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]
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Royal Thai Army [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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. - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Thai Army [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 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 ]
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).
| Rank group | General/flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Royal Thai Navy [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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").
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Thai Navy [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 ]
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) (กองทัพอากาศไทย, RTGS Kong Thap Akat Thai, IPA: [kɔːŋthápʔaːkàːtthaj] ) 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.
| Rank group | General/flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Royal Thai Air Force [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Thai Air Force [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 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 ]
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.
| Rank group | General/flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Royal Thai Police |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Thai Police |  |  |  |  |  | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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]
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Volunteer Defense Corps |  |  | | |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volunteer Defense Corps |  |  |  |  | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VDC Sergeant Major | VDC Sergeant | VDC Corporal | VDC Private First Class | VDC Member | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VDC Sgt Maj | VDC Sgt | VDC Cpl | VDC Pfc | VDC Mbr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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] (Phonพล.) Ranks below commander-in-chief use Thai alternate numbers.
Air chief marshal is a high-ranking air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. This rank is also equivalent to an Admiral in a navy or a full general in an army or other nations' air forces.
Flight sergeant is a senior non-commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and several other air forces which have adopted all or part of the RAF rank structure. It is equivalent to a staff sergeant or colour sergeant in the British Army, a colour sergeant in the Royal Marines, and a chief petty officer in the Royal Navy, and has a NATO rank code of OR-7. In the RAF, flight sergeant ranks above chief technician and below warrant officer.
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) (Thai: กองทัพอากาศไทย; RTGS: Kong Thap Akat Thai) is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand. Since its establishment in 1913 as one of the earliest air forces of Asia, the Royal Thai Air Force has engaged in numerous major and minor conflicts. During the Vietnam War era, the RTAF was supplied with USAF-aid equipment.
The Thai rank of Field Marshal is the most senior rank of the Royal Thai Army.
Specialist is a military rank in some countries' armed forces. Two branches of the United States Armed Forces use the rank. It is one of the four junior enlisted ranks in the United States Army, above private (PVT), private (PV2), and private first class and is equivalent in pay grade to corporal; in the United States Space Force, four grades of specialist comprise the four junior enlisted ranks below the rank of sergeant.
A five-star rank is the highest military rank in many countries. The rank is that of the most senior operational military commanders, and within NATO's standard rank scale it is designated by the code OF-10. Not all armed forces have such a rank, and in those that do the actual insignia of the five-star ranks may not contain five stars. For example: the insignia for the French OF-10 rank maréchal de France contains seven stars; the insignia for the Portuguese marechal contains four gold stars. The stars used on the various Commonwealth of Nations rank insignias are sometimes colloquially referred to as pips, but in fact either are stars of the orders of the Garter, Thistle or Bath or are Eversleigh stars, depending on the wearer's original regiment or corps, and are used in combination with other heraldic items, such as batons, crowns, swords or maple leaves.
Prasong Soonsiri is a Thai politician, and former Royal Thai Air Force squadron leader, Thai Foreign Minister, and Secretary-General of the National Security Council.
The Wild Tiger Corps was a national paramilitary corps founded in Thailand in 1911 by King Vajiravudh. Inspired by the British Volunteer Force, the unit was intended to maintain civil order.
The Highest Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces is a position vested in the Thai monarch, who as sovereign and head of state is the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
Udomdej Sitabutr is a Thai military officer. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army from 2014 to 2015.
The Royal Thai Air Force Special Operations Regiment or Air Force Commando is the tier-one special forces in the Royal Thai Air Force Security Force Regiment's Special Combat Operations Squadron, which has been in existence since late 1975. Part of Royal Thai Air Force, they are based near Don Mueang International Airport and provide anti-hijacking capabilities, combat search and rescue, commando style raids, executive protection, forward air control, hostage rescue, irregular warfare, medical evacuation, providing security at air base or international airport, special operations mission, and tactical emergency medical services.
The Royal Thai Army Aviation Center is the administrative organization in the Royal Thai Army responsible for
Prajin Juntong is the Minister of Justice, serving until 8 May 2019, and the deputy chairman of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). He also holds the post of deputy prime minister. From 2012 to 2014 he was the Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF).
Commissioned officers' and enlisted rank comparison chart of all marine forces.
Comparison of ranks and insignia of all current and former space forces, to include aerospace forces and air and space forces or air forces with space units and formations.
Chaophraya Bodindechanuchit, personal name Mom Rajawongse Arun Chatrakul, was a Royal Siamese Army officer who served as Minister of War under King Vajiravudh from 1914 to 1921.
Chaophraya Bodindechanuchit, personal name Yaem na Nakhon was the Siamese Minister of Defense from August 26, 1921, to August 4, 1926.
