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. Lcpl. | 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 | Lance Corporal | Airman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abbreviation [3] | พ.อ.อ. FS1 | พ.อ.ท. FS2 | พ.อ.ต. FS3 | จ.อ. Sgt. | จ.ท. Cpl. | จ.ต. Lcpl | 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 Lance Corporal | VDC Member | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VDC Sgt Maj | VDC Sgt | VDC Cpl | VDC Lcpl | 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.
Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned officer ranks, the most senior of the non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranks, or in a separate category of their own. Warrant officer ranks are especially prominent in the militaries of Commonwealth nations and the United States.
Sergeant 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.
Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corresponds to commanding a section or squad of soldiers.
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.
This is a table of the ranks and insignia of the Canadian Armed Forces. As the Canadian Armed Forces is officially bilingual, the French language ranks are presented following the English.
A petty officer (PO) is a non-commissioned officer in many navies. In many nations, they are typically equal to a sergeant in comparison to other military branches. Often they may be superior to a seaman, and subordinate to more senior non-commissioned officers, such as a chief petty officers.
Chief Warrant officer is a senior warrant officer rank, used in many countries.
A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearer's nationality and/or organisation. The wearing of cap badges is a convention commonly found among military and police forces, as well as uniformed civilian groups such as the Boy Scouts, civil defence organisations, ambulance services, customs services, fire services etc.
Officer Cadet is a rank held by military cadets during their training to become commissioned officers. In the United Kingdom, the rank is also used by members of University Royal Naval Units, University Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron; however, these are not trainee officers with many not choosing a career in the armed forces.
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 military ranks of Israel are the military insignia used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Because the IDF is an integrated force, ranks are the same in all services The ranks are derived from those in the paramilitary Haganah, which operated during the Mandate period in order to protect the Yishuv.
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.
The Australian Defence Force's (ADF) ranks of officers and enlisted personnel in each of its three service branches of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) inherited their rank structures from their British counterparts. The insignia used to identify these ranks are also generally similar to those used in the British Armed Forces.
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.
This article deals with the rank insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Army, as worn by the Austro-Hungarian Army after the reorganisation in 1867 until 1918.
