What are recruits in the Thai Army doing?

[Lelouch]

Hello Guys,

 

I´m 26 years old with the Thai/German nationality. So in a few months i will be registered in my mummys tabien baan because i want to have my Thai ID card and passport.

 

So with the house register I will be automatically on radar of the Thai army for military service i guess.

 

Probably they will not take me because I cant speak Thai ( only very basic stuff that I learned in 6 months in Thailand ).

 

But if they want me to service I will take it and will go for 1 year by myself. I see better opportunities for me in my future live in Thailand if I join them like increasing of my Thai speaking and maybe good connections to other people.

 

So my Question is what are recruits doing in the Thai Army for 1 year? Where are the basic training camps? Whats about freetime? Salary will be 8.000 Baht? I pretty sure they will not send them after basic training to the warzone in the south?

 

Any useful information are welcome. Thank you!

[Kwasaki]

1 hour ago, Lelouch said:

I pretty sure they will not send them after basic training to the warzone in the south?

Don't bank on that many from our village are in the South.

[ThaiWai]

Interesting perspective.  Wanting to join the Army in basically a foreign country where you don't speak the language and the best questions you have is "What's the pay and how leisurely is it?"  They will probably just make you a General since you are showing up with so much brass of your own.

[stephenterry]

Once a year the army will carry out recruitment. If you are eligible to serve (and you might not, being half-Thai) you have to pick a coloured ball out of a bag. If it is black you are not required. If it is red, you will be called upon for basic training on a two year enrolment - not one year. The first 3 months you will not be allowed any contact with your family, while they carry out a sadistic training course to get you mentally and physically fit to serve as a soldier for Thailand. It has been known for recruits to be killed (usually by hand grenade training and brutal beatings because you're not up to it) or hospitalized, and you WILL be singled out for special harsh treatment, being half-Thai. You WILL be warned not to speak about this treatment to any family member.  How do I know? My partner's son, who is now finishing his two year stint.   

 

After basic training, and your indoctrination to serve Thailand, you could be sent anywhere in Thailand. depends on what the Captain says, and whether he likes you or not. IMO, best to act and dress as a ladyboy on the recruitment day and they won't accept you. Best of luck. 

[vogie]

You will probably help run a golf course or serve petrol at a petrol station?

[steve187]

9 minutes ago, vogie said:

You will probably help run a golf course or serve petrol at a petrol station?

or clean my car

[Familyaffairs]

Being a housekeeper for sr staff, cleaning latrines, cutting the grass at golfcourses, standing sentry for hourd in the baking heat....don't do it.

[Xobtsiwt]

25 minutes ago, Familyaffairs said:

Being a housekeeper for sr staff, cleaning latrines, cutting the grass at golfcourses, standing sentry for hourd in the baking heat....don't do it.

Yes, cutting grass is a favourite - with the teeth.

[TrevorC]

GF's nephew was in the south and had a s**t time. No barracks, they were living in the grounds of a temple to which they were confined unless on patrol. 

[Sydebolle]

Get a visa for Germany into your Thai passport and live in Germany as a Thai (educational purposes, whatever - they cannot check that anyhow) until you're too old to be drafted.  
You might drop out before anyhow as you have two handicaps, one being half foreign and secondly language short comings. Above with the German visa is a precaution only as you give the army a good reason then NOT to draft you. 

[cruisemonkey]

Sun... cars... golf courses... and temples... anywhere in Thailand... for a whole year... on a 'full board' basis! How do I book this magical resort? 

[Goanna]

6 hours ago, vogie said:

You will probably help run a golf course or serve petrol at a petrol station?

Yes. My stepson was a golfcourse greenkeeper or whatever they call it for his 2 years in the air force base at Ubon. The course is at the base.

Edited May 2, 2017 by Goanna

[dave_boo]

Can't say for sure that it's 100% like the US...but here's what you have to look forward to.

[NoshowJones]

8 hours ago, ThaiWai said:

Interesting perspective.  Wanting to join the Army in basically a foreign country where you don't speak the language and the best questions you have is "What's the pay and how leisurely is it?"  They will probably just make you a General since you are showing up with so much brass of your own.

Join the police and maybe you can be a Lt Gen, Lt Major or what about a Major Gen? A thick wallet should help. 

[Lelouch]

8 hours ago, ThaiWai said:

Interesting perspective.  Wanting to join the Army in basically a foreign country where you don't speak the language and the best questions you have is "What's the pay and how leisurely is it?"  They will probably just make you a General since you are showing up with so much brass of your own.

Of course it cost money for me when i have to stay 1 year in the army without any other income and a „real“ job. Like other people i have to eat something, thats why i´m asking.

 

I will be not in front of the army officer and begging me to take me for service, but i will not cry or try getting around of the conscription by dressing and acting like a ladyboy.

 

Why i dont sit it out until i´m 30 years old? Because I have to keep an eye and take care for my mother as soon as possible. She is not the youngest anymore.

 

In my village they only take 3 people to the army this year, I dont know how many boys in total was taking a part of the draft. We have a lot of fat boys in my village so the army dont want them.

 

8 hours ago, vogie said:

You will probably help run a golf course or serve petrol at a petrol station?

I think after the basic training I will sit on a golf course or a gym to take care of that. Not so much drama I guess.

 

 

[Bill Miller]

Good to ask questions, never mind the "opinions" of many overly negative/comedic TV commentators.
Good words from those with relatives who have encountered a similar situation.
I am no expert, to be sure. I did my "patriotic chore" with the US Army. From what I have seen the Royal Thai Navy is perhaps a cut above in the way they treat their recruits. At least I have not heard of any being beaten to death, and they maintain stuff around here in Sattahip rather nicely, in my opinion.
Good luck in however it works for you.

[IAMHERE]

Join the submarine force; your two years will be up before those subs arrive.

[ableguy]

If you don't speak Thai they will not take you.

[Weddings Parties Anything]

I don't understand the logic of your timing. 

 

You become excempt from conscription in the year you turn 30. So if you turn 30 on the 31st of December you are effectively exempt from 1 January if that year. 

 

You are proposing two years of conscription from April 2018. You won't get much home leave to help your mum during that time. Presumably you'll be close enough to 27 in April next year and you'll be 29 when you come out the other end at which point you'll have been near enough to except anyway. 

 

My advice is just to live on visas for the next two years and register for a thai ID in the year you turn 30. 

 

If you are committed to doing military service, if you have a university degree and volunteer on conscription day, you only have to serve 6 months.

[MatteoBassini]

On 5/2/2017 at 9:28 AM, stephenterry said:

Once a year the army will carry out recruitment. If you are eligible to serve (and you might not, being half-Thai)

Me and my friend who went to the draft this year we were both open about being Half-Thai Half-[XYZ], they didn't mention anything about it being an issue, in fact they were unusually more friendly towards us than other people just because of that. So no doesn't matter if you're just half-Thai, you'll still be drafted and treated like other Thai men.

 

I'm still not serving yet because I'm still in university. If you're not afraid of anything, just volunteer and serve for 1 year (if you don't have a university degree). You'll get to choose to join any of the three main forces (Army, Air, Navy) but I don't know if you can choose the division/regiment or the location of where you will be based in. You will also not receive a salary if you volunteer as far as I know.