(Thai school girls participating in the army reserves, they can do the mundane things but not participate in weapons training or anything deemed where they are too weak)
Thailand drafts all males when the reach the age of 21, if you do not show up when reaching this age, if they catch you, you can be jailed or your military time is doubled.
In Thailand, the National Draft to me, is a bit of a joke. Each year there are 500,000 plus 21 year olds each year facing 2 years in the army. It is the process that makes me a little miffed.
If you live in Thailand, then you know that there have been many Hi-So (rich arrogant, wealthy, think they are better than anyone else) Thais, who have draft dodged through payment (bribery) to agents.
(Army instructor issuing orders)
I directly know people who paid money to these agents to make sure their names were not added to the list of people who have to participate in the draft procedure. A few years ago, one friend made the trip to Bangkok, he paid 14,000 Baht to guarantee he wouldn’t be drafted, and another paid 10,000 Baht.
(This is their officer. He is a captain (3 stars) or called ‘Roi Ek’, he is a 24 year veteran but still has many ranks to go. There are still 8 more ranks till he reaches ‘Field Marshal’ or ‘Chom Phon.’ He was very interesting to talk to. The students were practising for a parade (for an entire week, no classes) and when he caught students slacking off or showing poor form he would dress them down like something out of a movie, it was really good to see.)
If people are not in a position to pay for such a guarantee of not being drafted, they are put through a medical on the day. If they pass they then have to chance of picking a black or red token. More on this in a moment.
Ladyboys or katoeys or Thailand’s third sex are drafted as well, they are excused after the medical on the terms of being, ‘Permanent Mental Disorder’ which is stamped on their Sor Dor 43 conscription certificate. This certificate then usually has to be produced when applying for jobs.
Even ladyboys who have been through gender reassignment surgery, even though they have breasts and no penis are still forced through the medical procedure as their Thai National ID Card still has ‘Mr.’ as their title on it.
Katoeys have told stories about being humiliated in front of other draftees, having to expose their breasts, have them touched by people doing the medicals and so forth, but all this time there is no chance of them being passed.
So the males who are passed, they then do a lucky dip. Not all of the 500,000, 21 year old potential draftees are needed. And to be fair there is a simple system.
A draftee reaches into a box and pulls out a token, there are black or red tokens. If it is black, then you have been lucky and are excused, if red you have just joined the armed forces.
If a teenager is smart and doesn’t want a career in the armed forces, then the Army Reserve road is a very smart choice. For three years, usually one day a week for a semester (20 weeks) they participate in activities under the control of military personnel.
My personal thoughts on the draft or conscription are pretty simple, I don’t agree that everyone ‘has to’ partake in it. Maybe they could use it for troubled teens, and also people a little older to smarten them up. Exhaust them into line, flog them into line, mentally and physically break them. I feel sorry for a 21 year old male who has been studying hard for a career to then have it interrupted by a forced military service period.
I really wish Australia would make it compulsory for all the pain in the ass, ignorant teenagers pilfering Australia, which are sadly growing in numbers to a mandatory two years in the forces.
Any teenager who doesn’t complete school to year 12, undertake an apprenticeship or enroll in TAFE schools and such, they should be dragged kicking, screaming, and crying to an armed service.
No dropping out, getting the dole (government money handouts) for them. If they don’t want to be educated or become skilled in some field, then two years of basic military training would be a great way to shape their lives that were already probably heading down the shitter, toward a road of crime, drugs and who knows what else.
The old style drill instructors, who take absolutely no shit, can pretty well do what they like to soldiers who are disobedient, need to be their instructors. There are many teens in Australia that need to have the biggest flogging of their miserable lives, to wake them up from there current lifestyle. What happens on base, stays on the base and in the regiment.
Anyway, that is just my thoughts on all of this, all from a few pictures from school. I need to get a more active lifestyle…
Brunty
8 comments:
Good reporting as usual, Brunty. :o) My older brother grew up there and sort of dodged it by enrolling in the raudau (my weird Americanized spelling...it's the equivalent of our ROTC - reserved officer training corps - here) program. I think it added extra officers classes to his college class load for 2 yrs then he didn't have to serve but was on standby for the army for a few years once he graduated.
