Military

annual military parade in Bangkok

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  • Military branches:
  • Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes the Border Patrol Police [including Police Aerial Reinforcement Unit], Thahan Phran, Special Action Forces, Police Aviation Division, Thai Marine Police, and the Volunteer Defense Corps)
  • Military manpower - military age:
  • 18 years of age (2003 est.)
  • Military manpower - availability:
  • males age 15-49: 17,904,298 (2003 est.)
  • Military manpower - fit for military service:
  • males age 15-49: 10,724,565 (2003 est.)
  • Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
  • males: 520,472 (2003 est.)
  • Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  • $1.775 billion (FY00)
  • Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  • 1.4% (FY00)

King Mongkut and King Chulalongkorn can be considered as the pioneers of modern Thai military. With the assistance of foreign advisors and western methods, these rulers established several military and naval cadet schools. The formation of Ministry of Defense in 1894 with the army and the navy under its command can be considered as a significant milestone in the history of Thai military. Thai Air Force was established on November 8, 1931. Thai military has always been under the control of the royal family. All the rulers have concentrated on development of a structured, full-fledged, professional, advanced and modern Thai military. Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit attended the annual Trooping of the Color military parade in Bangkok's Royal Plaza Dec. 2, 2008. The Thai King, the world's longest reigning monarch, turned 81-years-old on Dec. 5.


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