Mid-year military reshuffle announced but holds no major surprises
The mid-year military reshuffle sees the promotion of five classmates of Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha elevated to the rank of full general to fill advisory positions.
The promotion is regarded as ceremonial because the five are slated for mandatory retirement in September.
The five include 2nd Army Region commander Lt Gen Thawatchai Samutsakorn and 3rd Army Region commander Lt General Wanthip Wongwai.
Prayuth portrayed the reshuffle as low-key, saying the line-up was routine in accordance with seniority.
He said some graduates of Pre-Cadet Class 20 might be put on the fast-track for promotion but they had the job performance to justify being rewarded.
He also said his brother Maj General Preecha Chan-ocha was not disappointed at being overlooked in the reshuffle.
Preecha was previously tipped to become the commander of the 3rd Army Region. But Prayuth said his brother was a graduate of Pre-Cadet Class 15 and none of his classmates had reached a senior position.
The reshuffle list involving 127 positions was released on Wednesday following the royal endorsement.
Of 127 positions, the Army saw 47 officers rotated. Key appointments included Lt General Channarong Thanarun becoming commander of 3rd Army Region and Lt General Wibul Pongklansanoh becoming commander of 2nd Army Region.
Maj Gen Somsak Nilbanjerdkul is slated to become commander of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Colonel Noppawong Surawichai is to be elevated to the rank of major general in the position of commander of the 5th Infantry Division, a newly formed unit that will deal with the southern insurgency.
Colonel Archanai Srisuk is to be elevated to the rank of major general leading the 3rd Cavalry Division, a newly formed unit based in Khon Kaen.
Some 16 army colonels are to become major generals.
The Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence saw the dispensing of new assignments for 47 officers. General Chusak Santiworawut is slated to become chief staff officer attached to the permanent secretary for Defence.
The Armed Forces Headquarters saw the reshuffle of 20 officers. General Chayut Suwannamat is slated to become chief staff officer attached to the supreme commander.
The Navy saw rotations involving eight officers in the rank of vice admiral and rear admiral.
The Air Force saw a minimal change involving two officers. The two, including one female, will be elevated from the rank of colonel to air marshal.
