Military circles of Thailand () are subdivisions of the Royal Thai Army. Each military circle governs and supports all military units and personnel in its area. Several military circles are grouped into a military region. A military circle can cover one or more civil provinces.

Currently there are 35 military circles, grouped into 4 military regions in Thailand.

Map of military circles of Thailand 
Military circles in Thailand, according to the 2015 ministerial regulation, can be mapped as follows. Some military circles cover more than one civil circles, while many cover only one civil circles (particularly northern circles). Each military circle is numbered. The first digit denotes the military region in which the military circle is located. The second digit is a sequential number 1 to 9 (or 10). As a result, there are no military circle 10, 20, 30 and 40.

History

1948-1965 
From 1897 to 1933, Siam (now Thailand) was divided into 21 civil circles (monthons). Each circle covers several civil provinces (changwats), headed by governors. Each province contains districts (amphurs), which in turns, covers subdistricts (tambons). The Government Organisation of Siam Act, 1933 eliminated the existence of monthons. As a result, changwats have been referred to as circles since then.

However, the Royal Thai Army are differently organised. Thailand was divided into military circles, each of which encompassed many military provinces () and units, just like military regions () today. Each military circle had several roles, including the recruitment of new soldiers, military justice, national protection and peacekeeping. Military circle encompassed many provinces (or civil circles). In 1948, there were five military circles. Each circle contains following provinces:
 Military Circle 1 (central): Phra Nakhon, Thon Buri, Chai Nat, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Sing Buri, Saraburi, Suphan Buri, Ang Thong;
 Military Circle 2 (eastern): Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri;
 Military Circle 3 (northeastern): Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nong Khai, Buriram, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Loei, Sisaket, Sakon Nakhon, Surin, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani;
 Military Circle 4 (northern): Kamphaeng Phet, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Tak, Nakhon Sawan, Nan, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Phrae, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Lamphun, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Uthai Thani;
 Military Circle 5 (southern): Krabi, Kanchanaburi, Chumphon, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phetchaburi, Phuket, Yala, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Satun, Songkhla, Surat Thani

1965-1990
It was realised in 1966 that the organisation of the army was too centralised, bulky and impractical. The government proposed that the country should be divided into three military regions. Each region covered several military circles, which, in turns, encompassed many military provinces.

 Military Region 1
 1st Military Circle: 
 Bangkok Military Province: Phra Nakhon, Thon Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon and Suphan Buri
 Phetchaburi Military Province: Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan
 Ratchaburi Military Province: Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi and Samut Songkhram
 Saraburi Military Province: Saraburi and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
 2nd Military Circle: 
 Chachoengsao Military Province: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Trat and Rayong
 Prachin Buri Military Province: Prachin Buri and Nakhon Nayok
 Lopburi Military Province: Lopburi, Chai Nat, Sing Buri and Ang Thong
 Military Region 2
 3rd Military Circle: 
 Khon Kaen Military Province: Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham and Loei
 Nakhon Ratchasima Military Province: Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum
 Surin Military Province: Surin and Buriram
 Udon Military Province: Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom and Sakon Nakhon
 6th Military Circle:
 Roi Et Military Province: Roi Et and Kalasin
 Ubon Military Province: Ubon Ratchathani and Sisaket
 Military Region 3
 4th Military Circle:
 Nakhon Sawan Military Province: Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng Phet and Uthai Thani
 Phitsanulok Military Province: Phitsanulok, Tak, Phichit, Phetchabun and Sukhothai
 Uttaradit Military Province: Uttaradit, Nan and Phrae
 7th Military Circle:
 Chiang Rai Military Province: Chiang Rai
 Chiang Mai Military Province: Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Lamphun
 Lampang Military Province: Lampang
 5th Military Circle (later 4th Military Region):
 Chumphon Military Province: Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani
 Nakhon Si Thammarat Military Province: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Trang, Phangnga, Phatthalung and Phuket
 Songkhla Military Province: Songkhla, Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Satun

