Concerned by frequent reports of conscript abuse, including cases that have resulted in fatalities, many able-bodied young Thai men and their families choose to bribe their way out of mandatory military service.
An estimated 2 billion baht in bribes are paid each year for young males from mostly wealthy families to avoid conscription, according to Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, an opposition People's Party MP who chairs the House committee on military affairs.
Early this month, Territorial Defence Command (TDC) chief, Lt-General Taweepool Rimsakorn, proposed a lawful option for those wishing to dodge mandatory service.
He suggested introducing a conscription waiver fee, adding the revenue could be used to fund improved financial benefits and welfare for voluntary recruits during their military training.
“In my opinion, those unwilling to serve should have the option to contribute to a fund that increases remuneration for those who do volunteer,” Taweepool said.
He cautioned, however, that the pros and cons of his proposal must be carefully examined to prevent accusations of creating a “class-based division” in military service.
Draftees vs volunteers
Under the conscription law, all able-bodied Thai men aged 20 are eligible for up to two years of mandatory military service. This can be postponed until the age of 27 if they are still studying.
The only exemption is for students who have attended the TDC’s Thai Reserve Officer Training Corps programme every week for three years during high school.
The recruitment process involves a physical examination followed by a local conscription lottery held in each district. Those who draw a black card are exempt from military duty, but those who pick a red card face two years of military service (or one year for university graduates).
Recruits can also volunteer for service, in which case their term is cut by half. Volunteers also have the option to choose which of the armed forces they join, whereas those conscripted by lottery are assigned to the military unit specified on the red card they draw.
The number of volunteer applications has risen steadily in recent years, after online applications were accepted in 2021. The number of applications rose from about 3,000 in the first year to 21,500 in 2024.
As of January 7, volunteer applications for this year’s military draft had exceeded last year’s number by over 1,400, according to Lt-General Taweepool.
Civilian service or tax
Many countries waive mandatory military service in exchange for the payment of a fee or tax. These include Switzerland, Tajikistan, Armenia, Iran, and Turkey.
Swiss men can avoid conscription by undertaking civilian service or paying the “military service exemption tax”.
The exemption tax is payable over a period of up to 11 years, from recruitment (between 19 and 25 years old) until the age of 37.
The tax is set at 3% of taxable income per year, or at least 400 Swiss francs (15,000 baht). Those who undergo voluntary military service are eligible for a 4% tax discount based on the number of days they serve.
Armenia passed a law last year permitting male citizens who fail to complete the two-year mandatory military service by the age of 27 to pay a fee to avoid prosecution. All males aged 18-27 are eligible for conscription.
Those unwilling to serve must pay 15 million Armenian drams (1.28 million baht). They can also reduce their military term to one month by paying 10 million drams (about 850,000 baht), to six months by paying 5 million drams (428,000 baht), or one year in exchange for 2.5 million drams (214,000 baht).
Exorbitant exemption fees
Iran, where all men aged 18 to 49 are eligible for two years of mandatory service, also operates a conscription-exemption scheme. BBC Thai reports that fees vary depending on educational qualifications, with higher-educated individuals required to pay higher rates.
Exemption fees range from 2.5 billion Iranian rials (about 346,000 baht) to 6 billion rials (4.94 million baht). Considering the average monthly salary is a mere 30 million rials (6,900 baht), only wealthy Iranians can afford the exorbitant fees.
Tajikistan’s male citizens can avoid two-year military service by paying a fee to the Defence Ministry. Under a 2021 law, Tajik men aged between 18 and 27 can buy their way out of conscription for US$2,200 (about 75,800 baht).
In Turkey, male citizens aged 21 to 41 can also pay to avoid compulsory military service lasting six months. The fee was set last year at 183,526 Turkish liras (218,000 baht).
