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Army Reserve Force Students
Army Reserve Force Students Insignia
Active	1948 - Present
Branch	Royal Thai Army
Type	Reserve Force
Part of	Army Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Bangkok
Nickname	Rawdaw (ร.ด.)
Motto	Rak chad ying chep(รักชาติยิ่งชีพ)(English:Love country than life)
March	Army Reserve Force Students march
Anniversaries	8 December
Battles/wars	Battle of Thanangsank bridge
Commanders
Current commander	Major General Paopong Ponglaokham
Insignia
Regimental Insignia	Cross swords under The great crown of victory

Army Reserve Force Students (นักศึกษาวิชาทหาร) are a military youth organisation in Thailand.

Before the World War II the Eu wa chon taharn ("junior soldiers", Thai: ยุวชนทหาร) were established in 1934 by Field marshal Luang Phibunsongkhram and were inspired by the Hitler Youth in Nazi Germany. At the beginning of World War II junior soldiers were sent to fight the Japanese troops that invaded southern Thailand on 8 December 1941.

At the end of the war the junior soldiers were disbanded, but Lieutenant General Luang Chatnakrop (พล.ท. หลวงชาตินักรบ) created the Army Reserve Force Students to replace them in 1948. Today most students who participate in the reserve do so to avoid the chances of being drafted into the full-fledged military force for about three years. Because of this, the requirements for admission has risen recently.

The current requirements are a grade-point average above 1 or certificate of pass senior scout, a doctor's certificate of health, a 800 meter run in 3:14, 40 sit-ups in two minutes, and 26 push-ups in two minutes. Students are also required to cut their hair so that the white of the scalp is visible. Violence in the Bangkok Army Reserve Force training center is abundant. It became such a problem that international schools had to request that the students receive training separately from Thai students.

Army Reserve Force Students have to study 20 weeks per a year and a period of field training for grade 2 through grade 5 students. The Students have permit to not come to study 4 times per semester. By the end of every semesters Army Reserve Force Students have to pass an exam to continue their study into the next grade.

Army Reserve Force Students have to test:

• Rifle firing of around 10-34 rounds
• Written test
• Physical test

Army Reserve Force Students have 5 grades:

• Students who completes grade 1 are promoted to Private First Class
• Students who completes grade 2 are promoted to Corporal
• Students who completes grade 3 are promoted to Sergeant
• Students who completes grade 4 are promoted to Sergeant Major
• Students who completes grade 5 and their B.D. are promoted to Acting Second Lieutenant

note; to be excluded from conscription, students are required to study from grade 1-3, grade 4 and grade 5 are optional.

Field training lengths (dependent on grade and gender of the student):

• Grade 2 Male, 3 days
• Grade 3 Male, 5 days
• Grade 4,5 Male, 7 days
• Grade 2,3 Female, 3 days
• Grade 4,5 Female, 5 days

Army Reserve Force Students wear a khaki-green uniform and beret with Army Reserve Command insignia (Cross swords under The great crown of victory) on their collar beret and belt. Army Reserve Force Students distinguish their school and province by school's coat of arms and province badge on left chest.

Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Army General Sonthi Boonyaratglin has conversations with Army Reserve Force Student after parasail jump.

4th grade Army Reserve Force Students who passes the physical test of about 200 people will be allowed to enter the parasail training course.

In the first day of Japanese invasion of South East Asia (8 December , the Japanese army sent their troops to many parts of Chumphon. At Mahard Bay (อ่าวมะหาด) the Japanese landed their troops on beaches from Banpaknamchumphon (บ้านปากน้ำชุมพร) to Bankorson (บ้านคอสน). The 38th infantry battalion of the Royal Thai Army was about 17 km away from the location, too far away to intercept the invading Japanese troops in time. As a result, the Junior soldiers and police forces, numbering at about a hundred, had to intercept Japanese army at western side of Thanangsank bridge until the 38th infantry battalion can arrive. The Junior soldiers and police forces sent their 1st Light Machine Gun company across the bridge at 8.00AM and went through South Thayang temple to intercept the Japanese reinforcements. The Commander of 38th infantry battalion wished to sent his 4th Heavy Machine Gun company across the bridge to protect government office located beside the Thatapoa river but Japanese troops started heavy gun firing stopping the 4th Heavy Machine Gun company crossing the river. Suddenly Junior Soldiers under Captain Thawin Niyomsend(ร้อยเอก ถวิล นิยมเสน), commander of Chumphon Junior soldier traning center, ran cross the bridge to hold strategic points on the eastern side of the bridge. Under heavy Japanese gun fire, Captain Thawin Niyomsend was killed when he tried to find a new place for his Light Machine Gun squad. Junior soldiers under Sergeant Sumran Kuanpan(สิบเอก สำราญ ควรพันธ์)'s command, from the Junior soldier traning center, held their position until after Thailand surrendered to the Japenese at around noon.

Junior soldier monument at Chumphon.

Criticism of this program is felt widely but is not generally protested against publicly or on the internet for fear of being placed under government scrutiny. However people against the program will cite several reasons for their sentiment.

• Conscription is considered to be a violation of human rights (slavery)
• The money spent on the program could be spent for better things such as the development of the real army to attract new recruits rather than having to draft the majority of recruits, development of the education system and conditions of schools, or other social causes.
• There is a serious problem with inter-school violence and having students from several rival schools in the same area is prone to create conflict.
• Young people should not have a militarist mind forced on them and should not be obligated to perform military service when the system they serve exists to take away civil liberties.
• The concept was created during a time of desperate need of soldiers and is obsolete in modern society.

However some feel that the program has positive effects on the youth including education against drugs, the taming of the youth, and instilling patriotism for Thailand.

• Army Reserve Force website