Thai GF Planning to Get a Job in the Army - Bad Idea?

[fitfalang]

Hi, 

 

I have a Thai 'girlfriend' / friend in her mid 20s who is trying to make a difficult life decision. She has been offered a job in the Thai army as some kind of an international liaison officer and she is debating whether to take on this offer or not. The job involves dealing with international affairs and reporting directly to high-raking army generals. The job would pay her 3 x her current salary (around 100k/month) which is the main reason the job is attractive. She actually hates the army, but at the same time it sounds like an offer to not miss. Her current job with a 6-day week is very hard and draining the life out of her. The girl is from a wealthy family, but very ambitious to be successful and make money on her own, which I find very respectable. 

 

However, she is very worried about working in the army due to the level of corruption, all scandals in the news etc. and working with many men in high power. She is not 100% Thai and is very attractive by Thai standards (tall, white skin, large natural breasts) and worried of risks being sexually harrassed etc. This is probably one main reason why they are so keen on hiring her for this position (typical to Thailand) as well as her high-level of English. 

 

Her family has advised her to not take the job as they don't have much respect for the army here and are worried about her safety.

 

What do you think, would it be a bad idea? Do you know any Thai females working in the army and how has been their experience? 

 

 

[spidermike007]

Avoid it. The army here is nothing but trouble. The high ranking officers not only are trouble, but they have little in the way of regard for others of lower rank, and they have absolute impunity, are above any and all laws, and are protected at the highest levels. Best to avoid being beholden to men like that. Besides, the salary sounds suspiciously high anyway. 

[neeray]

Sounds to me like she would have a target on her back from day one. It also sounds like it would be the "beginning of the end" to your relationship.

[colinneil]

Salary around 100k a month!!!

Is that you or your gf dreaming?

[neeray]

At 100K, I'm reasonably sure "extras" by the boys would be expected from her.

[fitfalang]

33 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Avoid it. The army here is nothing but trouble. The high ranking officers not only are trouble, but they have little in the way of regard for others of lower rank, and they have absolute impunity, are above any and all laws, and are protected at the highest levels. Best to avoid being beholden to men like that. Besides, the salary sounds suspiciously high anyway. 

 

17 minutes ago, neeray said:

Sounds to me like she would have a target on her back from day one. It also sounds like it would be the "beginning of the end" to your relationship.

 

Thanks for the tips guys, I think that will help her to conclude it's a no. I personally despise the army as well, but don't want to stop her from succeeding with her career path. 

 

8 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Salary around 100k a month!!!

Is that you or your gf dreaming?

Around 90k with a travel allowance, job includes travels inside and out of the country. Not all jobs for Thais pay peanuts, I know plenty of them with salaries in this range, but you are correct it does sound suspicious for a govt. job. 

[colinneil]

11 minutes ago, fitfalang said:

 

 

Thanks for the tips guys, I think that will help her to conclude it's a no. I personally despise the army as well, but don't want to stop her from succeeding with her career path. 

 

Around 90k with a travel allowance, job includes travels inside and out of the country. Not all jobs for Thais pay peanuts, I know plenty of them with salaries in this range, but you are correct it does sound suspicious for a govt. job. 

So your gf is going to get an army generals pay from day 1.

Well i do not believe that for 1 minute, those salaries are earned only after many years service.

My wife is a grade 8 government employee with over 25 years service, and she dont get that kind of money.

So sorry to say somebody is telling porkies.

[fitfalang]

7 minutes ago, colinneil said:

So your gf is going to get an army generals pay from day 1.

Well i do not believe that for 1 minute, those salaries are earned only after many years service.

My wife is a grade 8 government employee with over 25 years service, and she dont get that kind of money.

So sorry to say somebody is telling porkies.

It's good to know and I appreciate your input. Sounds very suspicious indeed.. she did receive all the official paperwork for applying to the job but it does sound dodgy. 

[impulse]

I'd be real skeptical, too. 

 

But unless she has other options that offer that kind of dosh, international travel, and contact with well connected people that could set her up for life, why not give it a try? 

 

She can always quit if the suspicions are correct.  If they're not, she's probably passing up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity without ever knowing.

 

Of course, I'm assuming that it's a civilian position and not a recruitment with a long and sticky enlistment commitment.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I don't know about the stated salary... that sounds a bit suspicious for a new hire.

 

But I can offer a few things others here mostly cannot.

 

A good friend of my wife's is from a career Army officers family. My wife's friend, who speaks very good English, graduated university and worked in the private sector for some years, before eventually deciding to leave that and take up an officer's job in the Army here in BKK.

 

My impression is that the main reason she was able to get an officer's job from the outside is because one of her parents is a longtime senior officer. And I'm pretty sure I heard along the way that her family had to pay some sizable sum in order for her to obtain that position -- just like routinely occurs with the police and elsewhere.

