Territorial Defense Student

Territorial defense students (Thai: นักศึกษาวิชาทหาร; RTGS: nak sueksa wicha thahan) are a military youth organization in Thailand under control of the Royal Thai Army, and recently the Royal Thai Navy and Royal Thai Air Force.

Territorial defense students
นักศึกษาวิชาทหาร
(RTGS: Nak suek sa wicha thahan)
Active1948 - Present
Country Thailand
Branch Royal Thai Army
TypeMilitary reserve force
Part of Territorial Defense Command
Garrison/HQReserve Affairs Center, Bangkok (13°44'46"N 100°29'42"E)
Nickname(s)Rodo (ร.ด.)
Motto(s)"แม้หวังตั้งสงบ จงเตรียมรบให้พร้อมสรรพ์ ศัตรูกล้ามาประจัน จะอาจสู้ริปูสลาย"
("Hope for peace, so be prepared for a fight. No foe is more fearless than us.")
ColorsKhaki-Green
MarchTerritorial Defence Students' march (เราเหล่านักศึกษาวิชาทหาร)
Anniversaries8 December
EngagementsBattle of Tha Nang Sang bridge
Commanders
Current
commander		 Lieutenant General Prakarn Padavanija
Notable
commanders		General Luang Suddhisanranakorn (Suddhi Sukawathi)
General Khun Sinsornchai
General Vichit Sriprasert
General Yodsanan Raicharoen
General Weerachai Inthusophon
Insignia
Regimental InsigniaCrossed swords under the Great Crown of Victory

History
Colours of Provincial "Yuwachon Thahan" unit, a Thai military youth organization in 1934-1947.

Prior to World War II the Yuwachon Thahan (or "junior soldiers", Thai: ยุวชนทหาร) were established in 1934 by Field Marshal Luang Pibulsonggram. At the beginning of World War II junior soldiers were sent to fight troops of the Japanese Empire that invaded southern Thailand on 8 December 1941.

At the end of the war the junior soldiers were disbanded, but Lieutenant General Luang Chatnakrop (พล.ท. หลวงชาตินักรบ) created the territorial defense students to replace them in 1948. Today most students who participate in the reserve do so to avoid the chances of being drafted into the full-fledged military for about three years. Because of this, the requirements for admission have been made more stringent.

There were also rumors of a potential change of policy, wherein Grade-3 students would be required to serve, but for only 3–6 months or a year.

Requirements
  1. Thai nationality
  2. Age younger than 22 years
  3. Approval of parents or guardians
  4. A grade-point average above 2.50 or a certificate of passing senior scout
  5. A certificate of health. People with disabilities, fatal sickness, disease, or eye problems such as color blindness are not allowed.
  6. Body mass index of less than 35 for male, and less than 30 for female (obesity)
  7. Must have appropriate body height and size corresponding to age
  8. Passing a fitness test of an 800-meter run in 3 minutes 15 seconds, 34 sit-ups in two minutes, and 22 push-ups in two minutes. Female applicants have more relaxed requirements.
  9. Students are required to cut their hair so that the white of their scalp is visible on 3-sides, and a small patch of hair is visible on the top of the head.

Applicants who do not meet fitness test requirements are ranked by their scores. Applicants with higher scores have priority. Applicants who do not meet other criteria may be accepted in a case-by-case basis. Number of applicants is proportional to the funding.

Study

Royal Thai Army

Territorial Defense students have to study 80 hours per year and attend a period of field training, but commonly only for Grade 2 through Grade 5 students. The students must have a perfect presence for training course and are not allowed to skip any exams. At the end of every semester territorial defense students have to pass an exam to continue their study at the next grade.

Territorial Defense students have to pass:

  • Marksmanship test using a rifle, where the test parameters are related to grade
  • Paper test of multiple-choice questions (Only for year 3 to 5 students)
  • Physical test covering procedures, use of tools, and discipline learned during the year
  • Field training, for year 2 and above students.

Field training

Field training lengths (dependent on grade and gender of the student):

  • Grade 2; male: three days
  • Grade 3; male: five days
  • Grade 4-5; male: seven days
  • Grade 2-3; female: three days
  • Grade 4-5; female: five days

Field training occurs at Khao Chon Kai Training Camp for Grade 2 and 3 students studying at a territorial defense training centre within the Bangkok Metropolitan Area or the central region of Thailand, and all Grade 4 and 5 students from throughout the country. For Grade 2 and 3 students studying in other areas, the field training occurs at the respective training centre's designated area.

Perks of graduation

Territorial Defense students gain the following perks, depending on the training years they have passed.

  • Students who complete Grade 1 are equivalent to private first class and their service period as conscript will be reduced by six months.
    • Reduced by another six months, if voluntary.
  • Students who complete Grade 2 are equivalent to corporal and their service period as conscript will be reduced down to one year.
    • Reduced by another six months, if voluntary.
  • Students who complete Grade 3 are equivalent, and may request permission to use the title sergeant, also they are exempt from conscription.
  • Students who complete Grade 4 are equivalent to staff sergeant
  • Students who complete Grade 5 and their bachelor's degree are commissioned as acting second lieutenants.
    • At graduation from their university, they are allowed to dress in their officer's white full dress uniform and wear a issued saber.

