Military circles of Thailand

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This article is about military administrative divisions of Thailand. For civil administrative divisions of Thailand, see administrative divisions of Thailand.
Subdivisions of the Royal Thai Army
Military divisions (1990-2014)
Military divisions (present)
CategoryMilitary district
Location Thailand
Number4 regions, 35 districts (as of 2015)

Subdivisions of the Royal Thai Army' are a military formation and administrative division of the Royal Thai Army. Thailand is divided into four army areas (Thai: กองทัพภาค). An army area may have its satellite corp as a supporting unit. Each area consists of many army districts (Thai: มณฑลทหารบก), each of which covers one or few provinces and supervises many military units. Each army district and army area has a multitude of roles, including supervising all military units, including ones from other branches of the Royal Thai Armed Forces,[1] recruit new members of the armed forces and work with local and central government. Thailand currently has 35 military districts, some of which cover only one province while many covers many provinces.

List of current military subdivisions in Thailand[edit]

Thailand is divided into four military regions (or areas). Each region is subdivided into up to 10 districts. Army Region 1 covers central Thailand, while Region 2, 3 and 4 correspond to northeastern, northern and southern Thailand respectively.[2] All key units are located at dedicated military forts, which are named after key monarchs or heroes.

Army Area 1 (central)[edit]

Army Area 1 was established on 13 January 1911 as an amalgamation of three monthon-level units. At that time it was named Army 1[3] There were two other armies, Army 2 and Army 3, located at Phitsanulok and Nakhon Ratchasima respectively. Army Area 1 controls Army Corps 1. It also supervises all military units in central Thailand, covering 9 army districts as follows.

District number Provinces under supervision Headquarters location Named after
11 Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan Laksi, Bangkok
12 Prachinburi, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao Fort Chakraphong, Prachinburi Chakrabongse Bhuvanath
13 Lopburi, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong Fort King Narai Maharat, Lopburi King Narai
14 Chonburi, Rayong Fort Nawaminthrachini, Chonburi Queen Sirikit
15 Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan Fort Ramratchaniwet, Phetchaburi Named by Chulalongkorn
16 Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon Fort Phanurangsi, Ratchaburi Bhanurangsi Savangwongse
17 Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri Fort Surasi, Kanchanaburi Viceroy Maha Sura Singhanat
18 Saraburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Fort Adisorn, Saraburi Prince Suksawasdi, Krom Luang Adisorn Udomdej
19 Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, Trat Fort Surasinghanat, Sa Kaeo Viceroy Maha Sura Singhanat

Army Area 2 (northeastern)[edit]

Army 3, headquartered in Nakhon Ratchasima, was dissolved in 1927 due to economic depression. The unit was re-established by the royal decree of 1948 and named Army Area 2.[4] It supervises 10 army districts, all of which are in northeastern Thailand. It also commands Army Corps 2. Its headquarters are at Fort Suranari, Nakhon Ratchasima.[5]

District number Provinces under supervision Headquarters location Named after
21 Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum Fort Suranari, Nakhon Ratchasima Thao Suranari
22 Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen Fort Sapphasitthiprasong, Ubon Ratchathani Prince Chumphon Somphot, Krom Luang Sappasitthiprasong
23 Khon Kaen, Kalasin Fort Sripatcharin, Khon Kaen Queen Saovabha Phongsri
24 Udon Thani, Nong Khai Fort Prachaksinlapakhom, Udon Thani Prince Thongkongkonyai, Krom Luang Prachaksinlapakhom
25 Surin, Sisaket Fort Weerawatyothin, Surin Major-General Luang Weerawatyothin (Weerawat Raktachittakan)
26 Buriram, Maha Sarakham Fort Somdej Chao Phraya Kasatsuek, Buriram Former name of Rama I
27 Roi Et, Yasothon Fort Prasertsongkhram, Roi Et Major-General Phraya Prasertsongkhram (Thiap Khomkris)
28 Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu Fort Srisongrak, Loei Phra That Si Song Rak
29 Sakon Nakhon, Bueng Kan Fort Kris Sivara, Sakon Nakhon General Kris Sivara
210 Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan Fort Phra Yod Mueang Khwang, Nakhon Phanom Major Phra Yodmueangkhwang (Kham Yotphet)

Army Area 3 (northern)[edit]

Army 2, located in Phitsanulok, was reorganised in 1948 to form the Army Area 3.[4] Its headquarters are at Fort King Naresuan the Great, Phitsanulok.[6] It supervises Army Corp 3 and 10 army districts, all of which are from northern Thailand.