 

That said, she's been working as an officer stationed here in BKK for some years now, and I've never heard any whiff of her getting any sexual harassment, etc. etc. Instead, she ended up meeting and dating another officer over the past few years, and they recently got married together. My wife's friend is a very nice young and modestly attractive woman.

 

So while it's certainly justified for folks here to have their feelings about the Army and the police, etc., for a Thai citizen, it's not necessarily a bad gig. Especially if the person is coming from a family that has some social status / standing / influence that would likely be a buffer against some forms of abuse / mistreatment at the hands of others.

 

[phetpeter]

She should take the job, if she is a career person. The opportunities it offers are very good, Senior staff need these people who can interact in English and Thai well, they are the buffers against misunderstandings. The prepare the path for discussion, Translate difficult advice and will mix in circles they would never get in, They travel and stay in luxury. and become a very important aide. I know a lady who started at an international hospital, moved into the same career when offered and finally ended working for the USA diplomatic corp, she now lives in Honolulu, and is doing very nicely. I wish I could sort that out for daughter, The best I can offer is apprentice training with the British forces, so I know she will be OK

Edited June 9, 2018 by phetpeter

[peterb17]

A question- is any of the advice given against the army backed up by any actual experience- or just bar stool talk. It could be an excellent career move . 

 

To the OP - I think just attractive would have been fine. I’m quite sure your girlfriend will be totally delighted for you to post on a forum ( full of nutters) that she has “ large natural breasts”

 

There is a world wide movement to give women a little more respect - if you had not noticed. 

 

[Puwa]

5 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

I don't know about the stated salary... that sounds a bit suspicious for a new hire.

 

But I can offer a few things others here mostly cannot.

 

A good friend of my wife's is from a career Army officers family. My wife's friend, who speaks very good English, graduated university and worked in the private sector for some years, before eventually deciding to leave that and take up an officer's job in the Army here in BKK.

 

My impression is that the main reason she was able to get an officer's job from the outside is because one of her parents is a longtime senior officer. And I'm pretty sure I heard along the way that her family had to pay some sizable sum in order for her to obtain that position -- just like routinely occurs with the police and elsewhere.

 

That said, she's been working as an officer stationed here in BKK for some years now, and I've never heard any whiff of her getting any sexual harassment, etc. etc. Instead, she ended up meeting and dating another officer over the past few years, and they recently got married together. My wife's friend is a very nice young and modestly attractive woman.

 

So while it's certainly justified for folks here to have their feelings about the Army and the police, etc., for a Thai citizen, it's not necessarily a bad gig. Especially if the person is coming from a family that has some social status / standing / influence that would likely be a buffer against some forms of abuse / mistreatment at the hands of others.

 

I agree. The army does in fact pay well for international liaison work. It's good money for easy work, she should take it.  

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

25 minutes ago, Puwa said:

I agree. The army does in fact pay well for international liaison work. It's good money for easy work, she should take it.  

 

Especially if, as the OP noted, she's got a bangin' body -- "(tall, white skin, large natural breasts)"  

 

Here's a good example of the kind of government gigs that exist here for attractive Thai women with good English skills. "Captain BB" started out wanting to be a flight attendant, and look where she's ended up...

 

 

The only caveat I'd have about all this is these kinds of jobs obviously require certain attributes, would be highly desirable to many Thais, and typically in Thai government fashion would require either knowing someone fairly important and/or paying someone important in order to be chosen. And I haven't heard that the OP's friend has either of those last two attributes.

 

AFAIK, it's not like they just post those kinds of Army/police/government positions in the classified section of the Bangkok Post and wait to see who applies.

 

 

Edited June 9, 2018 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Ulic]

Take the job for the money but be prepared for the harassment. If it crosses the

line simply quit. Keep all documentation. SMS messages, emails and a diary. 

It will be difficult but you go in eyes wide open, no surprises. See how it goes.

[TTboy]

I am skeptical about the whole story.

 

A) if she's your GF and wants to join a mostly male, high testosterone work environment that will undoubtedly take her away from you for long periods of time, does she even consider herself to be "yours" the way you do?

 

B) on a similar note, by your description she's unusually attractive and a bit exotic looking. She's been looked at and admired ever since she first hit puberty - do you really think she has no idea what's up? You mentioned she's career oriented - she is no shrinking violet. She knows good and well what may be required of her in this venture and is prepared to do what it takes to move up the ladder. 

 

This might be a good time for some self-examination. The fact that you respect "career ambition" in a woman from a culture where the women usually value fertility and family first says more than you realize. You're likely a stepping stone and definitely not her last stop. 

 

Don't try to keep her - she's already checked out and sizing up the next opportunity.

 

As far as 100k, that's bhat, right? Because nobody gets paid that in the Thai army right off the streets - not even the, uh, more ambitious female recruits. 

[stephen tracy]

Doesn't sound like she enjoys her current job so I'd say take it. She can always resign after a couple of months if she doesn't like it for whatever reason. Also, in a liaison role like that, she might make a lot of useful contacts, which could lead onto to other career opportunities. 