In addition, they gain an additional total score when they take admission exams for application to military academies of the Armed Forces and the Police. Graduating the first grade gives 3 marks to add to total score, and one more mark is added for each subsequent years. (Up to 7 total marks)

Royal Thai Navy

Territorial Defense training was introduced in 2009 for the Royal Thai Navy, only for students and youth living nearby the Sattahip Naval Base in Chonburi Province. About 90 students are accepted each year and training is done at the Sattahip Naval Base. Upon reaching Grade 3, students will then further separate into one of the three smaller units operated separately by:

  • The Royal Thai Marine Corps
  • Coastal Defense Command
  • Strategic Naval Command

Royal Thai Air Force

Territorial Defense training was introduced in 2006 and available until Grade 5 by 2010 for the Royal Thai Air Force, only for students studying in polytechnic colleges within the locale of the Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base, Bangkok. The study will involve only about the mechanical side of the air force only.

Small arms
Name Type Caliber Origin Notes
Type 86Semi-automatic pistol.45 ACP ThailandM1911A1 pistols produced under license.
Type 11Assault rifle5.56mm ThailandThai license produced version of the Heckler & Koch HK33. Used by territorial defence students.
M16A1/A2/A4Assault rifle5.56mm United StatesStandard infantry rifle. Aging M16A1 will be replaced by IMI Tavor TAR-21 and M16A4.
M4A1 CarbineAssault rifle5.56mm United StatesUsed by special forces. Some were equipped with SOPMOD kit.
M1 GarandSemi-automatic rifle.30-06 United StatesLocally known as the Type 88 self-loading rifle. Used by Royal Guards and by territorial defence students as a non-firing training rifle.
M1/M2 CarbineSemi-automatic rifle.30 United StatesLocally known as the Type 87 carbine. Used by territorial defence students as a non-firing training rifle.
Type 66Bolt-action rifle6.5x50mm Arisaka ThailandSome document claim that it is Arisaka produced under license but another document claim that it origin from Switzerland. Locally known as the Type 66 self-loading rifle (ปลยบ.66).Used by territorial defence students as a non-firing training rifle
SpringfieldBolt-action rifle.30-06 Springfield United StatesUsed in small numbers and only some boot camp.
FN MINIMILight machine gun5.56mm Belgium
M60 machine gunGeneral purpose machine gun7.62mm United StatesFormer main GPMG being replaced by FN MAG 58
FN M2HBHeavy machine gun12.7mm United States
M203Underbarrel Grenade launcher United States
M79Single-shot grenade launcher United States
M72 LAWShoulder-fired missile United States
RPG-2Rocket-propelled grenade Soviet Union
RPG-7Rocket-propelled grenade Soviet Union

Uniform and insignia
Uniform of the territorial defense student. (since 2014)

Army territorial defense students wear a khaki-green uniform and beret with the Army Reserve Command Insignia (Crossed swords under The Great Crown of Victory) on their collar, beret, and belt. Territorial defense students distinguish their school and province by the school's coat of arms on the right shoulder, and provincial badge on left breast. The name badge is sewn on the right chest.

Training years and rankings

Each student's rankings and training year can be distinguished by Thai Numerals ranging from 1 to 5 on the left collar on a khaki-green background.

For the ranking, these are denoted by the background color, which are modified from the ordinary Khaki-green background of the normal student.

  • "Green" represents Squad Leader (no armband)
  • "Red" represents Platoon Leader
  • "Light Blue" represents Company Leader.

These rankings notations can further be denoted by an armband of the corresponding color. Armband colors differ between region of training; the above listing uses the official notation.

In addition to this, there are superior ranks specifically identified only through these armbands and usually assigned only during field training, chosen/volunteered from among students, generally those who are Company Leader.

  • "Dark Blue" represents Battalion Leader.

Student's command chain may be as high as a regiment, but the color of armband representing this ranking is ambiguous usually denoted with Light Blue like Company Leader, and specifically stated "Regiment Leader".

Special training

About 120 fourth grade territorial defence students who pass the physical test are allowed to enter the parasail training course. Requirements are, for males, 15 pull-ups with no time limit, 47 push-ups in two minutes, 65 sit-ups in two minutes, and a one-mile run in eight minutes. Female applicants have more relaxed requirements.

Battle of Tha Nang Sang Bridge
Battle of Tha Nang Sang Bridge in 8 December 1941 between the Imperial Japanese Army and Thai forces, consist of officers from the Royal Thai Army, Thai policemen and Thai junior soldiers, at Chumphon Province, Thailand.(Diorama at National Memorial)

On the first day of the Japanese invasion of Southeast Asia (8 December 1941), the Japanese Army sent troops to many parts of Chumphon Province. At Ma Hat Bay, the Japanese forces landed on beaches stretching from Ban Pak Nam Chumphon to Ban Kho Son. The 38th Infantry Battalion of the Royal Thai Army, about 17 km away, was too far away to intercept the initial invaders in time. As a result, roughly 100 of the reserve students and the local police force had to hold the numerically superior Japanese army at bay from positions on the west side of Tha Nang Sang Bridge until the 38th Infantry could arrive.

The force of reserve students and policemen sent their 1st Light Machine Gun Company across the bridge at 08:00. They then went through Wat Tha Yang Tai to block any Japanese reinforcements. The commander of 38th Infantry wished to send his 4th Heavy Machine Gun Company across the bridge to protect the government buildings on the Tha Taphoa River, but the Japanese troops fired upon the Thai defenders from the other side of the river. The reserve students, under command of Captain Thawin Niyomsen, commander of the Chumphon Junior Soldiers Training Centre, charged cross the bridge to seize strategic points on the east side. Under heavy Japanese fire, Captain Thawin was killed when he attempted to find a new position for his light machine gun squad. The remaining students, now headed by Sergeant Samran Khuanphan from the training centre, were able to maintain their position, and waited for friendly reinforcements. Thailand, however, surrendered to Japan before noon.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Military Youth Monument".

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