Commanders Face Heat Over Army Conscript Abuse Scandal

[Mike_Hunt]

3 minutes ago, rough diamond said:

Usually because the dictators of another country have invaded our/your democratically elected  country. 

Then we have to go to war to defend OUR rights and not that of an invading  dictators dictum!

 

 

You expect young men to be forced to die for their country.    It's slavery.   The government does not own you. 

[rough diamond]

4 minutes ago, Mike_Hunt said:

 

You expect young men to be forced to die for their country.    It's slavery.   The government does not own you. 

I assume then that you would willingly go to goal as a conscientious objector at the same time as your country is being invaded and your relatives are being killed by that invader rather than defend them or your country!!

[rough diamond]

11 minutes ago, Mike_Hunt said:

 

You expect young men to be forced to die for their country.    It's slavery.   The government does not own you. 

Where were your parents/grandparents in WW11 and what did they do?

[NedR69]

The conscript assigned as house help for senior officers missed a huge opportunity for a more successful military career and service.

  Smile and do your best even for the tough jobs.  Sometimes just a little better attitude goes a long way.  Tell them what they want to hear.  

Soon the conscript gets promoted, advanced, better assignments. 

Some will call this butt-kissing, but I know this will help advance a military career and works after service too.  

[thaipo7]

7 hours ago, jayboy said:

Why does Thailand need conscripts at all? It has no enemies and there are plenty of volunteers available.

The brass need something to justify their pay.  What Cambodia has 4,000 generals?

[Patong2021]

9 hours ago, blaze master said:

 

Costa Rica begs to differ.

Costa Rica is not comparable in any way, shape or form with Thailand. 

Bangkok  has 2X the population of Costa Rica.

[Patong2021]

9 hours ago, jayboy said:

 

You are talking nonsense.If conscription was dropped there would be little difficulty in attracting the numbers to service a moderately sized efficient military.The opportunity to acquire technology skills would be a significant attraction and the social disadvantaged types you mention would not pass muster in the first place.It is not the task of the army to teach recruits to wash themselves anyway (but perhaps your NCO friend had a special interest). Senior officers in the Thai army like a large number of underemployed soldiers to act as servants - and the scandals associated with their abuse are a matter of common knowledge.

 

As a fighting force the Thai army is third rate.Individual soldiers often perform well but the senior office corps is a corrupt incompetent disgrace.Their purpose is not to to excel militarily but to engage in business and make money, and of course stick their noses into politics - conducting coups when they think appropriate.They need cutting down to size which means among other things cutting down on the laughable number of generals - more than the US military.

 

Your comment on gunfire on the Myanmar border is laughable.Of course Thailand needs to protect its borders but that is a different thing altogether from having a bloated corrupt massive military which holds democracy in contempt, and sticks its nose into the business trough.

 

 

Utter nonsense?

When was the last time you worked or had any direct relationship with the Thai military?

You are offering talking points that are nothing but hot air. The military of countries like Thailand are not and have never been "hight tech". Even the Israeli military  is not  all high tech. Much of its activity still relies on boots on the ground, eyes on the terrain and direct intervention. You think the Canadian, Dutch German and other industrialized nations militares  offer high tech training to their basic recruits and general ranks? You don't need high tech for driving a truck or repairing equipment or loading ordinance. Not everyone is going to fly a drone. Thailand is a nation with its own unique characteristics. 

 

The Thai military is a socialization tool. It takes rural people and introduces them to urban people  and they are taught how to get along. It is  the most effective teaching organization in the nation. Talk to  some of the NCOs and  military veterans and see if they share your  opinion.

Yes, there is bloat and yes there is corruption. However, your imposing the great white man's ideaology isn't going to solve it.

 

[blaze master]

50 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Costa Rica is not comparable in any way, shape or form with Thailand. 

Bangkok  has 2X the population of Costa Rica.

 

So ? It could be done similarity.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

Many such instances have been detailed in the media over many years.

Detailed in the media, but never followed up with a result

[jayboy]

6 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Utter nonsense?

When was the last time you worked or had any direct relationship with the Thai military?

You are offering talking points that are nothing but hot air. The military of countries like Thailand are not and have never been "hight tech". Even the Israeli military  is not  all high tech. Much of its activity still relies on boots on the ground, eyes on the terrain and direct intervention. You think the Canadian, Dutch German and other industrialized nations militares  offer high tech training to their basic recruits and general ranks? You don't need high tech for driving a truck or repairing equipment or loading ordinance. Not everyone is going to fly a drone. Thailand is a nation with its own unique characteristics. 

 

The Thai military is a socialization tool. It takes rural people and introduces them to urban people  and they are taught how to get along. It is  the most effective teaching organization in the nation. Talk to  some of the NCOs and  military veterans and see if they share your  opinion.

Yes, there is bloat and yes there is corruption. However, your imposing the great white man's ideaology isn't going to solve it.

 

 

 

More nonsense from you,

 

The high tech aspect is that in a modern volunteer army soldiers have the opportunity to learn a trade and acquire expertise that will be useful in future civilian life.

 

There is no need for the army to introduce rural people to urban people.This might have been the case in the 1950's which seems to be your mindset period. However the economic transformation of Thailand since then means that there is a constant flow of people into Bangkok and big cities. The army has no role as a socialization tool, whatever that is meant to mean.

 

You skim over the reality that the Thai army's purpose is to make money for its senior officers.The bloat and corruption you speak of is not some trifling side issue.They are defining characteristics.There is much prattle of love of country, but where these clowns feel their position is threatened, they will mow down Thai citizens in the street. Thailand has no foreign enemies.

 

 

Anyway keep on drinking the Kool Aid.

[rickudon]

Nobody seems to be aware that an alternative exists - The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program (RorDor), which offers exemptions from full military service.

You do this via completing the three-year ROTC program, typically during high school, which provides an exemption from mandatory conscription. 

My nephew did it.

[richard_smith237]

9 minutes ago, rickudon said:

Nobody seems to be aware that an alternative exists - The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program (RorDor), which offers exemptions from full military service.

You do this via completing the three-year ROTC program, typically during high school, which provides an exemption from mandatory conscription. 

My nephew did it.

 

What to do if your Thai / Western child (who has a Thai ID card) is going to be educated overseas (secondary through University) ???

 

 

[scorecard]

On 4/10/2025 at 8:09 AM, jayboy said:

 

 

More nonsense from you,

 

The high tech aspect is that in a modern volunteer army soldiers have the opportunity to learn a trade and acquire expertise that will be useful in future civilian life.

 

There is no need for the army to introduce rural people to urban people.This might have been the case in the 1950's which seems to be your mindset period. However the economic transformation of Thailand since then means that there is a constant flow of people into Bangkok and big cities. The army has no role as a socialization tool, whatever that is meant to mean.

 

You skim over the reality that the Thai army's purpose is to make money for its senior officers.The bloat and corruption you speak of is not some trifling side issue.They are defining characteristics.There is much prattle of love of country, but where these clowns feel their position is threatened, they will mow down Thai citizens in the street. Thailand has no foreign enemies.

 

 

Anyway keep on drinking the Kool Aid.

 

...and introduces them to urban people  and they are taught how to get along. 

 

What they are taught is yes sit / no sir and not much more. 

 

Thai's don't have conversations about world affairs, they are taught to respond yes sir / no sir and not much more. 

 

In primary / secondary school there is no discussion / no explanations. Exams are very often just 'tick the box'.