1990-2014
The Royal Thai Army underwent several reorganisations. In 1981, Chon Buri (region 1) and Chiang Mai (region 3) Military Provinces was established. Chon Buri Military Province covered Chon Buri, Trat and Rayong, while Chiang Mai Military Province covered Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Lamphun. Frustrated by the complexities, the government completely rearranged its army into four Military Regions, each region has military circles as follows
 Military Region 1
 Military Circle 11
 Bangkok Military Province: Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakarn and Samut Sakhon
 Kanchanaburi Military Province: Kanchanaburi and Suphan Buri
 Military Circle 12
 Prachin Buri Military Province: Prachin Buri and Nakhon Nayok
 Chachoengsao Military Province: Chachoengsao
 Sa Kaeo Military Province: Sa Kaeo (formerly part of Prachin Buri)
 Military Circle 13
 Lopburi Military Province: Lopburi, Chai Nat, Sing Buri and Ang Thong
 Saraburi Military Province: Saraburi and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
 Military Circle 14
 Chon Buri Military Province: Chonburi, Chanthaburi, Trat and Rayong
 Military Circle 15
 Phetchaburi Military Province (formerly part of Military Circle 11): Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan
 Ratchaburi Military Province (formerly part of Military Circle 11): Ratchaburi and Samut Songkhram
 Military Region 2
 Military Circle 21
 Nakhon Ratchasima Military Province: Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum
 Buriram Military Province: Buriram
 Surin Military Province: Surin
 Military Circle 22
 Ubon Military Province: Ubon Ratchathani, Mukdahan, Sisaket and Amnat Charoen
 Roi Et Military Province: Roi Et and Yasothon
 Military Circle 23
 Khon Kaen Military Province: Khon Kaen, Kalasin and Maha Sarakham
 Loei Military Province: Loei
 Military Circle 24
 Udon Military Province: Udon, Nong Khai and Nong Bua Lamphu
 Nakhon Phanom Military Province: Nakhon Phanom
 Sakon Nakhon Military Province: Sakon Nakhon
 Military Region 3
 Military Circle 31
 Nakhon Sawan Military Province: Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng Phet and Uthai Thani
 Tak Military Province: Tak
 Phetchabun Military Province: Phetchabun and Phichit
 Phitsanulok Military Province: Phitsanulok and Sukhothai
 Military Circle 32
 Lampang Military Province: Lampang
 Phayao Military Province: Phayao
 Nan Military Province: Nan
 Uttaradit Military Province: Uttaradit and Phrae
 Military Circle 33
 Chiang Mai Military Province: Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Lamphun
 Chiang Rai Military Province: Chiang Rai
 Military Region 4
 Military Circle 41
 Nakhon Si Thammarat Military Province: Nakhon Si Thammarat (except for Thung Song District), Krabi, Phangnga and Phuket
 Chumphon Military Province: Chumphon and Ranong
 Thung Song Military Province: Nakhon Si Thammarat (only Thung Song District) and Trang
 Surat Thani Military Province: Surat Thani
 Military Circle 42
 Songkhla Military Province: Songkhla, Phatthalung and Satun
 Pattani Military Province: Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala

