The Defence Ministry has threatened to punish any soldiers who use violence when training new conscripts.
A soldier kicks a new conscript, who has been stripped and bound, in video footage circulating on the internet. The army has apologised after the clip, which shows three soldiers kicking and slapping the conscript several times, drew public condemnation on online forums.
The ministry's move follows the circulation online of two videos showing instructors physically assaulting new military conscripts in Pattani.
The first clip was released last week. The clip, 3 minutes and 28 seconds long, shows three soldiers repeatedly kicking and slapping a conscript.
Deputy army spokesman Winthai Suwaree confirmed that the three personnel involved in the assault were attached to the 15th Engineer Battalion in Pattani province.
Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha issued an apology and ordered a probe into the case.
Less than a week later, a second clip of conscript abuse was posted online.
The video, 1 minute and 36 seconds long, showed three privates taking turns kicking two conscripts for not admitting that they smoked.
Col Winthai yesterday said the incident took place in 2011 at the 15th Signal Battalion in Pattani province.
The army has already investigated the case and punished the instructors involved, Col Winthai said.
The privates are currently detained while the army decides whether to press criminal charges.
He said the army will now be vigilant for violence against conscripts and urged any victims of maltreatment to lodge complaints.
"The army should treat all conscripts like brothers," Col Winthai said.
Defence spokesman Col Thanathip Sawangsaeng said military commanders expressed concern over the filmed incidents during the Defence Council's meeting yesterday.
The ministry has ordered all military units to map out training plans for new conscripts and strictly inspect the training process to prevent any recurrence of violence.
He said the military does not allow the use of any form of violence in conscript training.
Anyone who physically assaults a conscript will face punishment for defying a military order, Col Thanathip said.
Col Thanathip conceded that some military officers held outdated views about conscript training methods.
These instructors need to change their attitudes, he said.
"We are trying to make all instructors understand that conscripts are valued army personnel," he said.
"We have to take very good care of them."