1.
Chulalongkorn
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Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poraminthra Maha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua, or Rama V, was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang and his reign was characterized by the modernization of Siam, governmental and social reforms, and territorial concessions to the British and French. As Siam was threatened by Western expansionism, Chulalongkorn, through his policies and acts, all his reforms were dedicated to ensuring Siams survival in the face of Western colonialism, so that Chulalongkorn earned the epithet Phra Piya Maharat. King Chulalongkorn was born on 20 September 1853 to King Mongkut and Queen Debsirindra, in 1861, he was designated Krommamuen Pikhanesuan Surasangkat. His father gave him an education, including instruction from European tutors such as Anna Leonowens. In 1866, he became a monk for six months at Wat Bawonniwet according to royal tradition. Both father and son fell ill of malaria, Mongkut died on 1 October 1868. Si Suriyawongse, the most powerful government official of the day, managed the succession of Chulalongkorn to the throne, the coronation was held on 11 November 1868. Chulalongkorns health improved, and he was tutored in public affairs, traveled to India and he was crowned king in his own right as Rama V on 16 November 1873. Si Suriyawongse then arranged for the Front Palace of King Pinklao to be bequeathed to King Pinklaos son, the young Chulalongkorn was an enthusiastic reformer. He visited Singapore and Java in 1870 and British India during 1870–1872 to study the administration of British colonies and he toured the administrative centres of Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay, and back to Calcutta in early-1872. This journey was a source of his ideas for the modernization of Siam. As regent, Si Suriyawongse wielded great influence, Si Suriyawongse continued the works of King Mongkut. He supervised the digging of several important khlongs, such as Padung Krungkasem and Damneun Saduak, and he was also a patron of Thai literature and performing arts. At the end of his regency, Si Suriyawonse was raised to Somdet Chao Phraya, Si Suriyawongse was the most powerful noble of the 19th century. His family, Bunnag, was a one, of Persian descent. It dominated Siamese politics since the reign of Rama I, Chulalongkorn then married four of his half-sisters, all daughters of Mongkut, Savang Vadhana, Saovabha, and Sunandha, and Sukumalmarsri. Chulalongkorns first reform was to establish the Auditory Office, solely responsible for tax collection, as tax collectors had been under the aegis of various nobles and thus a source of their wealth, this reform caused great consternation among the nobility, especially the Front Palace
2.
Thailand
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Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is a country at the centre of the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia. With a total area of approximately 513,000 km2, Thailand is the worlds 51st-largest country and it is the 20th-most-populous country in the world, with around 66 million people. The capital and largest city is Bangkok, Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and has switched between parliamentary democracy and military junta for decades, the latest coup being in May 2014 by the National Council for Peace and Order. Its capital and most populous city is Bangkok and its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and India on the Andaman Sea to the southwest. The Thai economy is the worlds 20th largest by GDP at PPP and it became a newly industrialised country and a major exporter in the 1990s. Manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism are leading sectors of the economy and it is considered a middle power in the region and around the world. The country has always been called Mueang Thai by its citizens, by outsiders prior to 1949, it was usually known by the exonym Siam. The word Siam has been identified with the Sanskrit Śyāma, the names Shan and A-hom seem to be variants of the same word. The word Śyâma is possibly not its origin, but a learned, another theory is the name derives from Chinese, Ayutthaya emerged as a dominant centre in the late fourteenth century. The Chinese called this region Xian, which the Portuguese converted into Siam, the signature of King Mongkut reads SPPM Mongkut King of the Siamese, giving the name Siam official status until 24 June 1939 when it was changed to Thailand. Thailand was renamed Siam from 1945 to 11 May 1949, after which it reverted to Thailand. According to George Cœdès, the word Thai means free man in the Thai language, ratcha Anachak Thai means kingdom of Thailand or kingdom of Thai. Etymologically, its components are, ratcha, -ana- -chak, the Thai National Anthem, written by Luang Saranupraphan during the extremely patriotic 1930s, refers to the Thai nation as, prathet Thai. The first line of the anthem is, prathet thai ruam lueat nuea chat chuea thai, Thailand is the unity of Thai flesh. There is evidence of habitation in Thailand that has been dated at 40,000 years before the present. Similar to other regions in Southeast Asia, Thailand was heavily influenced by the culture and religions of India, Thailand in its earliest days was under the rule of the Khmer Empire, which had strong Hindu roots, and the influence among Thais remains even today. Voretzsch believes that Buddhism must have been flowing into Siam from India in the time of the Indian Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire, later Thailand was influenced by the south Indian Pallava dynasty and north Indian Gupta Empire. The Menam Basin was originally populated by the Mons, and the location of Dvaravati in the 7th century, the History of the Yuan mentions an embassy from the kingdom of Sukhothai in 1282
3.
