Thai National Conscription

[arainah]

Hi

Can anyone answer the following questions?

I understand that Thais go through some sort of "lucky draw" in April to decide if they do thier service or not, when they are 21.

Do they have to have reached 21 before the draw takes place (ie if someone was 21 on 1st December 2005, would they enter the draw in April 2005 or 2006?

If they are lucky or unlucky enough to have selected the card that takes them in, when does the service commence, and how long does it run for?

And finally if they do go into the armed forces what sort of leave are they given?

[samran]

The rules state, that in whatever year that you turn 20 (not 21), you will be considered that age and eligible for the draft as of the 1st of January in that year.

So to use an example, even if you don't turn 20 until the 31st of December 2006, you will still be considered eligible for conscription as of the 1st of January 2006.

Service is for 2 years if you are unlucky and pick the wrong coloured ball out of the hat. If you have a university degree, and volunteer before you do the lucky dip, then you only have to serve 6 months.

Do a search on this site as this question has come up once or twice before.

[Abandon]

or you can just pay the cash to get out of it

[arainah]

I was under the impression that it was now no longer possible to "buy them out"

[weasel]

Uhmmmm!