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]
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 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 | |||||||||||||||
| Anglicised version [2] | Field marshal | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | ||||||||||||||
 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 | |||||||||||||||
| 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] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Student officer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Thai Navy [2] |  | | | | |
| 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 | |
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| 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 [2] | Sergeant major 1st class | Sergeant major 2nd class | Sergeant major 3rd class | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 ]
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 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 [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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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. [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]
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 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 |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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. [6] (Phonพล.) Ranks below commander-in-chief use Thai alternate numbers.
The Royal Thai Armed Forces are the armed forces of the Kingdom of Thailand.
Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. In other countries, it is a non-commissioned rank.
Sergeant (Sgt) is a rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, serjeant, is used in The Rifles and other units that draw their heritage from the British light infantry. Its origin is the Latin serviens, 'one who serves', through the Old French term serjant.
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant or secretary to a person of high rank, usually a senior military, police or government officer, or to a member of a royal family or a head of state.
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services.
Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world.
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.
A NATO standard grade scale is used by the NATO and its partners for the purpose of comparing military ranks across the member nations militaries, as well as for a number of administrative tasks.
Each officer rank in the navy of a NATO country may be compared with the ranks used by any military service in other NATO countries, under a standardized NATO rank scale. This is useful, for instance, in establishing seniority amongst officers serving alongside each other within multinational command structures.
The comparative military ranks of Korea are the military insignia used by the two nations on the Korean Peninsula, those being the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and the Korean People's Army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The United States Forces Korea personnel wear the ranks and insignia used by other service personnel of the United States Armed Forces in the territories of the United States.
The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) uses a simplified ranking system for the three branches of Indonesian Army, Indonesian Navy and Indonesian Air Force. Most of the ranks are similar with differences for the rank titles of the high-ranking officers. Exception exists, however, in the ranks of the service members of the Indonesian Marine Corps. While Indonesian Marine Corps is a branch of the Navy, the rank titles of the Marine Corps are the same as those of the Army, but it still uses the Navy's style insignia.
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.
The Military ranks of Philippines are the military insignia used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
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 Military ranks of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia were the military insignia used by the Royal Yugoslav Armed Forces. It replaced the ranks of the Kingdom of Serbia following the unification of the Kingdom of Serbia into Kingdom SHS. After the proclamation of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the ranks were replaced by the Yugoslav People's Army ranks.
Commissioned officers' and enlisted rank comparison chart of all marine forces.
The Military ranks of Myanmar are the military insignia used by the Myanmar Armed Forces, its auxiliary services, some government departments and some civilian organizations.
