Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy
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The Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (Thai: โรงเรียนนายร้อยพระจุลจอมเกล้า) is the military academy of the Royal Thai Army. Established in 1887[1] it has produced the vast majority of Thailand's military leaders and many Thai Prime Ministers.
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[edit] History
Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (CRMA) was founded on August 5, 1887, by King Chulachomklao or King Rama V, also known as King Chulalongkorn. It was originally called the Royal Military Academy. On January 1, 1948, it was merged with the Royal Thai Army Polytechniques Institute, under the new name, Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, in the honor of King Chulachomklao.
The Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy was originally located in the precinct of Saranrom Palace in Bangkok, where it remained there for 77 years. In 1909 the Academy was moved to the Rajadamnoen Nok Avenue in Bangkok. Lastly, On July 10, 1986, the Academy had moved to its new sprawling complex at Khao Cha-ngoke, Maung District of Nakhon Nayok Province, 140 km northeast of Bangkok.
[edit] Cadets
Currently, the Academy admits only male applicants after the 3-years attendancy at Armed Forces Academy Preparatory School.[2]
In every academic year, 8 to 10 scholarships are provided by the Royal Thai Army for academically outstanding first year cadets to pursue their study at foreign Military Institutes.
At the end of 5th year, cadets graduate with a bachelor's degree in their chosen fields of study, and are commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Thai Army.
Major oganizations within the academy are Academy Command-Headquarter, Cadet-Regimen Command-Headquarter, Academic Section, Military Education Section, Sport-Education Section, Services Section, and an infantry battalion supporting the academy. Cadets have 24/7 commitment to the academy with a set daily schedule. Regular schedule is started from approximately 0530am. After taking care of their personal hygene, self study for 1 hr, and breakfast, the academic schedule starts about 0800am til 1500. Either military training or sport training are schedule every other day from 1530 til about 1700. Self study is scheduled again after dinner from 1900 til 2100.
The annual military training starts in January after the 2nd academic senester is ended. Each class is scheduled for specific training. For examples, the 1st year cadets might be trained at the infantry center. The 3rd year cadets might get an airborne training. The fourth year cadets might get a ranger training.
[edit] Alumni
The Academy has produced the vast majority of Thailand's modern military leaders. Many CRMA graduators become Prime Ministers and political leaders. The followings are examples of distinguished alumni.
- General Prem Tinsulanonda, Prime Minister from 1980 to 1988
- Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram, graduated in 1914, Prime Minister from 1938 to 1944 and 1948 to 1957.
- Field Marshal Sarit Dhanarajata, Prime Minister and military dictator from 1957 to 1963.
- General Surayud Chulanont, Prime Minister from 2006 to Jan 2008.
Not only well known in the military arena, many Chulachomlao Royal Military Academy (CRMA)alumni have been doing outstanding works in other sectors, e.g. businesses, acedemics, both domestic and foreign countries. In 1986, an CRMA alumnus got a grant from U.S. Depertment of Energy and U.S. Bureau of Mines to implement a research work at Ames Laboratory. He went on to get a grant from U.S. National Research Council (NRC) in 1993 to do a research work at U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He is listed in The NRC Scientists Directory, and also published a number of refereed technical papers. His works are still cited by many research scientists.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- http://www.crma.ac.th Official website of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy
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