Cabinet allows Defence Permanent Secretary to recruit volunteer soldie

MGR Online•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

The Cabinet has approved a draft ministerial regulation enabling the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence to recruit temporary volunteer soldiers.

•The Cabinet approved the draft regulation on August 25, 2026.
•The regulation allows the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence to recruit volunteer soldiers for the first time.
•This move supports the government's policy project to recruit 100,000 volunteer soldiers.

Overview

•The Cabinet reached a resolution to approve the draft ministerial regulation on August 25, 2026.
•The Cabinet approved the draft ministerial regulation regarding criteria for accepting persons to perform military duties temporarily, as proposed by the Ministry of Defence.
•Previously, temporary military recruitment was limited to the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy, and the Royal Thai Air Force under a 2000 regulation.
•The Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence lacked legal provisions to recruit persons for temporary military duty.
•The Ministry of Defence amended the Ministerial Regulation on the period of duty, salary, other compensation, benefits, rules, and discipline of persons performing military duties temporarily 2010.
•The Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence can now recruit volunteer soldiers for units such as the Weapons Construction Command Center, the Defence Industry and Energy Center, and the Security Battalion.
•The Office of the Council of State has reviewed the draft and cleared it for further action, with the Ministry of Defence instructed to consider observations from the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission.
•The recruitment is aligned with the government's 100,000 volunteer soldiers project policy.

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Key Entities

Organization

Cabinet(ครม.)

The government body that approved the draft ministerial regulation on August 25, 2026.

Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence(สำนักงานปลัดกระทรวงกลาโหม)

The agency now authorized to recruit temporary volunteer soldiers for internal units.

Office of the Prime Minister(สำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี)

The office to which the Deputy Government Spokesperson is attached.

Ministry of Defence(กระทรวงกลาโหม)ℹ️

The ministry that proposed the draft ministerial regulation.

Office of the Council of State(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา)ℹ️

The body that reviewed the draft ministerial regulation.

Office of the Public Sector Development Commission(สำนักงาน ก.พ.ร.)

The organization that provided observations for the Ministry of Defence to consider.

Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters(กองบัญชาการกองทัพไทย)ℹ️

One of the agencies previously authorized to recruit temporary military personnel.

Royal Thai Army(กองทัพบก)ℹ️

One of the agencies previously authorized to recruit temporary military personnel.

Royal Thai Navy(กองทัพเรือ)ℹ️

One of the agencies previously authorized to recruit temporary military personnel.

Royal Thai Air Force(กองทัพอากาศ)ℹ️

One of the agencies previously authorized to recruit temporary military personnel.

Weapons Construction Command Center(ศูนย์อำนวยการสร้างอาวุธ)

An internal agency under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence that can now recruit volunteer soldiers.

Defence Industry and Energy Center(ศูนย์การอุตสาหกรรมป้องกันประเทศและพลังงานทหาร)

An internal agency under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence that can now recruit volunteer soldiers.

Security Battalion(กองพันระวังป้องกัน)ℹ️

An internal agency under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence responsible for security and protection in designated areas.

Policy

100,000 Volunteer Soldiers Project(โครงการทหารอาสา 100,000 อัตรา)

A government policy project to recruit 100,000 volunteer soldiers.

Person

Ms. Ploytalay Laksameesaengchan(นางสาวพลอยทะเล ลักษมีแสงจันทร์)

The Deputy Government Spokesperson who disclosed the Cabinet's resolution.

Law

Ministerial Regulation on the Period of Duty, Salary, Other Compensation, Benefits, Rules, and Discipline of Persons Performing Military Duties Temporarily 2000(กฎกระทรวงกำหนดระยะเวลาการทำหน้าที่ เงินเดือนและค่าตอบแทนอย่างอื่น สิทธิประโยชน์ ระเบียบและวินัยของบุคคลเข้าทำหน้าที่ทหารเป็นการชั่วคราว พ.ศ. 2543)

The regulation that originally allowed four military branches to recruit temporary personnel.

Ministerial Regulation on the Period of Duty, Salary, Other Compensation, Benefits, Rules, and Discipline of Persons Performing Military Duties Temporarily 2010(กฎกระทรวงกำหนดระยะเวลาการทำหน้าที่ เงินเดือน และค่าตอบแทนอย่างอื่น สิทธิประโยชน์ ระเบียบและวินัยของบุคคลเข้าทำหน้าที่ทหารเป็นการชั่วคราว พ.ศ. 2553)

The regulation amended to allow the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence to recruit volunteer soldiers.