The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has introduced a meal plan costing just 10 baht per meal in response to social media criticism about the quality of conscripts' food in Bangkok. A viral video had shown disappointingly low-quality breakfasts, leading the conscript who posted it to call for improvements.

 

RTA spokesperson, Colonel Richa Suksuwan, confirmed that increased efforts will be put into improving both the variety of the menu and the way meals are delivered. This response comes after a video showed underwhelming meals of cucumber soup with egg and fried Chinese sausage which seemed to be mainly water.

 

To ensure proper management, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has set up guidelines for deducting conscripts' meal charges from their allowances and salaries. This works out to about 2,100 baht per month or around 70 baht per day, which amounts to 23 baht per meal.

 

Recent social media posts have pointed out the difference in meal costs between conscripts, who pay 70 baht per day, and officers at the RTA headquarters, who pay only 10 baht per meal for the same food. Meals usually consist of a variety of dishes, including soups, curries, stir-fries and a dessert.

 

The menu for today featured Thai papaya salad, spicy pork soup, rice with two pieces of fried chicken, and pandan noodles in coconut milk for dessert. Visitors to the RTA headquarters can also enjoy these meals for a cost of 40 baht each.

 

The cheap meal programme at RTA headquarters started under former RTA Commander General Wimon Wongwanich, who subsidized the meals to lessen the financial strain on military personnel. Despite increasing food costs, the RTA maintains this initiative by allocating necessary funds.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-08-02

 

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60 baht in the pockets for someone.

 

Shameful Thailand with so many inactive generals who fill their pockets with doing nothing eating and drinking with their big salaries while the conscripts hardly get to eat... Even worse than in a government school...And that while so much money is going every year to the army... where is it going than..... Changes are very very needed.. It should be free and not being deducted... The army works for the country why do they have to pay for it??

51 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

The army works for the country why do they have to pay for it??

Hear hear!

 

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has introduced a meal plan costing just 10 baht per meal in response to social media criticism about the quality of conscripts' food in Bangkok.

Worth every baht...... 

8 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Hear hear!

 

Especially those who are conscripts. They did not want to serve in the Army yet are obliged to do so.. Then they find meal costs are deducted from their meagre salaries. 

Utterly disgusting. A pity the conscripts don't go on strike. That would certainly give the Powers a shock ...

 

Back in the day (12 years ago) my b/f used to climb out over the barracks walls at midnight in BKK in search of food (and other moneymaking adventures) ...

About time too.

Thai politics is dominated by weathy Hi so army generals.

Media reports indicate they often treat conscripts as lackeys and domestic servants. 

24 minutes ago, jippytum said:

Media reports indicate they often treat conscripts as lackeys and domestic servants. 

Yes, my b/f served finger food to the highest in the land (well, actually the second highest). And minded the colonel's dog and cut the hair of his platoon.

 

He also tells me the conscripts have to pay for their own uniforms.

 

All of which is somewhere between amusing and appalling but I must say - for an uneducated illiterate peasant boy who spoke Khmer as his first language, peasant Thai as his second - this was all for him a great eye-opener & an education in itself.

 

He still knows all the shortcuts thru hotel lobbies and other people's backyards whenever we're in Bangers. And he met the love of his life and now speaks OK English ...

The sacred institution.

Can anyone explain why the food is not 100% free every day for everyone who serves while they are on active duty?

 

Ok if they want to charge extra for ice cream and expresso. fair enough...

 

But basic food should be free...

Never see any fat Thai conscripts. Only officers.

how many of you did 12 months? I remember... got way less then them... they get a 7/11 salary (8-10k ?)

 

I remember being payed peanuts, or was I caged in the zoo, same same

12 minutes ago, john donson said:

how many of you did 12 months? I remember... got way less then them... they get a 7/11 salary (8-10k ?)

 

I remember being payed peanuts, or was I caged in the zoo, same same

What Army were you in?

I enlisted in the U.S. of A. Army in July 1969.   My advanced training was at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.  My pay after deductions was about $70.00.   

I learned that I could hitchhike into Boston Friday afternoon and work for 16 hours on the weekend and earned about $120.00 a month.  The good old days!  🤪

On 8/3/2024 at 7:11 AM, mfd101 said:

Utterly disgusting. A pity the conscripts don't go on strike. That would certainly give the Powers a shock ...

 

Back in the day (12 years ago) my b/f used to climb out over the barracks walls at midnight in BKK in search of food (and other moneymaking adventures) ...

He was lucky they didn't find out he was gay.

On 8/2/2024 at 7:03 PM, snoop1130 said:

and officers at the RTA headquarters, who pay only 10 baht per meal for the same food. Meals usually consist of a variety of dishes, including soups, curries, stir-fries and a dessert.

And they are the ones not doing forced exercises. RTAhols 

37 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

He was lucky they didn't find out he was gay.

Everyone knew. Not a secret. These are Thai peasant boys. Half of them were gay-for-pay. That's how they made ends meet (so to speak).

On 8/2/2024 at 7:03 PM, snoop1130 said:

Recent social media posts have pointed out the difference in meal costs between conscripts, who pay 70 baht per day, and officers at the RTA headquarters, who pay only 10 baht per meal for the same food. Meals usually consist of a variety of dishes, including soups, curries, stir-fries and a dessert.

I never paid a dime for a meal while on active duty in the US military.  So the Thai government conscripts a man into their military and then deducts the cost of the crappy food they feed them out of their measly wages?  There is something totally amoral about that. But - TIT.