The headquarters is the supreme command of the armed forces and therefore at the apex of the military in Thailand. The headquarters is charged with the command and execution of military operations in wartime. In peacetime, it is charged with maintaining military readiness in case of attack. The headquarters is also in charge of the security of the royal family and the king. In addition to the command of the armed forces during times of war, the headquarters also commands Thai forces overseas in peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance operations.
History
Temporary command
The Supreme Command Headquarters of the Royal Thai Armed Forces was originally a temporary position that had only been called into existence twice: once, during the Franco–Thai War in 1940 and again during the Greater East Asia War. During both of these conflicts, the headquarters was commanded by Field MarshalPlaek Pibulsonggram, the prime minister of Thailand and creator of the supreme command system. Temporary personnel were called from their existing units and released after conflict subsided in 1945.
Permanent command
On 27 September 1957, King Bhumibol Adulyadej as Commander-in-Chief and Head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, appointed Field Marshal Sarit Dhanarajata to the position of "Supreme Commander". The Defence Staff Department was also created to serve as the commander's administrative office. Field Marshal Sarit became Prime Minister in 1959 and subsequently relinquished command of the Supreme Command Headquarters on his deathbed in 1963. He was succeeded by Thanom Kittikachorn. During the 1960s, the government saw the establishment of the permanent Supreme Command Headquarters as a necessity for the preparation of military forces and national defence. On 16 March 1960, the passage of the "Organization of Ministry of Defence Act of 1960" upgraded the Defence Staff Department to Supreme Command Headquarters. This action originally created four groups of agencies within the Supreme Command Headquarters: Staff, Special Services, Combat Support, and Education. The Supreme Command Headquarters is currently organized into five groups: the Command Group, the JointStaff Group, the Operations Group, the Special Services Group, and the Education Group. The Supreme Command Headquarters also has operational control of the Border Patrol Police.
Reform
On 2 February 2008, the "Supreme Command Headquarters" became the "Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters" under the "Organization of Ministry of Defence Act, 2008". The position of Supreme Commander became the Chief of Defence Forces.
The "Chief of Defence Forces" and the Deputy Chiefs of Defence Forces are responsible for the command and execution of military operations of the armed forces of Thailand.
