Notes from Reserve Promotion Training, Class 35 (2022)

0. Getting Started

I took part in training under the career path for reserve personnel to be promoted in rank and status. It lasted 30 days, from 1 to 30 August 2022. I sent in my application in April; applications were open from August 2021 to May 2022 (the window may differ from year to year).

What is rank and status promotion training?

"Rank and status promotion training" covers two separate things: training for a promotion in rank, and training to move up in status. Training under the reserve personnel career path has four courses:

1. Battalion Commander course, known for short as the major's course (it only reopened in 2024 after being closed for a long time)

2. Company Commander course, known for short as the captain's course

3. Platoon Leader course

4. NCO-to-Officer course, for non-commissioned officers moving up to commissioned officer

1. How to Apply

• You need to know which Military Circle you belong to.

These used to be called "Army Provincial Units". Find out which Military Circle your old unit is part of today. In my case, the order appointing my rank as a reserve officer cadet named the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Unit, which now belongs to the 41st Military Circle.

• Once you know your unit, contact the personnel and mobilisation section of that Military Circle to ask when applications open and close and what the steps are. (Each Military Circle may do things a little differently, but on the whole they are similar.)

• The application pack I received had three sheets: the application form, a checklist of the documents you need, and a physical measurement form.

2. Documents to Prepare

• 2 copies of your most recent rank appointment

• 2 copies of your national ID card

• 2 copies of your house registration

• An original psychiatric medical certificate (only from a government hospital). I'd recommend keeping a copy as well.

• 1 one-inch photo (it doesn't have to be in uniform)

• 2 copies of a consent letter from your employer (very important for anyone working in the public sector)

• 2 copies of your reserve service record (Sor Dor 8), just in case

• 2 copies of your educational qualifications, just in case (required for the NCO-to-Officer course)

• The 3 application sheets from the personnel section, fully filled in

My psychiatric certificate came from King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society. I'd suggest getting it at least 2–3 months before applications close. A classmate of mine used one from Camp Vajiravudh Hospital (it has a psychiatrist), and that was accepted too.

3. How Applicants Are Selected

Your Military Circle only does a rough check of your eligibility, then passes your application to the Territorial Defence Command, which makes the selection. It checks things such as the age limit and how long you have held your current rank. The selection method can change from year to year and may include a fitness test, an interview or a psychiatric test.

4. Getting Ready

Every course takes 30 days. Most people already have a full-time job, so the first thing to sort out is your work, your studies and your family, and whether you can manage them for the whole training period. You will stay in camp for all 30 days without leaving. If you're sure you can't manage that, turn the training down from the start. The next thing is your health. If you're not fit enough, you shouldn't come either: you'd be taking advantage of your classmates and might become a burden to others. (Promoted alongside your classmates while training less than them: would you be proud of that?) Money is covered further down.

5.1 What to Bring

• Toiletries: soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo (the army hands out some of these)

• A razor

• A bath sarong or swim shorts, ideally quick-drying (if you don't have one, use the loincloth the army gives you)

• Washing powder and fabric softener, ideally the kind made for drying indoors, because the weather at Camp Thanarat is completely unpredictable

• A washbasin, clothes hangers and pegs. If you don't have them, you can buy them there; tell your supervising instructor.

• Shoe polishing kit

• Pyjamas, or just wear the undershirt and sports shorts the army gives you

• Underwear: bring at least 3, I'd recommend 7

• A padlock for your locker. If you have nothing valuable, you won't need it.

• Shirt stays, if you have them, to keep your uniform a little sharper

• Facial tissues, wet wipes and cotton buds

• Basic household medicines, and your own medication if you have a condition

• An extension lead, if you'll be working or helping with class activities

• Earplugs: important for shooting practice

5.2 What the Army Gives You

• 2 sets of training uniform (insignia aren't sewn on yet on day one; your supervising instructor sorts this out in the first week)

• 1 beret with cap badge

• 2 V-neck undershirts

• 2 pairs of sports shorts

• 2 pairs each of black and white socks

• 1 pair of trainers

• 1 pair of jungle boots (you can bring your own so you don't have to worry about the size. The instructors will find a size that fits, but one of my bigger classmates only got his on the last day of training 🤣 I brought my own combat boots.)

• 1 pair of flip-flops, one size fits all

• 1 belt with buckle

• Washing kit: a water scoop, soap and soap box, toothbrush, toothpaste and a loincloth, one of each

You don't need to bring anything else, because you can get it there.

6. Getting There

You can get there in several ways; pick whichever suits you:

• Public transport, such as minivans, coaches or the train (Wang Phong station). Check beforehand whether your route passes the front of Camp Thanarat. Once you reach the camp gate, ask the soldiers on duty how to get in and where to report.

• Your own car. You can park at the camp near the barracks, and leave it near the reporting building for a short while first.

7. Documents for Reporting Day

• Your Category 1 reservist record book (the green book containing Sor Dor 8). If you don't have one, get a new one from your district recruitment office beforehand. Women don't have this book.

• The original call-up order. This is very important; I'd recommend bringing a copy too.

• The other documents from section 2, just in case

8. Costs for the 30 Days

During training there are shared costs for the class. In my class we each paid 1,500 baht, plus another 237 baht towards the end of training, so set aside about 2,000 baht for shared costs. Shared costs are what everyone in the class has to pay, such as the class shirt, ID photos and the Chinese banquet dinner. On top of that there are optional extras, such as a class ring or more than one class shirt. All in all, budget about 8,000 baht.

Each class may handle costs differently.

9. What the Training Covers

9.1 Week 1

The first week is mostly paperwork, plus refresher drill without weapons and close-order drill. It's the time to adjust to military discipline.

9.2 Weeks 2–3

These weeks are split by branch, such as infantry, cavalry and artillery, with lessons both in and out of the classroom, and a study visit off site in week 3.

9.3 Week 4

This week you prepare for a 3-day, 2-night field exercise. After the field exercise there's a sports competition between instructors and trainees, and the last day is the award and graduation ceremony.

Summary

Finally, I hope this article helps fellow reservists who are going through promotion training. It's a right and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and a great life experience. Don't do the training just to put a smart-sounding rank in front of your name or to show off; that's pointless. Let it be a life experience and preparation under the Ministry of Defence's regulations, and most importantly, a chance to leave with good friendships.

I wrote this article because I found the information hard to come by and scattered. So I'm sharing my own experience in the hope that it helps others. If anything here is wrong, please let me know; I'd be very grateful.

A Word of Caution

Study the rules carefully before putting any insignia on a uniform. Don't wear honorary insignia, or any insignia you haven't trained for or don't hold a certificate for. It may be against the law, and it also reflects badly on reservists like us.