Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on August 24 visited the 21st
Infantry Regiment of the Royal Armament, Queen’s Guard in Chonburi,
under the Royal Command of Her Majesty the Queen, to present military
insignia for soldiers completing the Queen’s Guard special forces
training.
Army officers, representatives of private organizations
and members of the public gave a warm welcome to Her Majesty, who also
watched a demonstration of military tactics, a display of old-style
hand-to-hand combat by over 1,000 participants, and historical
elephant-back warfare.
Her Majesty presented a gift to General Prawit
Wongsuwan, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, and then presented
badges to soldiers who had completed the Queen’s Guard special forces
training. Called the “Tiger Special Forces”, this year’s class was
the 14th Queen’s Guard graduating class.
A visit to a Korean War Veterans’ Museum was included
in Her Majesty’s visit before she returned to Chitralada Royal Palace.
The 2nd battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment of the
Queen’s Guard Special Forces course is divided into four distinct parts.
The first covers morale and team spirit building, with four weeks at
Nawamintarachini Camp, and is designed to help participants become
knowledgeable on all tactics and become highly skilled in the use of arms.
The next four weeks are designed to hone jungle and
mountain skills, with participants trained in fighting tactics and how to
survive in remote terrain.
Following this is three weeks training at sea, and
another three weeks in Bangkok to gain an understanding of urban tactics
against terrorism and maintaining the security of visiting VIPs.
The final two weeks are spent back at Nawamintarachini Camp where the
trainees practice parachute jumping and related skills.
Colonel
Phanuwat Nakwong, commander of the 21st Infantry Regiment of the Queen’s
Guard makes his presentation to HM the Queen.
Paratroopers
awed the crowd with their daring jumps.
Troops
of the 21st Infantry Regiment of the Royal Armament, Queen’s Guard stand
to attention to welcome Her Majesty the Queen.
Elephant
vs elephant on the battlefield.
The
troupe put a spectacular display from ancient battles fought on elephant
and horse back all the way up to the sophistication of modern warfare.