Samut Prakan Province
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It is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Neighbouring provinces are Bangkok, to the north and west, Suvarnabhumi Airport is in the Bang Phli District of Samut Prakan Province. Samut Prakan central jail is located here too, the province was created during the Ayutthaya period, with its administrative centre at Prapadaeng. It was the sea port of Siam, and was secured with forts, town moats, King Rama II started the building of the new centre at Samut Prakan in 1819, after his predecessor King Taksin had abandoned the town fortifications. Altogether six forts were built on both sides of the Chao Phraya River, and on an island in the river the pagoda and these were involved in the Paknam incident of 13 July 1893, which ended the Franco-Siamese War with a French naval blockade of Bangkok. Of the original six forts only two still exist today, Phi Sua Samut and Phra Chulachomklao, in Thai the word samut is from Sanskrit, samudra, meaning ocean or sea, and the word prakan is from Sanskrit, prākāra, meaning fortress, walls, or stronghold. Pak Nam and Paknam redirect here Samut Prakan is at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River on the Gulf of Thailand, thus the province is also sometimes called Pak Nam, the Thai word for the mouth of a river. It is part of the Bangkok metropolis, the urbanization on both sides of the provincial boundary is identical. The province has a coastline of approximately 47.2 kilometres, the Paknam Incident was a military engagement fought during the Franco-Siamese War in July 1893. While sailing off Paknam through Siams Chao Phraya River, three French ships were fired on by a Siamese fort and force of gunboats, in the ensuing battle, France won and proceeded to blockade Bangkok which ended the war. Conflict arose when the French Navy aviso Inconstant and the gunboat Comete arrived at Paknam, the French were on their way to Bangkok, further up the river, for negotiations. When the Siamese refused, the French commander, Rear Admiral Edgar Humann, disregarded the Siamese demands, before the action Humann had been ordered not to cross the bar because the Siamese were well-prepared for battle. Siamese forces included seven 6-inch disappearing guns of the recently built Chulachomklao Fort, the Siamese also sunk several junks and a cargo ship in the river, creating only one narrow passage which the French had to traverse. Five gunboats were anchored just beyond the sunken junks and they were the Siamese gunboats Makut Ratchakuman, Narubent Butri, Thun Kramon, Muratha Wisitsawat, and Han Hak. Two were modern warships while the others were older gunboats or converted river steamers, a sea mine field of sixteen explosives was also laid. The French chose to cross the bar just after sunset on 13 July and their objective was to fight their way past the Siamese defenses but only if fired upon. The weather was overcast and raining, by this time the Siamese were on high alert and at battle stations. The French ships were towed into action by the mail steamer Jean Baptiste Say
4.
Royal Thai Navy
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The Royal Thai Navy or RTN is the naval force of Thailand and part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. It was established in the late-19th century, Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse is considered the father of the Royal Thai Navy. Similar to the structure of the United States, the Royal Thai Navy includes the naval fleet. The Royal Thai Navy operates out of Sattahip Naval Base in Sattahip Bay, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that operates an aircraft carrier, though it is used as a pure helicopter carrier with the retirement of the Harrier fighter wing. Thailand was the second Asian nation to acquire submarines, following Japan, the United States Navy and Royal Thai Navy conduct the annual joint operation Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training. CARAT is a series of bilateral maritime training exercises of the US Navy and the armed forces of Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei. In support of Vietnam during the Vietnam War, two Royal Thai Navy vessels undertook operations in South Vietnam, the navys combat forces included the Royal Fleet and the Royal Thai Marine Corps. The mission space of the Thailand navy includes the Thai Gulf and the Indian Ocean, Naval affairs were directed by the countrys most senior admiral from his Bangkok headquarters. The naval commander in chief was supported by groups that planned and administered such activities as logistics, education and training. The headquarters general staff functioned like those of corresponding staffs in the army, the next day, two journalists running a small, independent website in Phuket were formally indicted for criminally defaming the Royal Thai Navy by quoting part of the award-winning report. Phuketwan spent years defending itself and eventually won in 2015 but had to close down because its funds were exhausted, the Royal Thai Navy is commanded by the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, currently Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom, who was appointed in 2011. The Royal Thai Navy headquarters is in Bangkok, personnel were initially drawn from the Royal Thai Marine Corps, but are now being recruited directly. The First Coastal Defence Regiment is based near the Marine Corps facility at Sattahip, the First Air Defence Regiment was near the Naval Air Wing at Utapao. The Second Air Defence Regiment, based at Songkhla, was formed the following year. Some analysts believe that this element will eventually grow to a strength of up to 15,000 personnel and they are interested in S-300 or S-400 SAMs to upgrade their air defence system. The First Air Defence Regiment, their mission is to provide anti-aircraft warfare for the northern Gulf of Thailand with three anti-aircraft battalions, the Second Air Defence Regiment, to provide Anti-aircraft warfare for the southern Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea with three anti-aircraft battalions. The First Coastal Defence Regiment has three artillery battalions, two Air and Coastal Defence Command and Control Centers. Air and Coastal Defence Supporting Regiment, one battalion, one communications battalion
5.
