Territorial Defence Student

Territorial defense students นักศึกษาวิชาทหาร (RTGS: Nak suek sa wicha thahan)
Official seal of the Territorial Defense Command
Active	1948 - Present
Country	Thailand
Branch	Royal Thai Army
Type	Military reserve force
Part of	Territorial Defense Command
Garrison/HQ	Reserve Affairs Center, Bangkok (13°44'46"N 100°29'42"E)
Nickname(s)	Rodo (ร.ด.)
Motto(s)	"แม้หวังตั้งสงบ จงเตรียมรบให้พร้อมสรรพ์ ศัตรูกล้ามาประจัน จะอาจสู้ริปูสลาย" ("Hope for peace, so be prepared for fight. No foe is more fearless than us.")
Colors	Khaki-Green
March	Territorial Defence Students' march (เราเหล่านักศึกษาวิชาทหาร)
Anniversaries	8 December
Engagements	Battle of Tha Nang Sang bridge
Commanders
Current commander	Major General Chlermpol Thammasuntorn (พลตรี เฉลิมพล ธรรมสุนทร)
Insignia
Regimental Insignia	Crossed swords under the Great Crown of Victory

Major General Chlermpol Thammasuntorn

Territorial defence students (Thai: นักศึกษาวิชาทหาร; rtgs: nak sueksa wicha thahan) are a military youth organization in Thailand under control of the Royal Thai Army, and recently the Royal Thai Navy and Royal Thai Air Force.

Prior to World War II the Yuwachon Thahan (or "junior soldiers", Thai: ) were established in 1934 by Field Marshal Luang Pibulsonggram. At the beginning of World War II junior soldiers were sent to fight troops of the Japanese Empire 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 territorial defence 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 for about three years. Because of this, the requirements for admission have been made more stringent.

There were also rumors of a potential change of policy, wherein Grade-3 students would be required to serve, but for only 3–6 months or a year.

Applicants who do not meet fitness test requirements are ranked by their scores. Applicants with higher scores have priority. Applicants who do not meet other criteria may be accepted in a case-by-case basis. If extra funding is available, more applicants are accepted.

After the tests are completed, those accepted are awarded a green beret.

Territorial defence students have to study 80 hours per year and attend a period of field training, but only common for grade 2 through grade 5 students. The students must be present for at least 80% of the course and are not allowed to skip any exams. By the end of every semester territorial defence students have to pass an exam to continue their study at the next grade.