The shoulder insignia and ranks of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.

The military ranks of Thailand are the military insignia used by the Royal Thai Armed Forces. The officer ranks are influenced by the ranks of the United Kingdom and United States, while the non-commissioned ranks are influenced by those of the United Kingdom and France.[1]

Royal Thai Army

Officers

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
 Royal Thai Army[2]
 Field Marshal General Lieutenant General Major General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Sub Lieutenant
จอมพล
Chom phon		 พลเอก
Phon ek		 พลโท
Phon tho		 พลตรี
Phon tri		 พันเอก
Phan ek		 พันโท
Phan tho		 พันตรี
Phan tri		 ร้อยเอก
Roi ek		 ร้อยโท
Roi tho		 ร้อยตรี
Roi tri		 นักเรียนนายร้อย
Nak-rian nairoi
Anglicised
version		 Field Marshal General Lieutenant General Major General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Army Cadet
Abbreviation[3] - พล.อ.
Gen		 พล.ท.
Lt.Gen.		 พล.ต.
Maj.Gen.		 พ.อ.
Col.		 พ.ท.
Lt.Col.		 พ.ต.
Maj.		 ร.อ.
Capt.		 ร.ท.
Lt.		 ร.ต.
2Lt.		 นนร.
-

Other ranks

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Royal Thai Army[2]
 Master Sergeant 1st Class Master Sergeant 2nd Class Master Sergeant 3rd Class Sergeant Corporal Private 1st Class No insignia
จ่าสิบเอก
Cha sip ek		 จ่าสิบโท
Cha sip tho		 จ่าสิบตรี
Cha sip tri		 สิบเอก
Sip ek		 สิบโท
Sip tho		 สิบตรี
Sip tri		 พลทหาร
Phon thahan
Anglicised
version		 Sergeant Major 1st Class Sergeant Major 2nd Class Sergeant Major 3rd Class Sergeant Corporal Lance Corporal Private
Abbreviation[3] จ.ส.อ.
SM1		 จ.ส.ท.
SM2		 จ.ส.ต.
SM3		 ส.อ.
Sgt.		 ส.ท.
Cpl.		 ส.ต.
Lcpl.		 พลฯ
Pvt.

Private 1st class is a rank assigned to conscripts after they have finished specialist training. They wear the same insignia as a lance corporal, who is a member who has completed his conscription obligation, and who has undertaken training at NCO school.

The rank of "Special Sergeant Major 1st Class" (Thai: จ่าสิบเอกพิเศษ, romanized: Cha Sip Ek Phiset) is an honorary rank given to senior enlisted members who are deserving of recognition above and beyond that of the highest enlisted rank. There is no difference in the rank insignia worn, and they do not outrank the normal master sergeant 1st class, although in a group situation they will normally be assigned control. They receive a higher salary. In the same way, the RTN has the rating of "fleet chief petty officer (special rank)" and the RTAF has the rank of "special flight sergeant 1st class".

Royal Thai Navy

The Royal Thai Navy is the sea-based part of the Thai military. The Royal Thai Marine Corps is part of the RTN, and uses the same rank structure. Depending on the uniform, the rank insignia can be located on the shoulder (on white and khaki uniforms) or on the sleeves (on dark blue uniforms).

Officers

Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
 Royal Thai Navy[2]
 Admiral of the Fleet Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Lieutenant Junior Grade Sub Lieutenant
จอมพลเรือ
Chom phon ruea		 พลเรือเอก
Phon ruea ek		 พลเรือโท
Phon ruea tho		 พลเรือตรี
Phon ruea tri		 นาวาเอก
Nawa ek		 นาวาโท
Nawa tho		 นาวาตรี
Nawa tri		 เรือเอก
Ruea ek		 เรือโท
Ruea tho		 เรือตรี
Ruea tri		 นักเรียนนายเรือ
Nak-rian nairuea
Anglicised
version		 Admiral of the fleet Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant junior grade Sub Lieutenant Naval Cadet
Abbreviation[3] - พล.ร.อ.
Adm.		 พล.ร.ท.
VAdm.		 พล.ร.ต.
RAdm.		 น.อ.
Capt.		 น.ท.
Cdr.		 น.ต.
LCdr.		 ร.อ.
Lt.		 ร.ท.
Lt.JG.		 ร.ต.
SubLt.		 นนร.
-

Naval officers will additionally add the post-nominal ร.น. as an abbreviation for ราชนาวี (râat-chá-naa-wee, literally "the Royal Navy").