Officer (armed forces)
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An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. In this sense, officers are not enlisted, but hold appointments from their government that typically remain in force indefinitely unless resigned, the proportion of officers varies greatly. Officers typically make up between an eighth and a fifth of modern armed forces personnel, in 2013, officers were the senior 17% of the British armed forces, and the senior 13. 7% of the French armed forces. In 2012, officers made up about 18% of the German armed forces, historically, however, armed forces have generally had much lower proportions of officers. During the First World War, fewer than 5% of British soldiers were officers, in the early twentieth century, the Spanish army had the highest proportion of officers of any European army, at 12. 5%. Within a nations armed forces, armies tend to have a proportion of officers. For example,13. 9% of British army personnel and 22. 2% of the RAF personnel were officers in 2013, having officers is one requirement for combatant status under the laws of war, though these officers need not have obtained an official commission or warrant. Commissioned officers are typically the only persons, in an armed forces environment, a superior officer is an officer with a higher rank than another officer, who is a subordinate officer relative to the superior. Non-commissioned officers in positions of authority can be said to have control or charge rather than command per se, many advanced militaries require university degrees as a prerequisite for commissioning, even from the enlisted ranks. In the Israel Defense Forces, a university degree is a requirement for an officer to advance to the rank of lieutenant colonel, the IDF often sponsors the studies for its majors, while aircrew and naval officers obtain academic degrees as a part of their training programmes. In the United Kingdom, there are three routes of entry for British Armed Forces officers, the first, and primary route are those who receive their commission directly into the officer grades following completion at their relevant military academy. The third route is similar to the second, in that they convert from an enlisted to a commission, but these are taken from the highest ranks of SNCOs. LE officers, whilst holding the same Queens Commission, generally work in different roles from the DE officers, in the infantry, a number of Warrant Officer Class 1s are commissioned as LE officers. For Royal Navy and Royal Air Force officer candidates, a 30-week period at Britannia Royal Naval College or a 30-week period at RAF College Cranwell, Royal Marines officers receive their training in the Command Wing of the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines during a grueling 15-month course. The courses consist of not only tactical and combat training, but also leadership, management, etiquette, until the Cardwell Reforms of 1871, commissions in the British Army were purchased by officers. The Royal Navy, however, operated on a more meritocratic, or at least socially mobile, AOCS also also included the embedded Aviation Reserve Officer Candidate and Naval Aviation Cadet programs. NAVCADs were personnel who held associates degrees, but lacked bachelors degrees, nAVCADs would complete the entire AOCS program, but would not be commissioned until completion of flight training and receiving their wings. After their initial tour, they would be assigned to a college or university full-time for no more than two years in order to complete their bachelors degree
6.
