Military ranks of the Thai armed forces

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

Royal Thai Army

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) (กองทัพบกไทย, RTGS Kong Thap Bok Thai, IPA: [kɔːŋ tháp bòk thaj]) is the land-based part of the Thai military.

Officers
Equivalent
NATO Code		OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) & Student officer
 Royal Thai Army
จอมพล พลเอก พลโท พลตรี พลจัตวา พันเอก พันโท พันตรี ร้อยเอก ร้อยโท ร้อยตรี นักเรียนนายร้อย
Field Marshal General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Sub Lieutenant Cadet Officer
RTGS Chom Phon Phon Ek Phon Tho Phon Tri Phon Chattawa Phan Ek Phan Tho Phan Tri Roi Ek Roi Tho Roi Tri Nak-rian Nairoi
Anglicised
version		 Field Marshal General Lieutenant
General		 Major
General		 Brigadier
(no longer used)
(Senior Colonel)		 Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First
Lieutenant		 Second
Lieutenant		 Army Cadet Officer
Abbreviation[1] - พล.อ.
GEN		 พล.ท.
LT GEN		 พล.ต.
MAJ GEN		 พล.จ.
BRIG.		 พ.อ.
COL		 พ.ท.
LT COL		 พ.ต.
MAJ		 ร.อ.
CAPT		 ร.ท.
1LT		 ร.ต.
2LT		 นนร.
-

Other ranks
Equivalent
NATO code		OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 Royal Thai Army
 No equivalent No insignia
จ่าสิบเอกพิเศษ จ่าสิบเอก จ่าสิบโท จ่าสิบตรี สิบเอก สิบโท สิบตรี สิบตรีกองประจำการ พลทหาร
Master Sergeant 1st Class
(special rank)		 Master Sergeant 1st Class Master Sergeant 2nd Class Master Sergeant 3rd Class Sergeant Corporal Lance Corporal Private 1st Class Private
RTGS Cha Sip Ek Phiset[2] Cha Sip Ek Cha Sip Tho Cha Sip Tri - Sip Ek Sip Tho Sip Tri Sip Tri Kong Pracham Kan Phon Thahan
Abbreviation[1] จ.ส.อ.(พ.)
SM1		 จ.ส.อ.
SM1		 จ.ส.ท.
SM2		 จ.ส.ต.
SM3		 - ส.อ.
SGT		 ส.ท.
CPL		 ส.ต.
LCPL		 ส.ต.ฯ
PFC		 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.

Royal Thai Navy

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) (กองทัพเรือไทย, RTGS Kong Thap Ruea Thai, IPA: [kɔːŋ tháp rɨːa thaj]) 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
Equivalent
NATO code		OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
 Royal Thai Navy
จอมพลเรือ พลเรือเอก พลเรือโท พลเรือตรี พลเรือจัตวา นาวาเอก นาวาโท นาวาตรี เรือเอก เรือโท เรือตรี นักเรียนนายเรือ
Admiral of the Fleet Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Lieutenant Junior Grade Sub-Lieutenant Midshipman
RTGS Chom Phon Ruea Phon Ruea Ek Phon Ruea Tho Phon Ruea Tri Phon Ruea Chattawa
(no longer used)
(Senior Captain)[3]		 Nawa Ek Nawa Tho Nawa Tri Ruea Ek Ruea Tho Ruea Tri Nak-rian Nairuea
Abbreviation[1] - พล.ร.อ.
ADM		 พล.ร.ท.
VADM		 พล.ร.ต.
RADM		 พล.ร.จ.
CMD		 น.อ.
CAPT		 น.ท.
CDR		 น.ต.
LCDR		 ร.อ.
LT		 ร.ท.
LT JG		 ร.ต.
SUB LT		 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
NATO CodeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-1
No insignia
Thai title พันจ่าเอกพิเศษ พันจ่าเอก พันจ่าโท พันจ่าตรี จ่าเอก จ่าโท จ่าตรี พลทหาร
RTGS Phan Cha Ek Phiset[2] Phan Cha Ek Phan Cha Tho Phan Cha Tri Cha Ek Cha Tho Cha Tri Phon Thahan
Anglicised version Fleet Chief
Petty Officer		 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		 Seaman
Abbreviation[1] พ.จ.อ.(พ.)
CPO1		 พ.จ.อ.
CPO1		 พ.จ.ท.
CPO2		 พ.จ.ต.
CPO3		 จ.อ.
PO1		 จ.ท.
PO2		 จ.ต.
PO3		 พลฯ
-
UK equivalent - Warrant Officer Class One Warrant Officer Class Two Chief Petty Officer Petty Officer Leading Rate Able Rate Ordinary Seaman