Other ranks

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Royal Thai Navy[2]
 Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Chief Petty Officer 3rd Class Petty Officer 1st Class Petty Officer 2nd Class Petty Officer 3rd Class No insignia
พันจ่าเอก
Phan cha ek		 พันจ่าโท
Phan cha tho		 พันจ่าตรี
Phan cha tri		 จ่าเอก
Cha ek		 จ่าโท
Cha tho		 จ่าตรี
Cha tri		 พลทหาร
Phon thahan
Anglicised
version		 Chief Petty Officer First Class Chief Petty Officer Second Class Chief Petty Officer Third Class Petty Officer First Class Petty Officer Second Class Petty Officer Third Class Seaman
Abbreviation[3] พ.จ.อ.
CPO1		 พ.จ.ท.
CPO2		 พ.จ.ต.
CPO3		 จ.อ.
PO1		 จ.ท.
PO2		 จ.ต.
PO3		 พลฯ
-

The rank of "Fleet chief petty officer" (Thai: พันจ่าเอกพิเศษ, romanized: Phan cha ek phiset) is an honorary rank given to senior enlisted members who are deserving of recognition above and beyond that of the highest enlisted rank. There is no difference in the rank insignia worn, and they do not outrank the normal master sergeant 1st class, although in a group situation they will normally be assigned control. They receive a higher salary.

Royal Thai Air Force

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) (กองทัพอากาศไทย, RTGS Kong Thap Akat Thai, IPA: [kɔːŋ tháp ʔaːkàːt thaj]) is the air based part of the Thai military. The rank system is modelled after that of the British Royal Air Force (RAF), but unlike the RAF, officers' cuff rank insignia are topped by a star above the lace stripes and all air marshals' rank insignia are also determined by one to five stars on the shoulder board.

Officers

Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
 Royal Thai Air Force[2]
 Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force Air Chief Marshal Air Marshal Air Vice Marshal Group Captain Wing Commander Squadron Leader Flight Lieutenant Flying Officer Pilot Officer
จอมพลอากาศ
Chom phon akat		 พลอากาศเอก
Phon akat ek		 พลอากาศโท
Phon akat tho		 พลอากาศตรี
Phon akat tri		 นาวาอากาศเอก
Nawa akat ek		 นาวาอากาศโท
Nawa akat tho		 นาวาอากาศตรี
Nawa akat tri		 เรืออากาศเอก
Ruea akat ek		 เรืออากาศโท
Ruea akat tho		 เรืออากาศตรี
Ruea akat tri		 นักเรียนนายเรืออากาศ
Nak-rian nairuea akat
Anglicised version Marshal of the Air Force Air Chief Marshal Air Marshal Air Vice Marshal Group Captain Wing Commander Squadron Leader Flight Lieutenant Flying Officer Pilot Officer Air Cadet
Abbreviation[3] – พล.อ.อ.
ACM		 พล.อ.ท.
AM		 พล.อ.ต.
AVM		 น.อ.
Gp.Capt.		 น.ท.
Wg.Cdr.		 น.ต.
Sqn.Ldr.		 ร.อ.
Flt.Lt.		 ร.ท.
Flg.Off.		 ร.ต.
Plt.Off.		 นนอ.
A/cdt.

Other ranks

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Royal Thai Air Force[2]
 Flight Sergeant 1st Class Flight Sergeant 2nd Class Flight Sergeant 3rd Class Sergeant Corporal Leading Aircraftman No insignia
พันจ่าอากาศเอก
Phan cha akat ek		 พันจ่าอากาศโท
Phan cha akat tho		 พันจ่าอากาศตรี
Phan cha akat tri		 จ่าอากาศเอก
Cha akat ek		 จ่าอากาศโท
Cha akat tho		 จ่าอากาศตรี
Cha akat tri		 พลทหาร
Phon thahan
Anglicised version Flight Sergeant First Class Flight Sergeant Second Class Flight Sergeant Third Class Sergeant Corporal Lance Corporal Airman
Abbreviation[3] พ.อ.อ.
FS1		 พ.อ.ท.
FS2		 พ.อ.ต.
FS3		 จ.อ.
Sgt.		 จ.ท.
Cpl.		 จ.ต.
Lcpl		 พลฯ
Amn.

The rank of "Special flight sergeant 1st class" (Thai: พันจ่าอากาศเอกพิเศษ, romanized: Phan cha akat ek phiset) is an honorary rank given to senior enlisted members who are deserving of recognition above and beyond that of the highest enlisted rank. There is no difference in the rank insignia worn, and they do not outrank the normal master sergeant 1st class, although in a group situation they will normally be assigned control. They receive a higher salary.