The Thai kids in the photos seem in such good spirit! Are you guys decorating for Christmas? (I know they're Buddhists there, but they seem to celebrate everything!) :oD
Sorg, we have a competition for who decorates their classroom the best and a huge Christmas Day party as well.
The guys were happy as they had hold of an M16. When they were drilling not so happy, but it is good for their spirit and well outside their comfort zone.
They call it "Lor Dor" and it is a smart move by kids as they are then exempt for the 2 year service.
Thanks for dropping by mate
In the North, on the day the of the conscription lottery, all the lads waiting for their turn to pick a black or red card, have to sit stripped to the waist. However, Katoeys who have breasts, acquired by any method, are excused from bearing their chests.
The number of Red cards among the black has fallen drastically recently because so many teenagers with no prospects for the future sign up voluntarily before the selection process.
10,000 to 14,000 baht is not a lot of money. interesting how cheap integrity is these days.
Hey Brunty,
We have the same problems here in the U.S. and I think a mandatory 2 year stint in the armed services would do wonders to improve the attitude of many American teenagers these days. Too bad that will almost never happen.
Not sure why they choose 21 as the age of mandatory service in Thailand. Would be better I think if it was 18, that way any schooling or trade they may be involved in wouldn't be interfered with, plus if they could do something like the GI Bill here in the U.S. there would be more Thai's that could go on to higher level education. At the very least many of them would learn a viable trade.
My son did the 3 years of Lor Dor (M4-6). He seemed to enjoy it. Army camps, training etc. I was a bit surprised to see your students doing training at the school. My son had to go to the Warin Army camp every time.
So by doing the training he is exempted from the 2 year call up. I can't understand why not all guys do this cadet training at school. Probably because the smaller schools don't have it or they are out in the sticks.
Another thing. Thailand doesn't really need subscription because there are far more volunteers than there are places. It is very desirable to get into the army as a career.
At school in NZ years ago I had to do 5 years cadet training. That has stopped because of budget cuts.
Uthen, the reports of ladyboys having to expose themselves are few but most I have read about are near the capital.
There are many more teens now that are happy to join the army as you said their prospects are pretty poor. I am trying to check but I am sure a new soldier receives less than 2,000 Baht a month.
MJ,
I have heard of people who have paid a lot less and others who have paid much more. The surprising things is the amount of politicians, and other well to know people who get accused of draft dodging.
Steve, it would probably never happen in Australia as well. A special branch attached to teh armed forces that deals with young offenders and no hopers.
No weapons training for a few years, just basic military training and also teach them a skill.
I agree that 18 would be better as when they leave high school it would be like taking a gap year. Here they finish university and then face the prospect of being forced into the army.
Michael, thanks for the short but very enjoyable time the other day.
I as well do not understand why more students don't do Lor Dor. Some obviously know dad or mum and too powerful maybe or others know that parents have plenty of money.
The students in M4-6 that don't participate are taking a big gamble I personally believe.
The students do go to Warin a lot but were drilling for a parade every day.
The students at smaller schools don't get this chance as Lor Dor doesn't exist.
The last draft I heard they were only taking a few thousand out of the 500,000 plus that turned 21, I am sure they can get the few thousand as volunteers.
But then the golden handshake would be taken away, no extra coffer money.
Thanks for commenting all.
Brunty
How are you~ Mr. Brunty (^^)
My name is UL-Noh from KOREA South.
I'm operating an on-line community on Thailand & Cambodia, whicj is non-beneficial.
[http://cafe.daum.net/khmer-nomad]
I think your information is so interesting and useful a lot..
So I'd like to introduce your this article. If you allow me to translate this article, I will translate it into Korean language and post it on my site.
Of course, I will show the original site (that is your Isaan Style!).
Please, allow me..
Can you halp me??
Have a nice day~
Post a Comment