The Wild Tiger Corps was a national paramilitary corps founded in Thailand in 1911 by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). Inspired by the British Volunteer Force, it was intended to maintain civil order. The unit brought its Thai name from the Suea Pa Maew Mong unit founded by King Naresuan around 1600.

History

The corps was meant to be a nationwide paramilitary corps, answerable only to the King. At first a ceremonial guard unit, it became a military force of 4,000 within its first year. Filled with commoners, the King would often socialize with them openly. The corps eventually rivalled the army in strength and the civil service in influence. The King even went so far as appointing some to high ranks in the army and nobility. The Wild Tiger Corps specialize in protecting the King and his family, protect the palace, hand-to-hand combat, melee combat with weapons, use of firearms, and some specialize in undercover operations in order to spy on intelligence that could pose a threat to the royal family. However, they also received combat training in infantry style such as hand and arm signals, raid, reconnaissance, tracking, and others related to infantry skills in those period. While the King socialized with members of the corps, the regular army and aristocrats were deeply dissatisfied. Regular army officers were not permitted to join the organization. They saw these new appointments and the corps as a threat to the honour of the army. Combined with the king's spending on new palaces and attention on dramatic productions, the kingdom was deeply in debt and was in danger of financial collapse. This dissatisfaction partially led to the Palace Revolt of 1912.

Organization

It also included a junior division known as Luk Suea ("Tiger Cubs"), which became Thailand's Scouting organization.

Ranks

The Wild Tiger Corps had a ranking system similar to that of the military.

Legacy

The present-day Volunteer Defense Corps uses the same rank structure as the Wild Tigers, but with different insignia.

Sources