A STUDY OF THE ROYAL THAI ARMY REGULATION ON THE CONSCRIPTION PROCESS: LEGAL ENFORCEMENT AND PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION BY LOCAL CONSCRIPTION UNITS

Abstract

This academic article examined the Royal Thai Army Regulation on the Conscription of Overdue Military Draftees, focusing on its legal enforcement and practical implementation at the local level. The objective was to evaluate the consistency between the written regulation and the actual practices of military selection officers, and to propose improvements in both content and operational mechanisms to ensure fairness, transparency, and efficiency. The findings indicated that the regulation played a crucial role in operationalizing the intent of the Military Service Act B.E. 2497 (1954), with a clearly structured process encompassing pre-selection, selection, and post-selection phases, including health-based classification criteria. However, in practice, selection officers often exercised discretion in cases that deviated from the standard framework, such as those involving chronic illness, disabilities, or gender identity, leading to variations in procedures across regions. The article introduced the Three Dimensions of Justice model, Legal, Operational, and Civic to underscore that justice within the conscription system required integration between legal principles, officer conduct, and mechanisms for public participation. Key policy recommendations included revising the regulation to address complex scenarios, enhancing the training of selection committees for deeper legal comprehension, and establishing transparent mechanisms for both internal and external oversight. The article concluded by proposing a framework to foster public trust in the conscription system, aiming to align military selection procedures with the principles of the rule of law and human rights in a modern democratic society.