2015-present
In 2015, a military government led by Prayut Chan-o-cha dissolved all military provinces. This resulted in the establishment of many military circles, covering one or few civil circles (or provinces) to shorten the chain of command. Each military circle is allocated its two- or three-digit code, beginning with military region code, followed by the number 1 to 10. It can be observed that the Military Region 2 was completely reorganised into several military circles. Military Region 3 formerly had 3 military circles but now have 10 military circles, most of which cover only one civil circle. 
 Military Region 1 (Central)
 Military Circle 11 (Bangkok Military Circle): Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakarn
 Military Circle 12 (Prachin Buri Military Circle): Prachin Buri, Nakhon Nayok and Chachoengsao
 Military Circle 13 (Lopburi Military Circle): Lopburi, Chai Nat, Sing Buri and Ang Thong
 Military Circle 14 (Chon Buri Military Circle): Chon Buri and Rayong
 Military Circle 15 (Phetchaburi Military Circle): Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan
 Military Circle 16 (Ratchaburi Military Circle): Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon
 Military Circle 17 (Kanchanaburi Military Circle): Kanchanaburi and Suphan Buri
 Military Circle 18 (Saraburi Military Circle): Saraburi and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
 Military Circle 19 (Sa Kaeo Military Circle): Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat
 Military Region 2 (Northeastern)
 Military Circle 21 (Nakhon Ratchasima Military Circle): Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum
 Military Circle 22 (Ubon Military Circle): Ubon Ratchathani and Amnat Charoen
 Military Circle 23 (Khon Kaen Military Circle): Khon Kaen and Kalasin
 Military Circle 24 (Udon Military Circle): Udon Thani and Nong Khai
 Military Circle 25 (Surin Military Circle): Surin and Sisaket
 Military Circle 26 (Buriram Military Circle): Buriram and Maha Sarakham
 Military Circle 27 (Roi Et Military Circle): Roi Et and Yasothon
 Military Circle 28 (Loei Military Circle): Loei and Nong Bua Lamphu
 Military Circle 29 (Sakon Nakhon Military Circle): Sakon Nakhon and Bueng Kan
 Military Circle 210 (Nakhon Phanom Military Circle): Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan
 Military Region 3 (Northern)
 Military Circle 31 (Nakhon Sawan Military Circle): Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng Phet and Uthai Thani
 Military Circle 32 (Lampang Military Circle): Lampang
 Military Circle 33 (Chiang Mai Military Circle): Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Lamphun
 Military Circle 34 (Phayao Military Circle): Phayao
 Military Circle 35 (Uttaradit Military Circle): Uttaradit and Phrae
 Military Circle 36 (Phetchabun Military Circle): Phetchabun and Phichit
 Military Circle 37 (Chiang Rai Military Circle): Chiang Rai
 Military Circle 38 (Nan Military Circle): Nan
 Military Circle 39 (Phitsanulok Military Circle): Phitsanulok and Sukhothai
 Military Circle 310 (Tak Military Circle): Tak
 Military Region 4 (Southern)
 Military Circle 41 (Nakhon Si Thammarat Military Circle): Nakhon Si Thammarat (except for Thung Song District) and Phuket
 Military Circle 42 (Songkhla Military Circle): Songkhla, Phatthalung and Satun
 Military Circle 43 (Thung Song Military Circle): Nakhon Si Thammarat (only Thung Song District), Krabi and Trang
 Military Circle 44 (Chumphon Military Circle): Chumphon and Ranong
 Military Circle 45 (Surat Thani Military Circle): Surat Thani and Phangnga
 Military Circle 46 (Pattani Military Circle): Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala

Roles
In accordance with the ministerial regulations on the roles and coverage of military circles, military circles
 Govern local military forces, according to instructions and regulations by the Ministry of Defence;
 Maintain peace in its area; supervises military courts, cases, witness protection and military prisons;
 Recruit new members of the forces; oversees conscription and military summoning;
 Support military units in its area;
 Protect the internal security and national security according to the strategic plan;
 Support the government in supporting Thai citizens;
 Work closely with the Internal Security Operations Command local centres.

Naval region
The Royal Thai Navy has a similar subdivision system. There are three naval regions in Thailand. Each region covers different sections of coastline.
 Naval Region 1: Upper portion of the Gulf of Thailand, from Chumphon to Trat. Its headquarters are in Sattahip, Chon Buri. 
 Naval Region 2: Lower portion of the Gulf of Thailand, from Surat Thani to Narathiwat. Its headquarters are in Songkhla.
 Naval Region 3: Andaman Sea, from Ranong to Satun. Its headquarters are in Phuket.

Notes

References

See also 
 Provinces of Thailand
 Monthon
 Royal Thai Army
 Military district

Military units and formations of Thailand
Royal Thai Army
Military district and regions by country