[scorecard]

8 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Avoid it. The army here is nothing but trouble. The high ranking officers not only are trouble, but they have little in the way of regard for others of lower rank, and they have absolute impunity, are above any and all laws, and are protected at the highest levels. Best to avoid being beholden to men like that. Besides, the salary sounds suspiciously high anyway. 

 

"The high ranking officers not only are trouble, but they have little in the way of regard for others of lower rank, and they have absolute impunity, are above any and all laws, and are protected at the highest levels. "

 

I would add many of them have low levels of capability, limited knowledge of the world and at the same time think they are world class.

 

Her current job may be boring and lots of hard work, but reporting to / working for, and explaining the officers philosophies, their policies and explaining their logic (?) for these policies maybe even harder work. 

 

There's always other job possibilities, wait a while.

 

 

 

[Laza 45]

Take the job!  There is corruption in the army.. but do you you think private enterprise is any better?.. It is a great opportunity for her.. go for it girl!  

 

[Media1]

9 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Avoid it. The army here is nothing but trouble. The high ranking officers not only are trouble, but they have little in the way of regard for others of lower rank, and they have absolute impunity, are above any and all laws, and are protected at the highest levels. Best to avoid being beholden to men like that. Besides, the salary sounds suspiciously high anyway. 

The salary is a lie. THAI army employees are on shit money. 100k is a very well ranked man. Please another story. She would see 25k a month. Next

[Media1]

They have other plans for the mixed race lass. 

[Laza 45]

1 minute ago, Media1 said:

The salary is a lie. THAI army employees are on shit money. 100k is a very well ranked man. Please another story. She would see 25k a month. Next

25k a month isn't bad here.. plus a few perks.. you can't compare with a developed western country... opportunities like this are few and far between here.. she should go for it! 

[Media1]

1 minute ago, Laza 45 said:

25k a month isn't bad here.. plus a few perks.. you can't compare with a developed western country... opportunities like this are few and far between here.. she should go for it! 

Without seeing her CV. I would say the offer has come from a admirer with other plans. International liason with no knowledge or army connection..Is highly suspicious.  Army work from within on all plum roles. I have a army friend retired General who has hands in pots all over. Educated in Australia. I doubt this is legit and maybe a story by the young lass

[Laza 45]

5 minutes ago, Media1 said:

Without seeing her CV. I would say the offer has come from a admirer with other plans. International liason with no knowledge or army connection..Is highly suspicious.  Army work from within on all plum roles. I have a army friend retired General who has hands in pots all over. Educated in Australia. I doubt this is legit and maybe a story by the young lass

Well.. that could well be the case.. if it seems to be too good to be true .. it probably isn't... 

[Jeremia Juxtaposed]

Let her do what she has told you what she wants to do with her life ..... and walk away. 

[stephen tracy]

2 minutes ago, Jeremia Juxtaposed said:

Let her do what she has told you what she wants to do with her life ..... and walk away. 

I'm not sure why he'd have to walk away, it's just a job offer.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

11 minutes ago, Media1 said:

 Army work from within on all plum roles.

 

That's certainly been my impression -- they're looking to friends, adult children, relations, etc etc of their own or those with some influence.

 

Unless, of course, the offered job description also includes assignments like "mia noi" or "gik" or "sideline girl."

 

[Jeremia Juxtaposed]

1 minute ago, stephen tracy said:

I'm not sure why he'd have to walk away, it's just a job offer.

Because it isn't "just a job offer"..... 

[TechnikaIII]

Many are understandably patriotic. A young lady who I tutor in English occasionally recently failed the Army entrance exam and was very disappointed. (Note: "was") She says she wants to serve the country. So I told her that all is not lost because there are many ways she can serve the country, and in ways where she can have more control over her actions. 

Her eyes widened and she listened as though it was the first day of the World. Well, encouraging the use of initiative is not in the Thai education agenda. 

As most of you are aware, the education system is lacking in many areas, and it certainly fails in teaching the increasingly more important English language. When I pressed her, she said that her 'English teacher' couldn't speak English, and when asked various questions on grammar, the teacher would simply refer my student to Youtube.

(deep sigh)

We talked about all the possible avenues she could pursue, from education to environmental protection, whatever 

I left her house that day, a smiling and alive young woman .. with a tough road ahead of her, but with more promise.

However, she likes the uniform she wore as a cadet .. needless to say ... and she has a 'boyfriend' who's in the army, 

( another sigh)  

I said: "If it's the uniform you like, there are many positions which require you to wear a uniform. Have you ever thought of working for an airline?" ... Now she's thinking. Actually really thinking, but her mother is fond of the 'boyfriend' even though he's more than twice her age, and she gets to see him one every six months. (Maybe she'll get over that one.)

 

 

[stephen tracy]

1 hour ago, Jeremia Juxtaposed said:

Because it isn't "just a job offer"..... 

How does anyone know whether it is or it isn't? Is everyone armed with a crystal ball?