Ministry of Defence (Thailand)

The '''Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom Thailand''' ({{lang-th|กระทรวงกลาโหม}}; {{RTGS|Krasuang Kalahom}}; [[Abbreviation|Abrv:]] MOD), is a [[Cabinet of Thailand|Cabinet]] level government department of the Kingdom of Thailand. The Ministry controls and manage the [[Royal Thai Armed Forces]], as well as maintaining national security, territorial integrity and national defence. The Armed Forces of Thailand is made up of three main branches: [[Royal Thai Army]], [[Royal Thai Navy]] and [[Royal Thai Air Force]]. Although the [[King of Thailand]] is the Supreme Head of the Thai Armed Forces ({{lang-th|จอมทัพไทย)}} his position is only nominal. The Ministry and the Force is instead administer by an appointed civilian politician: the '''Minister of Defence of Thailand''' a member of the [[Cabinet of Thailand]]. The post of Minister of Defence has been hold by General [[Yuthasak Sasiprapha]] since 9 August 2011. ==History== Initially the Ministry was called the "Kalahom Department" ({{lang-th|สมุหกลาโหม}}), it was charged with the protection the [[Southern Thailand|Southern border]]. It was founded in the late [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Ayutthaya period]] and was retained in the [[Rattanakosin_era#Bangkok_period|Rattanakosin period]]. The [[Ministry (government department)|Ministry]] in its current form was formed in 1887, under the orders of King [[Chulalongkorn]] the Great, to create a permanent military command. This was a result of the increasing threat Western powers were having on the country. The actual Ministry was housed in an old horse and elephant stable, opposite the [[Grand Palace]]. A new European style building was however build to house it. At first the Ministry only commanded the Army (founded in 1847), it then incorporated the Navy (founded in 1887) and finally the Air Force (founded in 1913). ==The Secretariat== [[Image:ThaiMOD1.JPG|thumb|right|320px|Ministry of Defence of Thailand, on Sanamchai Road, opposite the [[Temple of the Emerald Buddha]].]] [[Image:Flag of the Thai Defence Minister.svg|thumb|right|250px|Flag of the Minister of Defence]] The Ministry like any other government department is headed by the secretariat who helped the Minister and Deputy Ministers; exercise their authority and administer the department. * '''Permanent Secretary''': General [[Kittipong Keskowit]] * '''Deputy Permanent Secretary''': Air Chief Marshal [[Apisit JulMoke]] * '''Deputy Permanent Secretary''': General [[Witthawas Rachatanand]] * '''Deputy Permanent Secretary''': Admiral [[Rapol Kamklai]] ==Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters== Formerly the Supreme Command HQ (until February 2008), the [[Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters]] is situated in [[Bangkok]] and is a joint committee of the [[Royal Thai Armed Forces]], in charge of Military planning and execution. ===Chief Commanders=== * '''Chief of the Defence Forces''': General [[Songkitti Jaggabatara]] * '''Chairman of the Advisory Board''': General [[Kamon Saenissara]] * '''Deputy Chief of Defence Forces''': General [[Kittpong Keskowit]] * '''Deputy Chief of Defence Forces''': Admiral [[Wallop Kerdphol]] * '''Deputy Chief of Defence Forces''': Air Chief Marshal [[Manit Changpuek]] ===Joint Staff=== * '''Chief of Joint Staff''': General [[Ratchakrit Kanchanawat]] * '''Deputy Chief Of Joint Staff''': Air Chief Marshal [[Apisit Chulamokha]] * '''Deputy Chief Of Joint Staff''': Admiral [[Somsak Thanompol]] * '''Deputy Chief Of Joint Staff''': General [[Worapong Sanganetra]] ===Royal Thai Army=== The [[Royal Thai Army]] is the land forces of the Thai armed forces. The Army is generally divided into four Army Groups, however it is entirely commanded from [[Bangkok]]. * '''Commander-in-Chief''': General [[Prayuth Chan-ocha]] * '''Deputy Commander-in-Chief''': General [[Teerawat Boonyapradap]] * '''Assistant Commander-in-Chief''': General [[Pichet Wisaijorn]] ===Royal Thai Navy=== The [[Royal Thai Navy]] is the sea forces of the Kingdom. It compromises of several surface light and heavy vessels including one [[Aircraft carrier]], the [[HTMS Chakri Nareubet]]. The Navy also oversees the [[Royal Thai Marine Corps]]. * '''Commander-in-Chief''': Admiral [[Khamthorn Pumhiran]] * '''Deputy Commander-in-Chief''': Admiral [[Nibhon Chagsudulya]] * '''Assistant Commander-in-Chief''': Admiral [[Thana Bunnag]] * '''Chief of Staff of the Navy''': Admiral [[Rapol Khamklai]] ===Royal Thai Air Force=== The [[Royal Thai Air Force]] is the air wing of the Thai armed forces. It is one of the oldest Air forces in the world, founded in 1913. It currently provides air defence and air transport for the other branches. * '''Commander-in-Chief''': Air Chief Marshal [[Itthaporn Subhawong]] * '''Deputy Commander-in-Chief''': Air Chief Marshal [[Kanit Suwannate]] * '''Assistant Commander-in-Chief''': Air Chief Marshal [[M.L. Suthirat Kasemsan]] * '''Chief of Staff of the Air Force''': Air Chief Marshal [[Prajin Juntong]] ==Other Agencies== * Royal Aide de Camp Department * The War Veterans Department * Battery Organization * The Leather Tanning Organization ==Associated Organizations== *[[Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School]] *[[National Defence College of Thailand]] *[[Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy]] *[[Royal Thai Naval Academy]] ==External links== *[http://www.mod.go.th/eng_mod/index.html MOD - Thailand] *[http://www.schq.mi.th Supreme Command HQ] *[http://www.rta.mi.th/ Royal Thai Army] *[http://www.navy.mi.th/newwww/eindex.php Royal Thai Navy] *[http://www.rtaf.mi.th/eng/ Royal Thai Air Force] {{ThaiCabinetDept}} {{Military of Thailand}} {{coord missing|Thailand}} {{use dmy dates|date=December 2010}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ministry Of Defence (Thailand)}}