CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF NATIONAL SECURITY, THE NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY, AND ROYAL THAI ARMY COMMISSIONED OFFICERS’ COMPETENCY

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the conceptual framework of national security, the national security strategy, and Royal Thai Army commissioned officer’s competency. The research was a qualitative research, which utilized conceptual framework evaluation and in-depth interviews. There were 10 research informants including 5 military experts, 2 Royal Thai Army commissioned officers who are involved in research regarding commissioned officers’ competency or national security, and 3 Royal Thai Army commissioned officers who graduated from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy or from abroad. Research instruments consisted of a conceptual framework evaluation form and Semi-structured interview form. Content analysis from the evaluation and interview was used. The research findings indicated that: 1) There was a change in the national security context that occurred at the global, regional, and national levels, where each level was interrelated. The threat model composed of traditional and non-traditional threats. The actor could be both a state and non-state. Threat patterns changed with technological advances. Finally, the change in security threat models affected military operations; 2) According to the National Security Strategy, the Royal Thai Army’s missions could be classified into 3 groups: (1) National defense, (2) maintaining order and domestic security, and (3) Non-military operations; and 3) The Royal Thai Army commissioned officers had 5 competencies: (1) Leadership, (2) Operational skills, (3) General knowledge, (4) Readiness for change, and (5) Language skills.