Over 25,000 Thai men from diverse backgrounds volunteer for RTA enlistment

A total of 25,100 Thai men, from diverse backgrounds such as monks and those holding Master’s degrees, applied for voluntary enlistment in the Royal Thai Army yesterday, according to deputy army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Sirichan Ngathong.

The annual military conscription took a short break during the Songkran Festival and resumed yesterday. The draft is set to continue until Thursday in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Army regions, with 10-20% of the process remaining. Meanwhile, the draft has concluded in the 3rd Army Region.

Maj. Gen. Sirichan reported that as of Sunday night, 25,100 young men had applied for voluntary enlistment, revealing some interesting trends in the education levels of the conscripts during the conscription period from April 1-12:

• 22 voluntary conscripts held a bachelor’s degree. By applying for enlistment, they waived their right to reduce their time in military service from two years to six months and showed an intention to complete the full two-year service.
• 19 bachelor’s degree holders who went through the draft process drew a red card, which indicated they were conscripted. Instead of seeking to reduce their time from two years to one, they waived the right and volunteered to complete two-year services.
• 23 individuals holding a master’s degree applied for voluntary enlistment.
• 27 monks, who were exempted from military service, asked to go through the draft process. This group included six monks of high rank, one with Level 1 of Dhamma Study, one with Level 2 of Dhamma Study, 16 with Level 3 of Dhamma Study, and three with a higher level of Dhamma Study.
• Other voluntary enlistments came from various occupations.

Maj. Gen. Sirichan suggested that these figures might reveal awareness among the men of the army’s intent to improve the conscription system. She also believes that the army’s care for the conscripts may be a motivating factor for them to waive the right to reduce their time in service.