District number Provinces under supervision Headquarters location Named after
31 Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng Phet, Uthai Thani Fort Chiraprawat, Nakhon Sawan Field Marshall Prince Chirapravati Voradej, Krom Luang Nakhon Chaisri Suradet
32 Lampang Fort Surasak Montri, Lampang Chaophraya Surasakmontri (Choem Saneg-chuto)
33 Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun Fort Kawila, Chiang Mai Lord Kawila of Lampang
34 Phayao Fort Khun Chueang Thammikkarat, Phayao Phraya Chueang, a legendary king of northern Thailand
35 Uttaradit, Phrae Fort Phichai Dabhak, Uttaradit Phraya Phichai Dap Hak
36 Phetchabun, Phichit Fort Phokhun Pha Mueang, Phetchabun King Pha Mueang
37 Chiang Rai Fort King Mengrai Maharat, Chiang Rai King Mangrai
38 Nan Fort Suriyaphong, Nan Lord Suriyaphong Pharittadet, Former ruler of Nan
39 Phitsanulok, Sukhothai Fort King Naresuan Maharat, Phitsanulok King Naresuan
310 Tak Fort Wachiraprakan, Tak Former name of King Taksin

Army Area 4 (southern)[edit]

On 7 February 1925, Army Area 4 was established to supervise all military units in southern Thailand. Unlike other army areas, Army Area 4 does not have a satellite corp. Its headquarters are at Fort Vajiravudh, Nakhon Sri Thammarat.[7]

District number Provinces under supervision Headquarters location Named after
41 Nakhon Si Thammarat (except Thung Song District), Phuket Fort Vajiravudh, Nakhon Si Thammarat King Vajiravudh
42 Songkhla, Phatthalung, Satun Fort Senanarong, Songkhla Luang Senanarong (Sak Senanarong)[8]
43 Nakhon Si Thammarat (only Thung Song District), Krabi, Trang Fort Thep Satri Srisunthorn, Nakhon Si Thammarat Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Si Sunthon
44 Chumphon, Ranong Fort Khet Udomsak, Chumphon Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak
45 Surat Thani, Phang Nga Fort Vibhavadi Rangsit, Surat Thani Princess Vibhavadi Rangsit
46 Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala Fort Ingkhayutthaborihan, Pattani Colonel Kun Ingkhayutthaborihan (Thongsuk Ingkhakul)[9]

Map of subdivisions of the Royal Thai Army[edit]

This map shows subdivisions of the Royal Thai Army, in accordance with the 2015 ministerial regulation signed by Prayut Chan-o-cha.[1] The country is split into four army areas, numbered 1 to 4. Each army area contains 6 to 10 army districts. Each district is numbered. The first digit refers to the army area in which the district is located. The second and third digits are a sequential number 1 to 10 (without 0). As a consequence, there are no district 10, 20, 30 and 40. All army districts are provincial-level military units de facto. Sometimes army districts are referred to as military circles due to ambiguity of the original Pali term.[n 1]

Roles[edit]

In accordance with the by-law enacted in 2009,[10] all army areas plan, manage, supervise and act as a chief in national security, peacekeeping and other roles according to the government policy. All army areas also

  1. Secure all members of the Royal Family;
  2. Actuate Royal-initiated projects (in collaboration with other bodies), and
  3. Engage in Military operations other than war.

As subordinate units to the army areas, military districts have following roles[1][11]

  1. Govern local military forces, according to instructions and regulations by the Ministry of Defence;
  2. Maintain peace in its area; supervise military courts, cases, witness protection and military prisons;
  3. Recruit new members of the forces; oversee conscription and military summoning;
  4. Support military units in its area;
  5. Protect the internal security and national security according to the strategic plan;
  6. Support the government in supporting Thai citizens;
  7. Work closely with the Internal Security Operations Command local centres.

History[edit]

In 1911, Vajiravudh proposed that Siam (now Thailand) must have a modernised army system. He divided Siam into three regions, Army 1 (central and southern), Army 2 (northern) and Army 3 (northeastern). Each monthon (a collection of cities and settlements, similar to China today) has one division. All divisions in a region formed a regional army. [12] In 1927, due to economic crisis, northeastern army and some military units were dissolved. The remaining armies were Armies 1 and 2, located at Bangkok and Ayutthaya respectively.[5]

In 1948, during the Bhumibol Adulyadej's reign, Thailand was divided into 5 military districts in accordance with different regions: central, eastern, northeastern, northern and southern.[13] Seventeen years later, the Royal Thai Army realised that the organisation was too bulky--there were too many provinces under supervision of an army district. The military government, led by Thanom Kittikachorn, proposed that the country be divided into three armies. Each armies were divided into districts[14]

