Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
Encyclopedia
The Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters ( or the RTARF HQ, is the joint headquarters of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, which is made up of the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy
Royal Thai Navy
The Royal Thai Navy is the navy of Thailand and part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, it was established in the late 19th century. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse is "The Father of Royal Thai Navy". Similar to the organizational structure of the United States, the Royal Thai Navy includes the...

 and the Royal Thai Air Force
Royal Thai Air Force
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, the Royal Thai Air Force had engaged in many major and minor battles. During the Vietnam war era, the air force has been developed with USAF-aid...

. Formerly the Supreme Command Headquarters ' href="/topics/Songkitti_Jaggabatara">Songkitti Jaggabatara
Songkitti Jaggabatara
General Songkitti Jaggabatara is the Chief of Defence Forces, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters since October 1, 2008 and will retire from active service on October 1, 2011.-Military Life:...

 of the Royal Thai Army. The Chief is supported by several departments and directorates, including three Deputy Chiefs representing the three branches. The Headquarters is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense of Thailand and the Defense Minister.

Function

The Headquarters is the supreme command of the armed forces and therefore at the apex of the military in Thailand. The Headquarters is charged with the command and execution of military operations in wartime. In peacetime, it is charged with maintaining military readiness in case of an attack. The Headquarters is also in charge of the security of the Royal Family and the King. In addition to the command of the armed forces during times of war, the Headquarters also commands Thai forces overseas in peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance operations.

The Headquarters represents the three branches of the Thai Military:
  • The Royal Thai Army
  • The Royal Thai Navy
    Royal Thai Navy
    The Royal Thai Navy is the navy of Thailand and part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, it was established in the late 19th century. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse is "The Father of Royal Thai Navy". Similar to the organizational structure of the United States, the Royal Thai Navy includes the...

  • The Royal Thai Air Force
    Royal Thai Air Force
    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, the Royal Thai Air Force had engaged in many major and minor battles. During the Vietnam war era, the air force has been developed with USAF-aid...


Temporary command

The Supreme Command Headquarters of the Royal Thai Armed Forces was originally a temporary position that had only been called into existence twice: Once, during the Franco–Thai War in 1940 and again during the Greater East Asia War (Second World War: Pacific Theatre). During both of these conflicts, the Headquarters was commanded by Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram
Plaek Pibulsonggram
Field Marshal Plaek Pibunsongkhram , often known as Phibun Songkhram or simply Phibun in English, was Prime Minister and virtual military dictator of Thailand from 1938 to 1944 and 1948 to 1957.- Early years :...

, the Prime Minister of Thailand
Prime Minister of Thailand
The Prime Minister of Thailand is the head of government of Thailand. The Prime Minister is also the chairman of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post has existed since the Revolution of 1932, when the country became a constitutional monarchy....

 and creator of the Supreme Command system. Temporary personnel were called from their existing units and released after conflict subsided in 1945.

Permanent Command

On September 27, 1957, King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...

, the Head and Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces ' onMouseout='HidePop("76256")' href="/topics/Sarit_Dhanarajata">Sarit Dhanarajata
Sarit Dhanarajata
Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat , was a Thai career soldier who staged a coup in 1957, thereafter serving as Thailand's Prime Minister until his death in 1963. He was born in Bangkok, but grew up in his mother's home town in Lao-speaking northeastern Thailand and considered himself a northeasterner...

 to the position of "Supreme Commander". The Defense Staff Department was also created to serve as the commander's administrative office. Field Marshal Sarit became Prime Minister in 1959 and subsequently relinquished command of the Supreme Command Headquarters on his deathbed in 1963. He was succeeded by Thanom Kittikachorn
Thanom Kittikachorn
Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn was a military dictator of Thailand. A staunch anti-Communist, Thanom oversaw a decade of military rule in Thailand from 1963 to 1973, until public protests which exploded into violence forced him to step down...

.

During the 1960s, the Government saw the establishment of the permanent Supreme Command Headquarters as a necessity for the preparation of military forces and national defense. On Mach 16, 1960, the passage of the "Organization of Ministry of Defense Act of 1960" upgraded the Defense Staff Department to Supreme Command Headquarters.

