Redesigning the Thai Military Education System to Produce Professional Military Officers and Support Military Reform

Abstract

This research aims to propose a model for military reform that will support a sustainable democracy in Thailand. Rather than relying on external reforms, the research argues that a reform from within would be more effective. This reform can be achieved via the production of a new generation of professional officers. In turn, their education will require a thorough reform of the military education system, particularly at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. The research incorporated documentary research, as well as findings from field visits to military academies in established democracies, namely the United States, France, Germany, and Italy, as well as those located in Asian nations that had transitioned into a democratic society. In its conclusion, the research proposed a new model for the education system in Thailand, separating them into three choices or categories based on the scale of changes involved: small, medium, and large. The research also recommended policy changes that can be enacted by both the political and military officeholders that can be used to effectively reform the Thai military education.