In 1990, the Royal Thai Army was reorganised into four army regions. Each region was divided into many army districts, each of which covered few provinces. Each military district was divided into military provinces (Thai: จังหวัดทหารบก). Some military provinces cover many civil provinces (Thai: จังหวัด) (such as Chiang Mai army province, covered Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Lamphun), while others cover one (such as Nan army province, covered Nan only). As a superior unit to provinces, army district were located at large military bases in key provinces.[15] In 2015, Prayut Chan-o-cha proposed that each military district should cover fewer provinces in order to make the chain of command more efficient and reduce the complexities of the military formation.[1] This is particularly clear in northern and northeastern Thailand.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Some "มณฑลทหารบก"'s refer to themselves as military district. For instance, Military District 38 in Nan Province. Some units just refer to themselves as "military monthons" or "monthon thahan bok" or "mtb", for example, Military District 42 in Songkhla Province. It is also noted that So Sethaputra's English-Thai dictionary confirms the correctness of the term district.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, กฎกระทรวงกําหนดหน้าที่และเขตพื้นที่ของมณฑลทหารบก พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๘, เล่ม ๑๓๖ ตอนที่ ๘๐ ก ๘ กันยายน ๒๕๕๘ (Ministerial Regulations on the roles and coverage of military districts, 2015)
  2. ^ พระราชบัญญัติจัดระเบียบราชการกระทรวงกลาโหม พ.ศ.๒๕๕๑ (Act on Subdivisions of the Ministry of Defence of Thailand).
  3. ^ Military Region 1, [History of Military Region 1]. (in Thai)
  4. ^ a b พระราชกฤษฎีกาจัดวางระเบียบราชการกองทัพบก ในกระทรวงกลาโหม พ.ศ. 2491 (Royal Decree on the Organisation of the Royal Thai Army, 1948). Legislative Institutional Repository of Thailand.
  5. ^ a b Our History, Army Area 2 Headquarters (in Thai)
  6. ^ History of Army Area 3, Army Area 3 (in Thai)
  7. ^ Official Website, Army Area 4 (in Thai).
  8. ^ History of Fort Senanarong (in Thai)
  9. ^ History of Fort Ingkhayutthaborihan (in Thai)
  10. ^ ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, พระราชกฤษฎีกาแบ่งส่วนราชการและกำหนดหน้าที่ของส่วนราชการ กองทัพบก กองทัพไทย กระทรวงกลาโหม พ.ศ.๒๕๕๒, เล่ม ๑๒๖, ตอนที่ ๑๙ ก, ๓๐ มีนาคม ๒๕๕๒ (By-law on the division of the Royal Thai Army, Armies of Thailand, Ministry of Defence, 2009)
  11. ^ ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, กฎกระทรวงกําหนดหน้าที่และเขตพื้นที่ของมณฑลทหารบก (ฉบับที่ ๒) พ.ศ. ๒๕๖๒, เล่ม ๑๓๒ ตอนที่ ๘๖ ก ๒๗ มิถุนายน ๒๕๖๒ (Ministerial Regulations on the roles and coverage of military districts (2nd edition), 2019)
  12. ^ "ขุนทหารพรึบ! ตบเท้าร่วมงานวันสถาปนาครบรอบ 110 ปีกองทัพภาคที่ 1". Post Today. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  13. ^ ราชกิจจานุเบกษา,พระราชกฤษฎีกาจัดวางระเบียบราชการกองทัพบกในกระทรวงกลาโหม พ.ศ.๒๔๙๑, ตอนที่ ๕๓, เล่ม ๗๕, ๑๕ กันยายน ๒๔๙๑ (By-law on the organisation of the Royal Thai Army, 1948)
  14. ^ ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, กฎกระทรวง (พ.ศ.๒๕๐๙) ออกตามความในพระราชบัญญัติจัดระเบียบราชการกระทรวงกลาโหม พ.ศ.๒๕๐๓, ตอนที่ ๘, เล่ม ๘๓, ๒๕ มกราคม ๒๕๐๙ (Ministerial Regulations on the Organisation of the Royal Thai Army, 1966)
  15. ^ ราชกิจจานุเบกษากฎกระทรวงกําหนดส่วนราชการที่ขึ้นตอกองทัพภาคและเขตพื้นที่ของมณฑลทหารบกและจังหวัดทหารบก พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๒, เล่ม ๑๒๖ ตอนที่ ๑๒ ก, ๒๐ กุมภาพนธ์ ๒๕๕๒ (Ministerial Regulations on Military Regions, Circles and Provinces, 2009)

See also[edit]

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