Thailand Plans to Cut Armed Forces, Senior Roles Halved in Overhaul

[webfact]

FILE photo courtesy: Wikipedia

 

Thailand is set for a strategic military overhaul as the Defence Council sanctioned a comprehensive white paper outlining plans to significantly trim the armed forces and curtail defence spending.

 

This initiative, reviewed at the year's last meeting under Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, paves the way for substantial organisational restructuring aimed at bolstering efficiency and aligning with national strategies.

 

Spearheading this reform is a strategic roadmap stretching from 2026 to 2037, intending to synchronise efforts across various military departments under a single cohesive vision.

 

"Each agency progresses in its strategic planning, but unification under a national strategy is crucial for effective downsizing," Phumtham remarked, underscoring the commitment to a streamlined military apparatus.

 

A pivotal component of this restructuring involves the amendment of the Defence Act, originally drafted under the guidance of former defence minister Sutin Klungsang.

 

After receiving initial feedback, this legislative piece is poised for refinement before making its way back to the Defence Council, subsequently moving to the cabinet for approval and thereafter the House for proposal.

To ensure seamless execution, the Deputy Defence Minister and Defence Permanent Secretary have been tasked with overseeing the enactment of these plans. In a broader context, the council also affirmed Thailand's neutral stance on global issues, reinforcing national interests as paramount.

 

Discussions touched upon modernising voluntary enlistment processes and amplifying disaster rescue operations, aligning defence capabilities with contemporary needs.

 

Defence Ministry spokesman Major General Thanathip Sawangsaeng highlighted that the white paper serves as a foundational framework designed to foster improved military preparedness and internal cohesion. It will guide units in shaping their operational strategies and cultivating a deeper understanding of their roles.

 

Already, the reduction of military personnel has begun, with a targeted 5% downscaling scheduled for completion by 2027. A significant thrust of the plan is the introduction of early retirement programmes aimed at halving the number of generals in specialist roles and officers at operational levels by 2028.

 

This reshuffle is expected to optimise human resources, ensure mission alignment, and adapt to current threat landscapes.

 

In response to these changes, adjustments will be made to educational intake and conscription levels to better reflect contemporary military demands.

 

Notably, there will be a shift towards hiring voluntary recruits for combat and support roles, effectively recalibrating the composition of force personnel whilst potentially offsetting reductions in traditional military figures.

 

These transformative steps reflect Thailand's dedication to reinforcing defence efficiency and future-readiness, establishing a balanced and resilient military stance amidst evolving regional dynamics, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2024-12-24

 

 

[Denim]

 

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

To ensure seamless execution,

 

Thailand is fast becoming the hub of all things seamless.

 

I suppose the ultimate aim will be a lot more generals and maybe one private for each province.

[Aussie999]

Has the ruling party... read military, agreed to these changes...distant coup drums are beating

[lordgrinz]

Reduce the amount of generals?   Those are fighting words, the pigs at that trough aren't about to go quietly.  

[MarkBR]

Reorganisation probably sensible.  The question how the military will view this.

Is it truly to increase efficiency & save costs?

There is plenty of money in Thailand for everything & everybody if they tackle the endemic corruption, I would suspect.

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, Aussie999 said:

Has the ruling party... read military, agreed to these changes...distant coup drums are beating

checking oil, water levels and tyre pressure right now, on stand-by ready to roll.   

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, Artisi said:

checking oil, water levels and tyre pressure right now, on stand-by ready to roll.   

 

Knowing the attention and level of maintenance conducted here in Thailand, I call BS.

[spidermike007]

This would be a very wise decision, they likely need only 10% of the top guys to run the organizations. In general many of the Armed Forces here are of questionable value to begin with, especially relative to the enormous amounts of treasury that they suck from the nation.

 

So anything they can do to trim back would be wise. However I would expect that the push back would be huge, and that it would come from very powerful and highly toxic sources. 

[mfd101]

1000 'generals' down to a mere 500? How will they manage?

 

Surely having a 'general' in charge of each platoon of conscripts is how every modern armed force operates. Just ask the Russians.

[John Drake]

Just lease out the half empty bases to China.

[Aussie999]

1 hour ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Knowing the attention and level of maintenance conducted here in Thailand, I call BS.

I don't think he's thai, so your comment is irrelevant 

[Hunz Kittisak]

3 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

Has the ruling party... read military, agreed to these changes...distant coup drums are beating

Strike while the iron is hot 

The government is pushing the boundaries and if successful will curb the military’s influence and make coups a thing of the past. 
A positive development 

[1duckyboy]

Does this mean no submarine? 

[newnative]

Long overdue but will likely remain hugely bloated.

[Peabody]

25 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

1000 'generals' down to a mere 500? How will they manage?

 

Surely having a 'general' in charge of each platoon of conscripts is how every modern armed force operates. Just ask the Russians.

1700 generals and admirals, for a force of 350,000 active duty. 1 per 206.

RE Amerikkka, with 605 generals and admirals for a force of 2,860,000 military personnel. 1 per 4,727.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Already, the reduction of military personnel has begun, with a targeted 5% downscaling scheduled for completion by 2027. A significant thrust of the plan is the introduction of early retirement programmes aimed at halving the number of generals in specialist roles and officers at operational levels by 2028.

More Generals than fresh air

[GreasyFingers]

Just a way they think (hope) will prevent another coup. Less people to pay off.

[Aussie999]

6 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Strike while the iron is hot 

The government is pushing the boundaries and if successful will curb the military’s influence and make coups a thing of the past. 
A positive development 

Do you actually know anything about Thailand's military control, over the government... just google Thailand's coups, since 1935.

[G Rex]

this would be great if it happened!

i live in an Army area - and I can confirm that the grunts are really good at cutting grass and raking leaves.  They don't need many Generals to oversee this. 
 

[Hunz Kittisak]

8 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

Do you actually know anything about Thailand's military control, over the government... just google Thailand's coups, since 1935.

The military’s control is slowly being wrest away. This white paper is one of the latest moves to advance that agenda 

[Aussie999]

1 hour ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

The military’s control is slowly being wrest away. This white paper is one of the latest moves to advance that agenda 

Since when has the military's power been slowly wrested away.

[Purdey]

I remember when the Lao army invaded Uttaradit Province and the Thai air force bombed their own troops, such was the lack of coordination, It isn't numbers they need but inter service cooperation.

[daveAustin]

They could cut it by 100% and not be invaded or increase by 100% and be invaded by China anyway. What does that tell you?

[redwood1]

On 12/24/2024 at 12:08 PM, 1duckyboy said:

Does this mean no submarine? 

 

The future of every person in Thailand, depends on that submarine....

[Felton Jarvis]

Thailand is in the enviable position of being surrounded by countries that have no intention of invading them. They could be the Costa Rica of Southeast Asia if they were not devoted to maintaining a military that can mount a coup anytime the elite demand one.