Volunteer Defense Corps (Thailand)

The Volunteer Defense Corps (Thai: กองอาสารักษาดินแดน; abbreviated VDC) is a Thai paramilitary under the authority of the Department Of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior.[1] It was founded in 1954 to provide extra military support to the Royal Thai Armed Forces and to protect local civilians living near Thailand's borders.[2][3]

Volunteer Defense Corps
Volunteer Defense Corps logo
Founded	10 February 1954 (1954-02-10)
Country	Thailand
Type	Paramilitary
Part of	Department Of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior[1]
Garrison/HQ	Bangkok, Thailand
Commanders
Minister of Interior	Gen. VDC Gen. Anupong Paochinda

History

The Volunteer Defense Corps (colloquially called Or Sor in Thailand) was formally established on 10 February 1954[4][5] by the Thai Border 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 from insurgents who had crossed into Thai border provinces from neighboring Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia. VDC members were trained by the BPP and sent to protect civilians and farms from extortion and attacks by insurgents.[6]

In 1974, the VDC was expanded by the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) to urban areas to fight communist insurgents. In the late-1980s, VDC strength was estimated at roughly 33,000, down from a peak of about 52,000 in 1980. Part of the decrease in numbers was due to the formation of the Thahan 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 the South Thailand insurgency.[2][7]

Volunteer Defense Corps ranks

Volunteer Defense Corps flag

Thai Volunteer Defense Corps uniform

Officers

Order	NATO Code	Ranks	Abbreviation
1	OF-9	Volunteer Defense Corps General	VDC Gen
2	OF-5	Volunteer Defense Corps Colonel	VDC Col
3	OF-4	Volunteer Defense Corps Lieutenant Colonel	VDC Lt Col
4	OF-3	Volunteer Defense Corps Major	VDC Maj
5	OF-2	Volunteer Defense Corps Captain	VDC Capt
6	OF-1	Volunteer Defense Corps First Lieutenant	VDC 1st Lt
7	OF-1	Volunteer Defense Corps Second Lieutenant	VDC 2nd Lt

Enlisted

Order	NATO Code	Ranks	Abbreviation	Insignia
1	OR-9 or OR-8	Volunteer Defense Corps Sergeant Major	VDC Sgt Maj
2	OR-5	Volunteer Defense Corps Sergeant	VDC Sgt
3	OR-4	Volunteer Defense Corps Corporal	VDC Cpl
4	OR-3	Volunteer Defense Corps Lance Corporal	VDC Lcpl
5	OR-2 or OR-1	Volunteer Defense Corps Member	VDC Mbr

References

1. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2559/A/006/26.PDF
2. "Southern Thailand: The Problem with Paramilitaries". Asia Report. International Crisis Group (140): 14–15. 23 October 2007. Archived from the original on 8 February 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
3. "unk" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
4. "Volunteer Defense Corps Act, 1954" (PDF).
5. "unk". Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
6. "Making sense of defense volunteers". The Phuket News. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
7. "Sixty-three Years of Volunteer Defense Corps". Department of Provincial Administration (in Thai). pp. 78–79. Retrieved 6 February 2020.