Naresuan Command

Naresuan Command (Thai: กองกำลังนเรศวร; also rendered Naresuan Force) is one of the seven border-protection forces of the Royal Thai Army. It is headquartered at Camp Wachira Prakan in Mueang Tak District, Tak Province, and is responsible for the Thai–Myanmar border running through Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces, a stretch of roughly 987 kilometres. Operationally it reports to the 3rd Army Area Operations Centre (ศปก.ทภ.3) and also serves as the 1st Forward Section of the 3rd Region Internal Security Operations Command (กอ.รมน.ภาค 3 สย.1). The force was first established in 1994 in Chiang Mai, initially controlling the 327th Task Force with responsibility for Chiang Mai's border. Its area of responsibility expanded in 1995 to include Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Tak. In 1997 the headquarters moved from Chiang Rai to Camp Somdet Phra Ekathotsarot in Phitsanulok, and its responsibility was reduced to the two provinces of Tak and Mae Hong Son. In 2000 the headquarters moved again, to Camp Wachira Prakan in Tak, where it remains; in 2015 the headquarters building was relocated 200 metres within the same camp. Naresuan Command draws personnel from the 4th Infantry Division, including regular troops and Thahan Phran rangers. Its main subordinate units are the Ratchamanu Task Force (14th Infantry Regiment) and the Singhanat Task Force (17th Infantry Regiment), with operational control over the 35th and 36th Ranger Task Forces and the 34th Border Patrol Police Task Force. It operates 147 bases along the frontier. Its missions include defending Thai sovereignty along the border, countering narcotics trafficking, preventing illegal migrant labour and smuggling, protecting natural resources, and maintaining good relations with neighbouring countries. The Ratchamanu Task Force was a principal force maintaining security around Mae Sot opposite Myawaddy during the intense fighting in the Myanmar civil war in early 2024. The command communicates with the public through its official website and Facebook page.

Naresuan Command was first established in 1994 (B.E. 2537) in Chiang Mai Province, where it controlled the 327th Task Force and was tasked with defending the border in Chiang Mai. In 1995 (B.E. 2538) its area of responsibility was expanded to cover Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Tak provinces. In 1997 (B.E. 2540) the command relocated its headquarters from Chiang Rai to Camp Somdet Phra Ekathotsarot in Mueang Phitsanulok District, Phitsanulok Province (at the 23rd Transport Battalion), and its responsibility was reduced to two provinces, Tak and Mae Hong Son, covering five border districts of Tak and seven border districts of Mae Hong Son. In 2000 (B.E. 2543) the headquarters moved from Phitsanulok to Camp Wachira Prakan in Mueang Tak District, Tak Province (at the 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Battalion). On 1 October 2015 (B.E. 2558) the headquarters building was moved 200 metres from its previous location, remaining within the Camp Wachira Prakan area. Structurally, Naresuan Command draws its personnel from the 4th Infantry Division, including regular soldiers and Thahan Phran rangers. Its direct subordinate units are the Ratchamanu Task Force (14th Infantry Regiment Task Force) and the Singhanat Task Force (17th Infantry Regiment Task Force). Under its operational control are the 35th Ranger Regiment Task Force, the 36th Ranger Regiment Task Force, and the 34th Border Patrol Police Task Force. By province, Tak's border is covered by the Ratchamanu Task Force, the 34th Border Patrol Police Task Force and the 35th Ranger Task Force, while Mae Hong Son's border is covered by the Singhanat Task Force and the 36th Ranger Task Force. The command's principal mission is to protect the border areas of five districts of Tak Province (Umphang, Phop Phra, Mae Sot, Mae Ramat and Tha Song Yang) and seven districts of Mae Hong Son Province (Sop Moei, Mae Sariang, Mae La Noi, Khun Yuam, Mueang Mae Hong Son, Pang Mapha and Pai), conducting operations to intercept, deter, respond to and push back violations of Thai sovereignty by foreign forces. It operates under four main plans: national defence, internal security, public order, and implementation of policy and directives, with four missions: special operations in the surveillance and defence area, monitoring and defending the border area, organising the border area, and strengthening good relations with neighbouring countries. Another important mission is suppressing narcotics in the border area, preventing and intercepting illegal foreign labour, tax-evading and illegal goods smuggling, and destruction of natural resources, under its role as the 1st Forward Section of the 3rd Region Internal Security Operations Command. The Ratchamanu Task Force of Naresuan Command was also the main force maintaining security in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, opposite Myawaddy, where heavy clashes occurred during the Myanmar civil war in early 2024. Naresuan Command maintains 147 operating bases, including the Seksan base at Ban Mae Kon Ken in Mae Sot (named after Lieutenant Colonel Seksan Suwannasin, who died in a clash with a drug-trafficking group near the base's current location), the Rim Moei base in Mae La, Tha Song Yang, the Doi Tai Laeng base in Na Pu Pom, Pang Mapha, the Singkhon 1 base in Pha Bong, Mueang Mae Hong Son, and the Ton Mae Nam Suriya base in Lai Wo, Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi (transferred from the Surasi Force because logistics from Naresuan Command were more convenient). There is also a temporary safe area at Ban Sao Hin in Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son.

• 2024

  The Ratchamanu Task Force was the main force maintaining security in Mae Sot opposite Myawaddy during heavy clashes in the Myanmar civil war.

• 2015

  On 1 October, the headquarters building was relocated 200 metres within Camp Wachira Prakan.

• 2000

  Headquarters moved from Phitsanulok to Camp Wachira Prakan, Tak Province.

• 1997

  Headquarters moved from Chiang Rai to Camp Somdet Phra Ekathotsarot, Phitsanulok; responsibility reduced to Tak and Mae Hong Son.

• 1995

  Area of responsibility expanded to include Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Tak.

• 1994

  Naresuan Command first established in Chiang Mai, controlling the 327th Task Force.

Royal Thai Army border-protection force for the Thailand–Myanmar frontier

1. 1กองกำลังนเรศวร – official websitenaresuanforce.com
2. 2Naresuan Command – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3กองกำลังนเรศวร – Thai Wikipediath.wikipedia.org