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
Equivalent
NATO code		OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
 Royal Thai Air Force
จอมพลอากาศ พลอากาศเอก พลอากาศโท พลอากาศตรี พลอากาศจัตวา นาวาอากาศเอก นาวาอากาศโท นาวาอากาศตรี เรืออากาศเอก เรืออากาศโท เรืออากาศตรี นักเรียนนายเรืออากาศ
Marshal of the Air Force Air Chief Marshal Air Marshal Air Vice Marshal Air Commodore Group Captain Wing Commander Squadron Leader Flight Lieutenant Flying Officer Pilot Officer Air Cadet
RTGS Chom Phon Akat Phon Akat Ek Phon Akat Tho Phon Akat Tri Phon Akat Chattawa Nawa Akat Ek Nawa Akat Tho Nawa Akat Tri Ruea Akat Ek Ruea Akat Tho Ruea Akat Tri Nak-rian
Nairuea Akat
Abbreviation[1] – พล.อ.อ.
ACM		 พล.อ.ท.
AM		 พล.อ.ต.
AVM		 พล.อ.จ.
ACMD		 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.
-

Other ranks
NATO CodeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
No insignia
Thai title พันจ่าอากาศเอกพิเศษ พันจ่าอากาศเอก พันจ่าอากาศโท พันจ่าอากาศตรี จ่าอากาศเอก จ่าอากาศโท จ่าอากาศตรี จ่าอากาศตรี
กองประจำการ		 พลทหาร
RTGS Phan Cha Akat Ek Phiset[2] Phan Cha Akat Ek Phan Cha Akat Tho Phan Cha Akat Tri Cha Akat Ek Cha Akat Tho Cha Akat Tri Cha Akat Tri
Kong Pra Cham Kan		 Phon Thahan
Anglicised version Flight Sergeant 1st Class (Special) Flight Sergeant 1st Class Flight Sergeant 2nd Class Flight Sergeant 3rd Class Sergeant Corporal Senior Aircraftman Leading Aircraftman Aircraftman
Abbreviation[1] พ.อ.อ.(พ.)
FS1		 พ.อ.อ.
FS1		 พ.อ.ท.
FS2		 พ.อ.ต.
FS3		 จ.อ.
SGT		 จ.ท.
CPL		 จ.ต.
LAC		 จ.ต.
LAC		 พลฯ
AMN
UK equivalent - Warrant Officer or Master Aircrew - Flight Sergeant or Chief Technician Sergeant Corporal Leading Aircraftman Aircraftman Aircraftman

Royal Thai Police

The Royal Thai Police (RTP) (ตำรวจไทย) 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

