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| Volunteer Defense Corps | |
|---|---|
| กองอาสารักษาดินแดน | |
 Emblem of the Volunteer Defense Corps | |
| Founded | 10 February 1954 (1954-02-10) |
| Country | Thailand |
| Type | Paramilitary |
| Role | Close-quarters combat Counterinsurgency Crowd control Executive protection Force protection Humanitarian aid HUMINT Internal security Jungle warfare Law enforcement Patrolling Psychological warfare Raiding Reconnaissance Tactical emergency medical services Urban warfare |
| Part of | Department of Provincial Administration,Ministry of Interior[1] |
| Garrison/HQ | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Engagements | Communist insurgency in Thailand South Thailand Insurgency |
| Commanders | |
| Minister of Interior | VDC GeneralAnutin Charnvirakul |
TheVolunteer Defense Corps (Thai:กองอาสารักษาดินแดน;abbreviatedVDC) is a paramilitary under the authority of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA),Ministry of Interior.[1] It was founded in 1954 to provide extra military support to theRoyal Thai Armed Forces and to protect local civilians living near Thailand's borders.[2][3]
The Volunteer Defense Corps (colloquially calledOr Sor in Thailand) was formally established on 10 February 1954[4][3] by the ThaiBorder Patrol Police (BPP) in response to complaints by civilians of banditry and harassment by insurgent and separatist organizations. Originally, the VDC's purpose was to protect civilians frominsurgents who had crossed into Thai border provinces from neighboringCambodia,Laos andMalaysia. VDC members were trained by the BPP and sent to protect civilians and farms fromextortion and attacks by insurgents.[5]
In 1974, the VDC was expanded by theInternal Security Operations Command (ISOC) to urban areas to fightcommunist insurgents. In the late-1980s, VDC strength was estimated at 33,000, down from a peak of about 52,000 in 1980. Part of the decrease in numbers was due to the formation of theThahan Phran, a paramilitary unit formed to counter communist insurgents, which absorbed some units of the VDC.
Since 2004, the VDC has had a major role in fighting theSouth Thailand insurgency.[2][6]
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Volunteer Defense Corps |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||
| นายกองใหญ่ Nāyk xng h̄ıỵ̀ | นายกองเอก Nāyk xng xek | นายกองโท Nāyk xng tho | นายกองตรี Nāyk xng trī | นายหมวดเอก Nāy h̄mwd xek | นายหมวดโท Nāy h̄mwd tho | นายหมวดตรี Nāy h̄mwd trī | ||||||||||||||||||
| VDC General | VDC Colonel | VDC Lieutenant Colonel | VDC Major | VDC Captain | VDC First Lieutenant | VDC Second Lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volunteer Defense Corps |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| นายหมู่ใหญ่ Nāy h̄mū̀ h̄ıỵ̀ | นายหมู่เอก Nāy h̄mū̀ xek | นายหมู่โท Nāy h̄mū̀ tho | นายหมู่ตรี Nāy h̄mū̀ trī | สมาชิกเอก S̄māchik xek | สมาชิกโท S̄māchik tho | สมาชิกตรี S̄māchik trī | สมาชิก S̄māchik | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VDC Sergeant major | VDC Sergeant | VDC Corporal | VDC Lance corporal | VDC Member 1st class | VDC Member 2nd class | VDC Member 3rd class | VDC Member | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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