Thai defence ministry to downsize military

[webfact]

 

The Thai Ministry of Defence outlined a comprehensive plan to downsize service personnel by approximately 700 individuals within the next three years.

 

This strategic move aims to restructure the military and is expected to result in savings of up to 34 million baht. Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang confirmed these details after a Defence Council meeting last Thursday.

 

The initial phase of the downsizing process, which will span the fiscal years from 2025 to 2027, was agreed upon unanimously during the council meeting. The idea to reduce military personnel was first proposed by Sutin in a budget bill debate for the fiscal year 2024 on January 4.

The defence minister has issued a new regulation focusing on early retirements to help decrease the number of high-ranking officers across the three military branches by almost half, equating to around 380 officers, by 2027.

Defence Spokesman, Rear Admiral Thanitpong Sirisawetsak, shared further details on the proposed structural changes within the military. To minimise work redundancy, several divisions will be merged. For instance, the Office of the Secretary of the Reserve Personnel Committee and the Recruitment Division, Department of Defence Resources, are set to be consolidated with the Ministry’s Office Permanent Secretary.

 

The restructuring also includes the reform of some military structures. The Defence Information and Space Technology Department, for instance, will be revamped to work more cohesively with the Military Cyber Centre, which is expected to evolve into the Military Cyber Command soon.

 

In addition, certain organisations will transform. The ASEAN Office of Defense Policy and Planning will become the Office of International and ASEAN Cooperation, and the Royal Initiative Project and Security Coordination Centre will be transformed into the Royal Initiative Project Development Office.

 

In related developments, Sutin has instructed the Judge Advocate General’s Department to revise regulations relating to servicemen’s job descriptions, reported Bangkok Post.

 

This order comes in response to a video posted by a former conscript on March 10, which went viral. The video showed the former conscript tasked with washing his superior’s wife’s underwear, among other domestic duties. Sutin has emphasised the need for an official job description for conscripts working at their superiors’ residences.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-22

 

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[realfunster]

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

The video showed the former conscript tasked with washing his superior’s wife’s underwear

 

Kinky.

He may have actually "enjoyed" that ? 

[JoePai]

Can only hope it's "downsizing" by sacking 700 Generals

[dinsdale]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

focusing on early retirements to help decrease the number of high-ranking officers across the three military branches by almost half, equating to around 380 officers, by 2027.

These will not be the Generals. Way to much power and money for any early retirement amongst these dinasaurs. Mind you there are some tasty senate seats coming up I'm sure something can be arranged.

[mfd101]

2 hours ago, JoePai said:

Can only hope it's "downsizing" by sacking 700 Generals

If achieved, that might almost be worthy of the description "strategic move" ...

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thai Ministry of Defence outlined a comprehensive plan to downsize service personnel by approximately 700 individuals within the next three years

Probably covered by retirements.

[zzaa09]

32 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

These will not be the Generals. Way to much power and money for any early retirement amongst these dinasaurs. Mind you there are some tasty senate seats coming up I'm sure something can be arranged.

A round about legislative coup?

They always find a way.

[khunjeff]

So, downsizing by 700 personnel, or about 1/4 of 1% of total strength, and "saving" 34M baht, or about 1/6 of 1% of the budget - and this will take years to implement. Are we supposed to be impressed?

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thai Ministry of Defence outlined a comprehensive plan to downsize service personnel

 

Well I never!

 

 

[beautifulthailand99]

There is a top brass official army mor-dhu (clairvoyant) that lives in a state funded palace and is used by the Generals to help with their decision-making processes.

 

https://www.voanews.com/a/thai-politics-challenges-fortune-tellers/1939913.html

[scorecard]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

 

The Thai Ministry of Defence outlined a comprehensive plan to downsize service personnel by approximately 700 individuals within the next three years.

 

This strategic move aims to restructure the military and is expected to result in savings of up to 34 million baht. Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang confirmed these details after a Defence Council meeting last Thursday.

 

The initial phase of the downsizing process, which will span the fiscal years from 2025 to 2027, was agreed upon unanimously during the council meeting. The idea to reduce military personnel was first proposed by Sutin in a budget bill debate for the fiscal year 2024 on January 4.

The defence minister has issued a new regulation focusing on early retirements to help decrease the number of high-ranking officers across the three military branches by almost half, equating to around 380 officers, by 2027.

Defence Spokesman, Rear Admiral Thanitpong Sirisawetsak, shared further details on the proposed structural changes within the military. To minimise work redundancy, several divisions will be merged. For instance, the Office of the Secretary of the Reserve Personnel Committee and the Recruitment Division, Department of Defence Resources, are set to be consolidated with the Ministry’s Office Permanent Secretary.

 

The restructuring also includes the reform of some military structures. The Defence Information and Space Technology Department, for instance, will be revamped to work more cohesively with the Military Cyber Centre, which is expected to evolve into the Military Cyber Command soon.

 

In addition, certain organisations will transform. The ASEAN Office of Defense Policy and Planning will become the Office of International and ASEAN Cooperation, and the Royal Initiative Project and Security Coordination Centre will be transformed into the Royal Initiative Project Development Office.

 

In related developments, Sutin has instructed the Judge Advocate General’s Department to revise regulations relating to servicemen’s job descriptions, reported Bangkok Post.

 

This order comes in response to a video posted by a former conscript on March 10, which went viral. The video showed the former conscript tasked with washing his superior’s wife’s underwear, among other domestic duties. Sutin has emphasised the need for an official job description for conscripts working at their superiors’ residences.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-22

 

- Discover how Cigna Insurance can protect you with a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment. For more information on expat health insurance click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe
 

Don't agree, should be a total ban on conscripts or any soldiers working at the residence of an officer.

[mikebell]

200 a year spread over three years will set the Cambodian Army massing on the border.

[john donson]

did anyone do the math ?

 

that seem to be less than 50.000 baht per person (48.571 x 500)

[Hunz Kittisak]

Good luck with that 

They’ve been saying that for decades

 Thailand is known as the land of a thousand generals 

[sammieuk1]

This is easy just cut the number of generals by half and leave the other 75,000 to run the army ...next 🤔

[fondue zoo]

On 3/22/2024 at 1:27 PM, webfact said:

The Defence Information and Space Technology Department, for instance, will be revamped to work more cohesively with the Military Cyber Centre, which is expected to evolve into the Military Cyber Command soon.

Who will run this?  Lord High Commander of Space Justice?

[Guderian]

On 3/22/2024 at 10:27 AM, webfact said:

focusing on early retirements to help decrease the number of high-ranking officers across the three military branches by almost half,

 

A good idea as long as they don't just shunt them across to inactive posts costing the same money from a different budget.