Equivalent
NATO code		OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Royal Thai Police No equivalent
Thai title พลตำรวจเอก พลตำรวจโท พลตำรวจตรี พลตำรวจจัตวา พันตำรวจเอก พันตำรวจโท พันตำรวจตรี ร้อยตำรวจเอก ร้อยตำรวจโท ร้อยตำรวจตรี นักเรียนนายร้อยตำรวจ
RTGS Phon Tam Ruad Ek Phon Tam Ruad Tho Phon Tam Ruad Tri Phon Tam Ruad Jattawa Phan Tam Ruad Ek Phan Tam Ruad Tho Phan Tam Ruad Tri Roi Tam Ruad Ek Roi Tam Ruad Tho Roi Tam Ruad Tri Nak Rian Nai Roi Tam Ruad
Abbreviation[4] พล.ต.อ. พล.ต.ท. พล.ต.ต. พล.ต.จ. 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 Brigadier (Formerly Police Senior Colonel) Police Colonel Police Lieutenant Colonel Police Major Police Captain Police Lieutenant Police Sub Lieutenant Police Cadet Officer
UK equivalent Army ranks/Police ranks General
Commissioner		 Lieutenant General
Deputy Commissioner		 Major General
Assistant Commissioner		 Brigadier
Commander		 Colonel
Chief Superintendent		 Lieutenant Colonel
Divisional Superintendent		 Major
Superintendent		 Captain
Chief Inspector		 Lieutenant
Inspector		 Second Lieutenant
Subdivisional Inspector		 Officer Cadet

Non-Commissioned Officers
Equivalent
NATO code		OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
Royal Thai Police No equivalent No equivalent No equivalent No insignia
ดาบตำรวจ จ่าสิบตำรวจ สิบตำรวจเอก สิบตำรวจโท สิบตำรวจตรี พลตำรวจ
RTGS Dap Tamruat Cha Sip Tamruat Sip Tamruat Ek Sip Tamruat Tho Sip Tamruat Tri Phon Tamruat
English Police sergeant major Police staff sergeant Police sergeant Police corporal Police lance corporal Police constable

Volunteer Defense Corps (Thailand)

The Volunteer Defense Corps (Thai: 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
OrderNATO CodeRanksAbbreviation
1OF-9Volunteer Defense Corps GeneralVDC Gen
2OF-5Volunteer Defense Corps ColonelVDC Col
3OF-4Volunteer Defense Corps Lieutenant ColonelVDC Lt Col
4OF-3Volunteer Defense Corps MajorVDC Maj
5OF-2Volunteer Defense Corps CaptainVDC Capt
6OF-1Volunteer Defense Corps First LieutenantVDC 1st Lt
7OF-1Volunteer Defense Corps second LieutenantVDC 2nd Lt

Enlisted
OrderNATO CodeRanksAbbreviation
1OR-9 or OR-8Volunteer Defense Corps Sergeant MajorVDC Sgt Maj
2OR-5Volunteer Defense Corps SergeantVDC Sgt
3OR-4Volunteer Defense Corps CorporalVDC Cpl
4OR-3Volunteer Defense Corps Lance CorporalVDC Lcpl
5OR-2 or OR-1Volunteer Defense Corps MemberVDC Mbr

Rank structure

Chom (จอม) is Chief of Forces (Phon พล.) Ranks below commander-in-chief use Thai alternate numbers.

See also

References
  1. Archived 2016-12-20 at the Wayback Machine, คำสั่งกระทรวงกลาโหมที่ ๓๑๐/๒๕๕๗ เรื่องการใช้คำภาษาอังกฤษยศทหารของกระทรวงกลาโหม.
  2. The "Special Master Sergeant 1st Class" 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".
  3. Senior colonel or Brigadier is equivalent to a one star general or Brigadier/Brigadier General. This is not an official rank in the Royal Thai Army, but special recognition given to officers of equivalent rank in other countries and on paper. The senior colonel will wear the rank-slides of a colonel, but with a collar insignia showing a crossed baton and sword with wreath below (similar to Chom Phon rank slide). In the same way, the Royal Thai Navy has a "senior captain" or Commodore (equivalent to a one-star admiral or Commodore) and the RTAF has a "senior group captain" or Air Commodore (equivalent to the one star rank of Air Commodore or Brigadier General), with the collar insignia of both services.
  4. , กรมการกงสุล กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ
  5. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2559/A/006/26.PDF
  6. 63 Years of Volunteer Defense Corps (Thailand) in 2017 News page 78-79
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