Royal Thai Armed Forces
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The Royal Thai Armed Forces is the name of the military of the Kingdom of Thailand. The Royal Thai Armed Forces Day is celebrated on 18 January to commemorate the victory of King Naresuan the Great in battle against the Crown Prince of Burma in 1593. The Royal Thai Armed Forces main role officially is the protection of the sovereignty, the armed forces are also charged with the defence of the monarchy of Thailand against all threats, foreign and domestic. Apart from these roles, the forces also have responsibilities ensuring public order. The armed forces are charged with assisting victims of national disasters. And participating in the force in Iraq, contributing 423 personnel from 2003 to 2004. As of 2015, the Royal Thai Armed Forces had 306,000 active duty and 245,000 reserve personnel and this percentage is higher than that of the US, but lower than that of its neighbour, Vietnam. The Thai military has more than 1,750 flag officers, by comparison, the US military as of April 2011 had 964 flag officers for a force several times the size of Thailands. On 2 May 20151,043 new flag officers of all three services promoted in 2014-2015 took the oath of allegiance and it is not clear how many retired during the same period. According to the Constitution of the Kingdom, serving in the forces is a duty of all Thai citizens. However, only males over the age of 21 who have not gone through training are subjected to a random draft. Those chosen randomly are subjected to twenty-four months full-time service, while volunteers are subjected to eighteen months service, the defence budget nearly tripled from 78.1 billion baht in 2005 to 207 billion baht for FY2016, amounting to roughly 1.5 percent of GDP. The budget for FY2017 is 214 billion baht —including funds for a submarine purchase—a nominal increase of three percent, the proposed budget again represents around 1.5 percent of GDP and eight percent of total government spending for FY2017. According to Janes Defense Budgets, the Royal Thai Army generally receives 50 percent of defense expenditures while the air force, the Royal Siamese Armed Forces was the military arm of the Siamese monarchy from the 12th to the 19th centuries. It refers to the forces of the Sukhothai Kingdom, the Ayutthaya Kingdom, the Thonburi Kingdom. The army was one of the armed forces of Southeast Asia. The army was organized into a standing army of a few thousand, which defended the capital and the palace. Conscription was based on the system, which required local chiefs to supply, in times of war
7.
Head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces
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The Head of the Thai Armed Forces is a position vested in the Thai monarch, who as sovereign and head of state is the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Ever since the foundation of the first Thai state, the king has led his armies into battle. The role of the king as chief warrior was derived from Hindu concepts of kshatriya and this martial responsibility has by tradition been borne by every Thai monarch since, but has never been formally instituted. By the 19th century, with the creation of a modern Thai army and navy in 1874 and 1887 respectively. The titles of Supreme Head of Army and Supreme Head of the Navy were created around the half of the reign of King Chulalongkorn for himself. After the end of the monarchy in 1932, Siams first permanent constitution established the ceremonial role of Head of the Siamese Armed Forces in Article 1. Since then Thailand has had 16 constitutions and the title has been enshrined in one of them. Under the constitutional system, the kings post as head of the forces is a means for the monarchy to be closely related to the armed forces. The armed forces celebrate the king with a parade held on his birthday at the Royal Plaza in central Bangkok. These include a golden baton, a sabre and a golden aiguillette
8.
Royal Thai Air Force
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The Royal Thai Air Force or RTAF is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand. Since its establishment in 1913 as one of the earliest air forces of Asia, during the Vietnam War era, the air force was supplied with USAF-aid equipment. In February 1911 Belgian pilot Charles Van Den Born displayed the first aircraft in Siam at Bangkoks Sapathum Horse Racing Course, king Rama VI was sufficiently impressed that on 28 February 1912 he sent three Army officers to France to learn to fly. After receiving their wings, the returned to Siam in November 1913, bringing with them eight aircraft, four Breguets. In March 1914, Thai aviation moved from Sapathum to Don Muang then north of Bangkok, the Ministry of Defence placed the Siamese Flying Corps under the Army Engineer Inspector General Department. In 1937, it became an independent service known as the Royal Siamese Air Force, two years later, when the kingdoms name was changed to Thailand, it became the Royal Thai Air Force. During the French-Thai War, the Thai Air Force achieved several air-to-air-victories in dogfights against the Vichy Armée de lAir, other RTAF personnel took an active part the anti-Japanese resistance movement. The Thai Air Force sent three C-47s to support the United Nations in Korean War, the Wings Unit, operating the C-47, also joined the anti-communist forces in the Vietnam War. The Royal Thai Air Force is commanded by the Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force currently Air Chief Marshal Prajin Jantong, the Royal Thai Air Force Headquarters is located in Don Muang Airbase, Bangkok, Thailand. The headquarters group in Bangkok performs the usual general staff functions, the support group provides engineering, communications, ordnance, transportation, quartermaster, and medical services support. The education group coordinates and supervises all air force training programmes, the special service group is responsible for the welfare of air force personnel and coordinates the activities of Thai civil aviation with those of the air force. The Royal Thai Air Force maintains a number of bases which were constructed between 1954 and 1968, have permanent buildings and ground support equipment. All but one were built and used by United States forces until their withdrawal from Thailand in 1976 when Thai air force assumed use of the installations at Takhli and Nakhon Ratchasima. In the late 1980s, these bases and Don Muang Air Base outside Bangkok, maintenance of base facilities abandoned by the United States proved costly and exceeded Thai needs. Nonetheless, all runways were available for training and emergency use. By 2004 the Royal Thai Air Force had its base at Don Muang airport. The RTAF also had large air fields and facilities at Nakon Ratchasima Ubon Ratchathani, the following squadrons are currently active with the Royal Thai Air Force. This 100 man unit, part of the Royal Thai Air Forces Special Combat Operations Squadron, was formed in the late 1970s and are based near Don Muang Airport and they have three assault platoons, each divided into two sections
9.