This action originally created four groups of agencies within the Supreme Command Headquarters: Staff, Special Services, Combat Support, and Education. The Supreme Command Headquarters is currently organized into five groups: the Command Group, the Joint Staff Group, the Operations Group, the Special Services Group, and the Education Group.

The Supreme Command Headquarters also has operational control of the Border Patrol Police.

Reform

On February 2, 2008, the "Supreme Command Headquarters" became the "Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters" under the "Organization of Ministry of Defense Act, 2008". The position of Supreme Commander became the Chief of Defense Forces.

Command Group

  • Office of the Chief of Defense Forces
  • Headquarters Company
  • Office of the Chief of Defense Forces' Secretary
  • Offices of Inspector General
  • Audit Office
  • Royalty Security Command
  • Medical Office
  • Department of Border Affairs
  • Counter Terrorist Operations Center

Joint Staff Group

  • Directorate of Joint Personnel
  • Directorate of Joint Intelligence
  • Directorate of Joint Operations
  • Directorate of Joint Logistics
  • Directorate of Joint Civil Affairs
  • Directorate of Joint Communications
  • Office of the Comptroller General


Special Services Group

  • Adjutant General’s Department
  • Finance Department
  • Royal Thai Survey Department
  • Support Service Department
  • Military Information Technology Department

Education Group

  • National Defense Studies Institute
  • Armed Forces Education Department
    • Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School

Chiefs of Defense Forces

The "Chief of Defense Forces" ( and the Deputy Chiefs of Defense Forces ( are responsible for the command and execution of military operations of the armed forces of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

.
Office Name Branch
Chief of the Defense Forces General Songkitti Jaggabatara
Songkitti Jaggabatara
General Songkitti Jaggabatara is the Chief of Defence Forces, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters since October 1, 2008 and will retire from active service on October 1, 2011.-Military Life:...

 
Royal Thai Army
Deputy Chief of the Defense Forces General Montree Sungkasap  Royal Thai Army
Deputy Chief of the Defense Forces Air Chief Marshal Bureerat Ratanavanich Royal Thai Air Force
Royal Thai Air Force
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, the Royal Thai Air Force had engaged in many major and minor battles. During the Vietnam war era, the air force has been developed with USAF-aid...

Deputy Chief of the Defense Forces Admiral Apichart Pengsritong Royal Thai Navy
Royal Thai Navy
The Royal Thai Navy is the navy of Thailand and part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, it was established in the late 19th century. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse is "The Father of Royal Thai Navy". Similar to the organizational structure of the United States, the Royal Thai Navy includes the...

Chairman of the Advisory Board General Kamon Saenissara Royal Thai Army

Joint Forces

The "Chief of Joint Staff" ( and the Deputy Chiefs of Joint Staff ( are roughly equivalent to the military Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...

 of other nations, responsible for coordinating joint exercises and operations of the three branches of the armed forces.
Office Name Branch
Chief of Joint Staff General Ratchakrit Kanchanawat  Royal Thai Army
Deputy Chief of Joint Staff Air Chief Marshal Apisit Chulamokha  Royal Thai Air Force
Royal Thai Air Force
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, the Royal Thai Air Force had engaged in many major and minor battles. During the Vietnam war era, the air force has been developed with USAF-aid...

Deputy Chief of Joint Staff Admiral Somsak Thanompol  Royal Thai Navy
Royal Thai Navy
The Royal Thai Navy is the navy of Thailand and part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, it was established in the late 19th century. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse is "The Father of Royal Thai Navy". Similar to the organizational structure of the United States, the Royal Thai Navy includes the...

Deputy Chief of Joint Staff General Worapong Sanganetrat  Royal Thai Army

See also

  • List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
  • Military of Thailand
  • Ministry of Defence (Thailand)
    Ministry of Defence (Thailand)
    The Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom Thailand , is a 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...

  • Royal Thai Army
  • Royal Thai Navy
    Royal Thai Navy
    The Royal Thai Navy is the navy of Thailand and part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, it was established in the late 19th century. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse is "The Father of Royal Thai Navy". Similar to the organizational structure of the United States, the Royal Thai Navy includes the...

  • Royal Thai Air Force
    Royal Thai Air Force
    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, the Royal Thai Air Force had engaged in many major and minor battles. During the Vietnam war era, the air force has been developed with USAF-aid...

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