Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

H.M. King Bhumibol Rama IX The World's Longest Serving Monarch and Thailand's Beloved King. He reigns with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people.

To build institutional solidarity and esprit de corps, each Thai service component developed its own distinctive uniforms, ranking system, and insignia. Many Thai military uniforms reflected historical foreign influences.

For example, most of the distinctive service uniforms were patterned on those of the United States, but lower ranking enlisted navy personnel wore uniforms resembling those of their French counterparts. The early influence of British advisers to the Thai Royal Court and the historical role of the military in royal pomp and ceremony contributed to the splendor of formal dress uniforms worn by high-ranking officers and guards of honor for ceremonial occasions.

The rank structures of the three armed services were similar to those of the respective branches of the United States Armed Forces, although the Thai system had fewer NCO and warrant officer designations. The king, as head of state and constitutional head of the armed forces, personally granted all commissions for members of the officer corps. Appointments to NCO ranks were authorized by the minister of defense.

Thai military personnel were highly conscious of rank distinctions and of the duties, obligations, and benefits they entailed. Relationships among officers of different grades and among officers, NCOs, and the enlisted ranks were governed by military tradition in a society where observance of differences in status was highly formalized.

The social distance between officers and NCOs was widened by the fact that officers usually were college or military academy graduates, while most NCOs had not gone beyond secondary school. There was often a wider gap between officers and conscripts, most of whom had had even less formal education, service experience, or specialized training.

Formal honors and symbols of merit occupied an important place in the Thai military tradition, and service personnel received and wore awards and decorations with pride. The government granted numerous awards, and outstanding acts of heroism, courage, and meritorious service received prompt recognition.

Soldiers on parade in ceremonial uniform.

Thai soldiers dressed in colourful uniforms take part in the trooping of the colours to honour King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand's 81st. birthday at the Royal Plaza on December 2, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. Today, the Royal Guards renew their allegiance to the King which marks the start of his birthday celebrations. King Bhumibol will turn 81 on December 5, 2008.

The Joint Commanders of the Military Guards of Honour marching as the Royal Vanguard along Ratchadamnoen Nai (The Royal Avenue).

The guard of honour march in Bangkok's Royal Plaza as Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej (unseen) attends the Trooping of the Colour, an annual military parade.

The 1st Artillery Battalion, King's Guard in the procession of Princess Galyani Vadhana's royal urn

Troops in traditional regalia pulled the Great Funeral Chariot and the Chariot of the Supreme Patriach. The uniform worn is that of the "Klong Chana Daeng Lai Thong", the "Klong Chana Ngoen" and the "Klong Chana Thong" - the victory drummers, the pullers of the Great Funeral Chariot, the pullers of the Supreme Patriach's carriage and the pullers of the "Kroen" - the ramp (used for getting the Royal Urn down from the Funeral Chariot).

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