Thai Military: 45,000 Volunteer, 40,000 Drafted through Lottery
The Thai military is experiencing a higher number of volunteers due to improved welfare benefits, with approximately 45,000 men expected to join or stay in the military this year.
The remaining 40,000 positions will be filled through conscription, which began on Monday and will run until April 12.
Men are required by law to report for conscription when they turn 21, and if the number of volunteers exceeds the available slots, they will be chosen through a lottery system.
Approximately 15,000 of the 21,500 online applicants are eligible to join the armed forces this year, with the number of applicants through this process increasing each year - 3,000 in 2021, 6,500 in 2022, and 10,156 in 2023.
An additional 25,000 men are expected to join voluntarily at conscription stations, leaving 45,000 slots to be filled.
This estimate is based on the 25,461 men who applied voluntarily in the previous year, with an additional 5,000 slots already filled by those extending their military service.
The Thai government, led by Pheu Thai, will only fill 40,000 of the 85,000 required conscription slots through a lottery system.
Young men can extend their service until they are 30.
During last year's elections, Pheu Thai promised to minimize conscription and encourage volunteers to win votes.
However, after gaining control of the Defense Ministry, they must now meet the military's demand for recruits for national security reasons.
Men are required by law to report for conscription when they turn 21, and if the number of volunteers exceeds the available slots, they will be chosen through a lottery system.
Approximately 15,000 of the 21,500 online applicants are eligible to join the armed forces this year, with the number of applicants through this process increasing each year - 3,000 in 2021, 6,500 in 2022, and 10,156 in 2023.
An additional 25,000 men are expected to join voluntarily at conscription stations, leaving 45,000 slots to be filled.
This estimate is based on the 25,461 men who applied voluntarily in the previous year, with an additional 5,000 slots already filled by those extending their military service.
The Thai government, led by Pheu Thai, will only fill 40,000 of the 85,000 required conscription slots through a lottery system.
Young men can extend their service until they are 30.
During last year's elections, Pheu Thai promised to minimize conscription and encourage volunteers to win votes.
However, after gaining control of the Defense Ministry, they must now meet the military's demand for recruits for national security reasons.
