Navy blue and air power chiefs set to retire
Primary Minister and Protection Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will meet with military top brass in late this month to talk about the upcoming annual reshuffle, which will observe new chiefs of the navy and surroundings force appointed, based on a Defence Ministry source.
The meeting, the original source said, was to become attended by the commanders of the three divisions of the military as well as the deputy defence minister, but may have to end up being postponed, or chaired instead by Deputy Defence Minister Chaichan Changmongkol, if the Constitutional Court decides in order to suspend Gen Prayut pending a ruling on his term limit.
The particular upcoming reshuffle might find a changing from the guard in the navy and the air pressure as the current chiefs, Adm Somprasong Nilsamai and ACM Napadej Dhuphtemiya, will stop working at the end of September.
Within naval ranks, Adm Somprasong is reported to have vouched for assistant navy blue chief Choengchai Chomchoengphaet to take over because chief, however his choice of replacement has been said to have sparked criticism among other mature navy figures.
Choengchai: Could become navy chief
Deputy navy blue commander Adm Thirakul Kanchana, who is a lot more senior and deemed next in line for that top post, is definitely meanwhile expected to become named deputy key of the defence factors, the source said.
Gen Prayut apparently advised Adm Somprasong to iron out the differences expressed simply by his colleagues throughout a dinner with the commanders of the armed forces at the end of last week.
Adm Thirakul was also any candidate for the navy’s top post in last year’s reshuffle but lost in order to Adm Somprasong who was at that time deputy protection permanent secretary.
As for the air flow force, ACM Kongsak Chantharasopha, chief from the Air Operation Control Command, is seen as the favourite to succeed ACM Napadej, but deputy air force chief ACM Thanasak Metanan has also emerged being a potential contender.
Thanasak: Key role in F-35 purchase
ACM Thanasak, who is playing a key role up force’s bid to buy F-35 fighter jets, will reach required retirement in 2 yrs but is considered a good fit for your post right now.
Defence forces main Gen Chalermpol Srisawasdi is highly likely to assist until his mandatory retirement next year. He is the first “red-rim” official to take command of the defence forces. “Red-rim” soldiers are those particularly trained to serve as Royal Guards and put on a T-shirt having a red rim to exhibit they passed the elite training.
It is believed that Gen Songwit Nunphakdi, head from the general staff to the Office of the Powerful General, will be transferred from the army in order to serve as his deputy before succeeding him next year.
Meanwhile, the current army commander Narongpan Jitkaewtae has one more yr in office before his mandatory retirement next year, but the brand new line-up will offer a glimpse into his possible successor, said the source.
Sanitchanok: Set for ministry work
The spotlight is usually on two opportunities who may succeed him next year.
The first is assistant military chief Gen Charoenchai Hintao who is reportedly to be promoted towards the role of deputy commander in the current reshuffle, making him eligible to become the army chief next time.
The other is Luxury touring Gen Suksawan Nongbualang, commander of the first Army Region, who might be expected to be advertised to a key posting in this year’s reshuffle and become a challenger for the army’s best job.
At the Defence Ministry, deputy permanent secretary Gen Sanitchanok Sangkhachan is tipped to succeed Gen Worakiat Ratananont who will retire at the end of next month. Gen Sanitchanok, who is known to possess good relations with Deputy Prime Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Prawit Wongsuwon plus Gen Prayut, will certainly retire in 2025.