Territorial Defence Student

Territorial defence students (นักศึกษาวิชาทหาร; ) are a military youth organization in Thailand under control of the Royal Thai Army, and recently the Royal Thai Navy and Royal Thai Air Force.

History
Prior to World War II the Yuwachon Thahan (or "junior soldiers", Thai: ยุวชนทหาร) were established in 1934 by Field Marshal Luang Pibulsonggram. At the beginning of World War II junior soldiers were sent to fight troops of the Japanese Empire that invaded southern Thailand on 8 December 1941.

At the end of the war the junior soldiers were disbanded, but Lieutenant General Luang Chatnakrop (พล.ท. หลวงชาตินักรบ) created the territorial defence students to replace them in 1948. Today most students who participate in the reserve do so to avoid the chances of being drafted into the full-fledged military for about three years. Because of this, the requirements for admission have been made more stringent.

There were also rumors of a potential change of policy, wherein Grade-3 students would be required to serve, but for only 3–6 months or a year.

Requirements

 * 1) Thai nationality
 * 2) Age younger than 22 years
 * 3) Approval of parents or guardians
 * 4) A grade-point average above 2.50 or a certificate of passing senior scout
 * 5) A certificate of health. People with disabilities, fatal sickness, disease, or eye problems such as color blindness are not allowed.
 * 6) Body mass index of less than 30 (obesity)
 * 7) Must have appropriate body height and size corresponding to age
 * 8) Passing a fitness test of an 800-meter run in 3 minutes 15 seconds, 34 sit-ups in two minutes, and 22 push-ups in two minutes. Female applicants have more relaxed requirements.
 * 9) Students are required to cut their hair so that the white of their scalp is visible on 3-sides, and a small patch of hair is visible on the top of the head.

Applicants who do not meet fitness test requirements are ranked by their scores. Applicants with higher scores have priority. Applicants who do not meet other criteria may be accepted in a case-by-case basis. If extra funding is available, more applicants are accepted.

After the tests are completed, those accepted are awarded a green beret.

Royal Thai Army
Territorial defence students have to study 80 hours per year and attend a period of field training, but only common for grade 2 through grade 5 students. The students must be present for at least 80% of the course and are not allowed to skip any exams. By the end of every semester territorial defence students have to pass an exam to continue their study at the next grade.

Territorial defence students have to pass:
 * Marksmanship test using a rifle, where the test parameters are related to grade
 * Written test of 100 multiple-choice questions (only common for grade 3 through grade 5 students)
 * Physical test covering procedures, use of tools, and discipline learned during the year

Territorial defence students have five grades:
 * Students who complete grade 1 are equivalent to private first class and will halve their service period as a conscript.
 * Students who complete grade 2 are equivalent to corporal and their service period will be only a quarter that of a non-military student.
 * Students who complete grade 3 may request permission to use the title sergeant, and are exempt from conscription.
 * Students who complete grade 4 are equivalent to master sergeant
 * Students who complete grade 5 and their B.D. may ask for the title acting second lieutenant. Also, on the graduation from their university, they are allowed to dress in white officer's uniform and wear a sword.

Field training lengths (dependent on grade and gender of the student): All field training occurs at Khao Chon Kai Training Camp for Grade 2 and 3 students studying at a territorial defence training centre within the Bangkok Metropolitan Area or the central region of Thailand, and all Grade 4 and 5 students from throughout the country.
 * Grade 2; male: at least three days
 * Grade 3; male: at least five days
 * Grade 4-5; male: at least seven days
 * Grade 2-3; female: at least three days
 * Grade 4-5; female: at least five days

Royal Thai Navy
Territorial defence training was introduced in 2009 for the Royal Thai Navy, only for students and youth living nearby the Sattahip Naval Base in Chonburi Province. About 90 students are accepted each year and training is done at the Sattahip Naval Base. Upon reaching Grade 3, students will then further separate into one of the three smaller units operated separately by:
 * The Royal Thai Marine Corps
 * Coastal Defence Command
 * Strategic Naval Command

Royal Thai Air Force
Territorial defence training was introduced in 2006 and available until Grade 5 by 2010 for the Royal Thai Air Force, only for students studying in polytechnic colleges within the locale of the Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base, Bangkok. The study will involve only about the mechanical side of the air force only.

Uniform and insignia
Territorial defence students wear a khaki-green uniform and beret with Army Reserve Command insignia (Crossed swords under The great crown of victory) on their collar, beret, and belt. Territorial defence students distinguish their school and province by the school's coat of arms on the right shoulder, and provincial badge on left breast.

Special training
About 120 fourth grade territorial defence students who pass the physical test are allowed to enter the parasail training course. Requirements are, for males, 15 pull-ups with no time limit, 47 push-ups in two minutes, 65 sit-ups in two minutes, and a one mile run in eight minutes. Female applicants have more relaxed requirements.

Battle of Tha Nang Sang Bridge
On the first day of the Japanese invasion of Southeast Asia (8 December 1941), the Japanese Army sent troops to many parts of Chumphon Province. At Ma Hat Bay (อ่าวมะหาด), the Japanese forces landed on beaches stretching from Ban Pak Nam Chumphon (บ้านปากน้ำชุมพร) to Ban Kho Son (บ้านคอสน). The 38th Infantry Battalion of the Royal Thai Army, about 17 km away, was too far away to intercept the initial invaders in time. As a result, roughly 100 of the reserve students and the local police force had to hold the numerically superior Japanese army at bay from positions on the west side of Tha Nang Sang Bridge until the 38th Infantry could arrive.

The force of reserve students and policemen sent their 1st Light Machine Gun Company across the bridge at 08:00. They then went through Wat Tha Yang Tai to block any Japanese reinforcements. The commander of 38th Infantry wished to send his 4th Heavy Machine Gun Company across the bridge to protect the government buildings on the Tha Taphoa River, but the Japanese troops fired upon the Thai defenders from the other side of the river. The reserve students, under command of Captain Thawin Niyomsen (ร้อยเอกถวิล นิยมเสน), commander of the Chumphon Junior Soldiers Training Centre, charged cross the bridge to seize strategic points on the east side. Under heavy Japanese fire, Captain Thawin was killed when he attempted to find a new position for his light machine gun squad. The remaining students, now headed by Sergeant Samran Khuanphan (สิบเอกสำราญ ควรพันธ์) from the training centre, were able to maintain their position, and waited for friendly reinforcements. Thailand, however, surrendered to Japan before noon.