<P> The Military Service Act B.E. 2497 (1954) states that all male citizens of Thailand are obliged to serve in the military upon reaching 21 years of age . High school students have the option of enrolling in the three - year Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) during Matthayom 4--6 (i.e., Grade 10--12). ROTC students drill at a local military installation once per week during the school year for a total of 80 hours, with field training exercise at the end of the second year (over the duration 3 days) and third year (over the duration of 5 days). The ROTC program is operated nearly exclusively by the Royal Thai Army, with recent introductions by the Royal Thai Navy and Royal Thai Air Force, but both with more restrictions on entry (eg . students of schools near a naval or air force base used for training only). Those who complete the three - year program are exempted from conscription and receive the rank of acting sergeant (E-6) upon graduation from high school . Students who do not complete the program or wish to enroll in the commissioned officer phase of the program can do so at their post-secondary institution . Those who do not complete the ROTC program will be required to report for conscription in early - April of the year in which they reach 21 years of age . </P> <P> Military service selection is done at a designated date and time at a local school or assembly hall . Each selection station has a quota for recruitment . The process begins with a call for volunteers . Those who volunteer will have the option to choose the branch of service and their date of induction . If the number of volunteers is fewer than the quota for the selection station, the remaining men will be asked to draw a card from an opaque box . The box contains red cards and black cards . Drawing a black card results in exemption from military service . Drawing a red card results in conscription in the branch of service and induction date on the card . </P> <P> Those who volunteer for military service are free to choose from the three branches of the armed forces (Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy, Royal Thai Air Force). Service obligation varies by educational qualification . Those with a high school diploma or the equivalent and those who have one year of military service education are required to serve for two years if they draw the red card, but if these same individuals volunteer, the service obligation is reduced by half, i.e., reduced to only one year . Those with an associate degree (or equivalent) or higher are required to serve for one year if drafted, but the requirement is reduced to only six months if they volunteered . University students can defer their service as long as they maintain the student status until reaching the age of 27 or obtaining a master's degree or the equivalent, whichever comes first . Undergraduate and graduate students who decide to volunteer are allowed by their institution to put their studies on suspension until the end of term of service . All conscripts, regardless of educational qualification, undergo the same training and receive the same grade and rank upon completion of basic training: private, seaman, or airman (E-1). </P> <P> In recent years the government has issued new guidelines for better treatment of transgender recruits . </P>

How long is mandatory military service in thailand
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