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	Defence Ministry spokesman Maj-General Kongcheep Tantrawanit said the Defence Council yesterday approved the move under the 20-year strategic plan launched in 2008.</div>
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	In 2008, 768 military personnel took early retirement including major-generals, lieutenant-generals and generals who served as specialists and senior specialists.&nbsp;</div>
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	In 2028, 384 specialists are expected to remain.&nbsp;</div>
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	In 2008, there were 2,698 senior colonels who served as senior specialists and 1,349 are expected to remain come 2028.</div>
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	Kongcheep said the number of new graduates from the military cadet schools would also be reduced in line with the personnel-reduction policy.</div>
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	Over the past three years, 15,000 military officials from all ranks have taken early retirement.</div>
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Move to reduce number of military brass

The Defence Council Thursday approved a plan to downsize military personnel serving as specialists and senior operations officers by 2.5 per cent annually with the target of reducing the total figure by half by 2028.