Key generals tipped for further promotion after military reshuffle
The Royal Gazette published a mid-year military reshuffle comprising 260 military promotions on Wednesday, including the promotion of Maj-General Narongpan Jitkaewthae, commander of the 1st Division King's Guard, to become First Army Region deputy chief, reportedly in line with him becoming First Army Region chief by year's end.
The commander of the 11th Infantry Regiment King's Guard, Maj-General Songwit Noonpakdee, the son of the late former Army chief General Isarapong Noonpakdee, who played a role in the 1991 coup, will serve as commander of the 1st Division King's Guard, while the deputy commander of 2nd Infantry Regiment, Colonel Vorayuth Kaewwiboonpan, who was promoted to the rank of major-general, has been designated as Songwit's successor.
First Army Region deputy chief Maj-General Wutthichai Nakwanich, the younger brother of Privy Councillor and retired Army chief General Theerachai Nakwanich, has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general and will serve as the Army's senior adviser.
Army chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart also has advocated that 1st Special Warfare Division commander Maj-General Phumipat Chansawang will become Special Warfare Command deputy chief, reportedly in order to assume command of the branch by year's end. The new appointments will be effective as of April 1.
The reshuffle is referred to as "mid-year" given that it's the middle of the fiscal year.