King's Guard (Thailand)
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The Kings Guard is a ceremonial designation given to various regiments within the Royal Thai Armed Forces. This contingent is dedicated to the protection of the Royal Family of Thailand, the Royal Guards were established by King Chulalongkorn the Great of Thailand in 1859, when he was still crown prince. Initially, the Royal Guards were servants with duties such as scaring crows, when he succeeded his father in 1868, King Chulalongkorn took his Royal Guard and formed a 24-strong Royal Bodyguard, referred to as the Thahan Song Lo. In 1870, the Royal Guard regiment were given the name the Kings Guard and these officers were formed into a special company called Military Engineers of the Royal Bodyguard, in which Mr. James McCarthy held the rank of captain. The Royal Guards still exist down to the present and serve as protectors of the Royal Family of Thailand, todays Kings Guard units serve as the Thai equivalent to the guards units of various countries
10.
Border Patrol Police
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The Border Patrol Police is a Thai paramilitary force responsible for border security and counter-insurgency. The Thai Border Patrol Police was organized in the 1951 with assistance from the United States Central Intelligence Agency, although technically part of the Royal Thai Police, the BPP has always enjoyed a great deal of autonomy within the national headquarters as well as in its field operations. The royal family was a patron of the organization. This traditional relationship benefited both the palace and its paramilitary protectors, many BPP commanders were former army officers. Platoons of 32-men form the basic operating units of the BPP, each platoon is supported by one or more heavy weapons platoons stationed at the regional and area RTP headquarters. PARU can airlift BPP platoons to troubled areas when an emergency arises, armed with modern light infantry equipment, the BPP also benefited from training by United States Army Special Forces advisers who helped establish an instruction program during the 1960s. The BPP served as an important adjunct to the Thai military, BPP units stationed along the Cambodian and Laotian borders following the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1979 often served as a first line of defense and bore the brunt of Vietnamese attacks. In order to carry out its mission, the BPP operates numerous civic action programs to cultivate and maintain rapport with remote area villagers. They have built and operate schools in areas and help the army construct offices for civilian administration. They operate rural medical aid stations, give farmers agricultural assistance, all members of PARU are trained for airborne operations, including free-fall jumps. PARU can provide support to BPP headquarters within two hours, PARU also conducts training for the following, unconventional warfare, counter-terrorism, and parachute training of the Royal Thai Police. Disaster and accident rescue on land and water including air-sea rescue, the BPP organized the paramilitary Volunteer Defense Corps or VDC in 1954 to provide law and order and emergency response. This was done in response to complaints of banditry and harassment by subversive organizations, the VDC had the responsibility of protecting inhabitants from threats and intimidation by guerrillas who had infiltrated the border provinces from neighboring Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Its mission is to deny access to food and other supplies that made villages. VDC members were trained by the BPP, in 1974 it was expanded by the Internal Security Operations Command to urban areas to fight left-wing political activism. In the late 1980s, VDC strength was estimated at roughly 33,000, part of the reduction was absorbed by the formation of the Thahan Phran, a paramilitary unit formed to counter communist insurgents. They were reinvigorated and have played a role in the fighting the South Thailand insurgency since 2004, the BPP, together with the Ministry of Interior, backed and sponsored the 1971 establishment of the Village Scouts, a right-wing rural vigilante group and paramilitary militia. The village scouts were to counter the communist insurgency and the movement of the 1970s
11.
Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy
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Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy is the military academy of Royal Thai Army. Established in 1887 it has graduated the majority of Thailands military leaders, the academy has an intense training program. There are about 200 cadets in each class, CRMA was founded on 5 August 1887 by King Chulachomklao, King Rama V, also known as King Chulalongkorn. It was originally called the Royal Military Academy, on 1 January 1948, it was merged with the Royal Thai Army Polytechniques Institute, under the new name Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in the honor of King Chulachomklao. Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy was originally in the precinct of Saranrom Palace in Bangkok, in 1909 the academy was moved to Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue in Bangkok. On 10 July 1986, it moved to its new sprawling complex at Khao Cha-ngoke, the academy admits only male applicants after three years attendance at the armed forces prep school. In every academic year, eight to ten scholarships are offered by the Royal Thai Army to academically outstanding first-year cadets to pursue studies at foreign military institutes. At the end of the year, cadets graduate with a bachelors degree in their chosen field of study and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the Royal Thai Army. Cadets have a set daily schedule, after taking care of their personal hygiene, studying for one hour, and breakfast, the academic schedule starts at 08,00 and ends at 15,00. Either military training or sports is scheduled every day from 15,30 until 17,00, self study is scheduled again after dinner from 19,00 until 21,00. Annual military training starts in January after the academic semester ends. Each class is scheduled for specific training, for example, first year cadets might be trained at the infantry center. Third year cadets, who have passed the process, might undergo parachute training and fourth year cadets. Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, Prime Minister and military dictator from 1957–1963, general Prem Tinsulanonda, Prime Minister from 1980–1988. General Surayud Chulanont, Prime Minister from 2006–January 2008, general Prayut Chan-o-cha, the current prime minister of Thailand
12.
Royal Thai Army
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The Royal Thai Army or RTA is the army of Thailand responsible for protecting its sovereignty. It is the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, the Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdoms sovereignty. It is the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, the army was formed in 1874, partly as a response to new security threats following the 1855 Bowring Treaty with Britain, which opened the country for international trade. The general retired October 2014 to concentrate on political reform which he said would take at least a year, observers have noted a power struggle in 2016 between the factions of the Thai army and their support of different heirs. On 24 December 2015 the RTA broke ground for a new auditorium, the 2.3 billion baht facility will replace an existing 58 year-old auditorium. The building is due to be completed in 2019, the ground floor auditorium will accommodate 500 people, an office, a press room, and a reception hall. The first floor include a party room for 500 people. The second floor will hold a second auditorium for 3,000 people, the basement car park is designed to accommodate 400 vehicles. The Royal Thai Army is commanded by the Commander of the Royal Thai Army, the current commander is General Chalermchai Sitthisart, who was confirmed by royal appointment to take over the top post in 2016. The Royal Thai Army headquarters is on Ratchadamnoen Nok Road in Bangkok, the Royal Thai Army today is divided into four army areas, First Army – headquartered in Bangkok and is responsible for the countrys western and central provinces including the capital city. 3rd and 6th Infantry Divisions 3rd Cavalry Division 2nd Development Division Third Army – headquartered in Phitsanulok, 4th and 7th Infantry Divisions 1st Cavalry Division 3rd Development Division. Fourth Army – headquartered in Nakhon Si Thammarat, responsible for southern Thailand, 5th Infantry Division – 15th Infantry Division – – operating Bell UH-1Hs and Sikorsky S-70-43 Black Hawks with six more on order. Gong Bin Sanub-sanoon Tua Pai – operating Boeing CH-47D Chinooks, Bell UH-1Hs, and Mil Mi-17V5s The army aviation centre is based here, types operated are Cessna T-41Bs, Maule MX-7s, and Schweizer S-300C piston trainer helicopters. The two former VIP Beechcraft 200 King Air aeroplanes, are based here. These aeroplanes were modified in the US in the late-1990s, a separate airfield within the Lopburi complex houses the 5th Aircraft Maintenance Company. This unit is responsible for maintenance and storage of army aircraft, the 5th Infantry Division operates the following aviation assets from a small airfield within the army reserve at Nakhon Si Thammarat, two Bell 206B-3s, three Schweizer TH-300Cs and two Maule MX-7s. A detachment of helicopters can be found here from the Air Mobility Companies based at Lopburi, the 6th Infantry Battalion is based near Ubon Ratchatani. The Royal Thai Army is known to operate the aircraft types
