Volunteers for military service increased more than 10% this year, accounting for nearly 44% of the year’s total intake.
Army deputy spokesman Col Sirichan Ngathong said o Friday that 496,748 young men participated in military conscription, held between April 1 and Sunday. The armed forces accepted 99,373 of them: 75,404 as army conscripts, 7,969 as air force conscripts and 16,000 as naval conscripts.
But 43,446, or 43.7%, did not have to wait for their red card to be pulled. They volunteered. Col Sirichan said volunteers increased this year by 10.36%.
Incentives such as higher wages, better welfare benefits and government career advancement opportunities were among the reasons why more young men joined up. Fifty-five districts in 19 provinces met the number of volunteers targeted by the military, she added.
The provinces were Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Phetchaburi, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Nan, Mae Hong Son, Tak, Phayao, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
Every year, between April 1 and 12, Thai men between the ages of 21 and 29 face conscription. If they have completed high school training, known as ror dor, they can avoid it.
They may also defer national service, for education, health reasons or family obligations. Buddhist monks, the disabled and transgenders are exempt.