Too fat and too pretty - Thai men who failed the Army draft

[Jingthing]

Obese people really aren't fit for active service and no that can't quickly be reversed in boot camp.

In the U.S. medical system obesity is now classified as a disease. In itself it may not be but it's directly linked to non controversial diseases like diabetes.

What percentage of obese Thais do you intentionally became that way to avoid service? I really doubt very many.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts have been removed.

[Howitzer]

So do thais love to serve in the army or do they prefer to avoid it? Why would their relatives be cheering and i am assuming it is because their relative got selected.

[LannaGuy]

So do thais love to serve in the army or do they prefer to avoid it? Why would their relatives be cheering and i am assuming it is because their relative got selected.

they hate it - are you serious? families cheer when they don't get picked

[tuanku]

The get-out bribe was 30,000b for ages (sometimes 20.000).

Has it really gone up to 60k? Coincidentally, a Thai friend tells me it is 50k now but I didn't believe him.

Im surprised it is still allowed, under the "government" now.

this is how it worked for us for 30,000 Baht.

1. my stepson's residence papers were changed to an area which had already met its conscription target and there was no lottery held

2. the lottery was held in his actual area of residence but he was not required to attend.

3. after this his residence papers were changed back to their original location.

Clearly this involved collusion between the officials in charge of tabien baan in 2 different areas and the army recruitment/conscription officials.

The deal was done by handing over cash and paperwork at a roadside meeting place just outside the army base. No receipt was offered!

The name of the person one needed to contact was well known in the area and, to be fair, the procedure was efficient and trouble free.

I imagine getting assigned to a position where one has this kind of opportunity for a sideline business is quite expensive and there are a lot of higher level officials to pay off too. I don't imagine much has changed under military rule as no one is scrutinising military corruption.

30,000 was a good deal for 2 years of my stepson's life as a young adult.