Royal Thai Police

The Royal Thai Police (RTP) is sometimes considered as the fourth armed service of Thailand (๔ เหล่าทัพ), but reports directly to the Prime Minister's Department rather than to the Ministry of Defense. The Royal Thai Police share the same rank system as the Royal Thai Army but the particularities of the police are the star representing the commissioned officer and the crown over the star. The Royal Thai Police uses the eight-pointed silver star and the silver crown with a halo on top, while the Royal Thai Army uses the five-pointed gold star and the gold crown with no halo for its officer shoulder boards.

Officers

Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Royal Thai Police
พลตำรวจเอก
Phon Tam Ruad Ek		 พลตำรวจโท
Phon Tam Ruad Tho		 พลตำรวจตรี
Phon Tam Ruad Tri		 พันตำรวจเอก
Phan Tam Ruad Ek		 พันตำรวจโท
Phan Tam Ruad Tho		 พันตำรวจตรี
Phan Tam Ruad Tri		 ร้อยตำรวจเอก
Roi Tam Ruad Ek		 ร้อยตำรวจโท
Roi Tam Ruad Tho		 ร้อยตำรวจตรี
Roi Tam Ruad Tri		 นักเรียนนายร้อยตำรวจ
Nak Rian Nai Roi Tam Ruad
Abbreviation[4] พล.ต.อ. พล.ต.ท. พล.ต.ต. พ.ต.อ. พ.ต.ท. พ.ต.ต. ร.ต.อ. ร.ต.ท. ร.ต.ต. นรต.
Anglicised version Police General Police Lieutenant General Police Major General Police Colonel Police Lieutenant Colonel Police Major Police Captain Police Lieutenant Police 2nd Lieutenant Police Cadet Officer
UK equivalent Army ranks/Police ranks General
Commissioner		 Lieutenant General
Deputy Commissioner		 Major General
Assistant Commissioner		 Colonel
Chief Superintendent		 Lieutenant Colonel
Divisional Superintendent		 Major
Superintendent		 Captain
Chief Inspector		 Lieutenant
Inspector		 Second Lieutenant
Subdivisional Inspector		 Officer Cadet

Non-Commissioned Officers

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Royal Thai Police
 Police senior sergeant major Police sergeant major Police sergeant Police corporal Police lance corporal No insignia
ดาบตำรวจ
Dap Tamruat		 จ่าสิบตำรวจ
Cha Sip Tamruat		 สิบตำรวจเอก
Sip Tamruat Ek		 สิบตำรวจโท
Sip Tamruat Tho		 สิบตำรวจตรี
Sip Tamruat Tri		 พลตำรวจ
Phon Tamruat
English Police sergeant major Police Master sergeant Police sergeant Police corporal Police lance corporal Police constable

Volunteer Defense Corps (Thailand)

The Volunteer Defense Corps (กองอาสารักษาดินแดน; abbreviated VDC) is a Thai paramilitary under the authority of the Department Of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior.[5] It was founded in 1954 to provide extra military support to the Royal Thai Armed Forces and to protect local civilians living near Thailand's borders. Its ranks mirror those of both the RTA and the RTP.[6]

Officers
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Volunteer Defense Corps
VDC General VDC Colonel VDC Lieutenant Colonel VDC Major VDC Captain VDC First Lieutenant VDC Second Lieutenant
VDC Gen VDC Col VDC Lt Col VDC Maj VDC Capt VDC 1st Lt VDC 2nd Lt
Enlisted
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Volunteer Defense Corps No insignia
VDC Sergeant Major VDC Sergeant VDC Corporal VDC Lance Corporal VDC Member
VDC Sgt Maj VDC Sgt VDC Cpl VDC Lcpl VDC Mbr

Rank structure

Chom (จอม) (Also used as Chom Thap (จอมทัพ)) is Head of Forces, there can only be one Chom Thap at a time, the King is the Chom Thap.[7] (Phon พล.) Ranks below commander-in-chief use Thai alternate numbers.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Haseman, John B. (1989). "National Security". In LePoer, Barbara Leitch (ed.). Thailand: a country study. Area Handbook (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 265. LCCN 88600485. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "เครื่องหมายยศทหาร" [Military Rank Insignia]. navedu.navy.mi.th (in Thai). Thai Naval Education Department. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Archived 2016-12-20 at the Wayback Machine, คำสั่งกระทรวงกลาโหมที่ ๓๑๐/๒๕๕๗ เรื่องการใช้คำภาษาอังกฤษยศทหารของกระทรวงกลาโหม.
  4. ↑ , กรมการกงสุล กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ 63 Years of Volunteer Defense Corps (Thailand) in 2017 News page 78-79
  7. ↑ "Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters English version". Archived from the original on 2009-04-18. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
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