Thai Military Sees Major Leadership Change in Annual Reshuffle

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (23 September) — The Government of Thailand has announced a significant reshuffle within its military, involving the transfer of 808 officers to new posts. The reshuffle includes the appointment of new chiefs for the Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Navy as current leaders prepare for retirement at the end of this month.

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra submitted the list of new appointments for royal endorsement, which was published on the Royal Gazette’s website yesterday. The changes are set to take effect on 1 October once endorsed.

 

Among the key appointments is General Pana Klaewplodthuk, who will be the new commander-in-chief of the army. Pana, currently serving as the army’s chief-of-staff and a member of the renowned red-rim soldier fraternity, was nominated by the outgoing army chief, General Charoenchai Hintao. Pana’s term will extend until 2027.

 

Another notable shift sees Admiral Jirapol Wongwit taking the helm as the navy’s new commander-in-chief, succeeding Admiral Adoong Pan-iam. Jirapol's appointment is particularly significant given his overseas naval academy education and the fact that he has not previously held key positions typically expected of a navy chief.

 

 

 

 

The air force is also seeing strategic changes under ACM Panpakdee Pattanakul. He has appointed air force senior expert ACM Chainat Pholkit as his deputy, alongside promoting ACM Manat Chavanaprayoon as the chairman of the Air Force advisory board.

 

These appointments are part of the government's efforts to ensure a smooth transition and maintain stability within the armed forces. Both the public and military analysts have been closely monitoring these developments, as they signal significant changes in the leadership of Thailand’s military branches.

 

The comprehensive reshuffle aims to reinforce the military's leadership and bolster its operational readiness, ensuring that Thailand’s armed forces remain a strong and effective force in the region. Once the royal endorsement is received, the new appointments will officially take effect from 1 October.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-09-23

 

[Will B Good]

 

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra submitted the list of new appointments for royal endorsement, which she received from her daddy, it was then published on the Royal Gazette’s website yesterday.

[Hunz Kittisak]

Red rimmed officer is new army chief 

Check out new naval chief education and training and you can make the connection. 
 

Everything in place done and dusted. No coup for years to come. 

[Hunz Kittisak]

14 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra submitted the list of new appointments for royal endorsement, which she received from her daddy, it was then published on the Royal Gazette’s website yesterday.

You are naive if you think Thaksin has a say in that list. Powerful as he is he still answers to someone higher up. 

[marin]

13 minutes ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

You are naive if you think Thaksin has a say in that list. Powerful as he is he still answers to someone higher up. 

You dont get it at all. How do you think he got back? Do you think a financial incentive was in order?

[scorecard]

36 minutes ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

You are naive if you think Thaksin has a say in that list. Powerful as he is he still answers to someone higher up. 

 

So why was the list in his possession? 

What responsibilities did he have regarding the list?

[Mason45]

Thai Army, the Foreskin Fusiliers.

[pegman]

4 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Red rimmed officer is new army chief 

Check out new naval chief education and training and you can make the connection. 
 

Everything in place done and dusted. No coup for years to come. 

Good

[HaoleBoy]

Just tell the Thais how many General grade officers there are currently and how many previously.

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pana, currently serving as the army’s chief-of-staff and a member of the renowned red-rim soldier fraternity,

What?

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

What?

There is a relatively new " fraternity" amongst the officer corps, which is being appointed to many of the top jobs. They have a very specific loyalty. They wear a distinctive red rim around the collar of their tee shirts.

[Srikcir]

20 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

There is a relatively new " fraternity" amongst the officer corps, which is being appointed to many of the top jobs. They have a very specific loyalty. They wear a distinctive red rim around the collar of their tee shirts.

It's not new but decades old that the RTM has been fractured, ie., the King's Guard vs the Queen's Guard. The 2014 coup entrenched one faction in military power, ie., to conduct coups as necessary.

 

From "Military Factions and Coups: Pathways to Power in Thailand," by Anders C. Johansson
and Anders Engvall from Stockholm School of Economics:

https://swopec.hhs.se/hascer/papers/hascer2022-054.1.pdf

• "Factional strength as measured by control of top military positions is positively associated with the likelihood of a military coup.... factional strength when measured by senior-level positions is also positively related to the likelihood of a military coup....it is shown that the relationship between military factional strength and coups is unidirectional.
• A popular view of the reoccurring military coups taking place in Thailand is that they are not primarily driven by economic or security reasons.
• they are instead ad hoc events that come about because of the complex interplay between various groups within the Thai elite.... groups are composed of royals, politicians and bureaucrats, business leaders, and commanding officers from the military."

[phetphet]

What is the point of these annual military reshuffles? is it just to make sure everyone gets a tick on their CV?  Or to prevent anyone becoming too influential in any one position?

[brianthainess]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The comprehensive reshuffle aims to reinforce the military's leadership and bolster its operational readiness, ensuring that Thailand’s armed forces remain a strong and effective force in the region.

Oh thank god for that I feel so much safer now, as I'm sure we all do, knowing the military will protect us all from,.... err hang on a minute err...no sorry I give up......

[brianthainess]

And the amount of Generals has been reduced by how many ? was that not talked about before ?

[Eric Loh]

13 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Red rimmed officer is new army chief 

Check out new naval chief education and training and you can make the connection. 
 

Everything in place done and dusted. No coup for years to come. 

Concur with your sentiment. The First Army who is responsible for the security of Bangkok has red rimmed commanders. Significant as the First Army has always been the spearhead of coups due to its proximity. 

[Eric Loh]

46 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

And the amount of Generals has been reduced by how many ? was that not talked about before ?

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2719014/military-generals-halved-by-2027

[brianthainess]

7 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

54 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

And the amount of Generals has been reduced by how many ? was that not talked about before ?

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2719014/military-generals-halved-by-2027

And still not one has been sidelined TTBOMK

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

It's not new but decades old that the RTM has been fractured, ie., the King's Guard vs the Queen's Guard. The 2014 coup entrenched one faction in military power, ie., to conduct coups as necessary.

Yes, perhaps I should have said that the new "fraternity" was separate, and  supercedes the two long existing rival factions?

[Eric Loh]

3 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

And still not one has been sidelined TTBOMK

 

New government and a recently sworned in Defence minister should be allowed time to follow through with the government policy to reduce in half within 3 years within the confine of the law. The Parliament oppositions will ensure the policy be followed through. 

[Sydebolle]

I will only look into this subject again, after Thailand confirms having reached the minimum of 10,000 Generals ........ 

[Mason45]

What's the difference between a good working vacuum cleaner and and a Thai Admiral? The good working vacuum cleaner sucks, sucks and never fails. What the Thai Admiral does I'll leave that up to you.

[Hunz Kittisak]

3 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2719014/military-generals-halved-by-2027

The joke back then was that many of the generals have no official posting and most dun even have an office that’s why they are always out playing golf 

[Mason45]

Do the Red Rimmers operate in Soi 6?

Edited September 24 by Mason45
Typo

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

The joke back then was that many of the generals have no official posting and most dun even have an office that’s why they are always out playing golf 

Military law allow the generals who don’t have active posting to remain generals as “ advisers”. The reduction programme will reduce the number of generals to approximately 300 active-duty generals by 2027. 

[sungod]

19 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Red rimmed officer is new army chief 

Check out new naval chief education and training and you can make the connection. 
 

Everything in place done and dusted. No coup for years to come. 

 

Soldiers first, they will do what they are told if ordered to by the real power.