3] | พ.จ.อ. CPO1 |
พ.จ.ท. CPO2 |
พ.จ.ต. CPO3 |
จ.อ. PO1 |
จ.ท. PO2 |
จ.ต. PO3 |
พลฯ - |
The rank of "Fleet chief petty officer" (Thai: พันจ่าเอกพิเศษ, romanized: Phan cha ek phiset) 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 master sergeant 1st class, although in a group situation they will normally be assigned control. They receive a higher salary.[citation needed]
Royal Thai Air Force
[edit]The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) (กองทัพอากาศไทย, RTGS Kong Thap Akat Thai, IPA: [kɔːŋ tháp ʔaːkàːt thaj]) is the air based part of the Thai military. The rank system is modelled after that of the British Royal Air Force (RAF), but unlike the RAF, officers' cuff rank insignia are topped by a star above the lace stripes and all air marshals' rank insignia are also determined by one to five stars on the shoulder board.
Officers
[edit]Rank group | General/flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 |
นักเรียนนายเรืออากาศ Nak-rian nairuea akat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Anglicised version | 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 | Air Cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation[3] | – | พล.อ.อ. ACM |
พล.อ.ท. AM |
พล.อ.ต. AVM |
น.อ. Gp.Capt. |
น.ท. Wg.Cdr. |
น.ต. Sqn.Ldr. |
ร.อ. Flt.Lt. |
ร.ท. Flg.Off. |
ร.ต. Plt.Off. |
นนอ. A/cdt. |
Other ranks
[edit]Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Abbreviation[3] | พ.อ.อ. FS1 |
พ.อ.ท. FS2 |
พ.อ.ต. FS3 |
จ.อ. Sgt. |
จ.ท. Cpl. |
จ.ต. SrA. |
พลฯ Amn. |
The rank of "Special flight sergeant 1st class" (Thai: พันจ่าอากาศเอกพิเศษ, romanized: Phan cha akat ek phiset) 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 master sergeant 1st class, although in a group situation they will normally be assigned control. They receive a higher salary.[citation needed]
Royal Thai Police
[edit]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
[edit]Rank group | General/flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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[4] | 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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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)
[edit]The Volunteer Defense Corps (กองอาสารักษาดินแดน; abbreviated VDC) is a Thai paramilitary under the authority of the Department Of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior.[5] 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.[6]
- Officers
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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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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
[edit]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.[7] (Phon พล.) Ranks below commander-in-chief use Thai alternate numbers.
See also
[edit]References
[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 "เครื่องหมายยศทหาร" [Military Rank Insignia]. navedu.navy.mi.th (in Thai). Thai Naval Education Department. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f [1] Archived 2016-12-20 at the Wayback Machine, คำสั่งกระทรวงกลาโหมที่ ๓๑๐/๒๕๕๗ เรื่องการใช้คำภาษาอังกฤษยศทหารของกระทรวงกลาโหม.
- ^ [2], กรมการกงสุล กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ
- ^ [3] [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
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)