Army Reserve Force Students The Army Reserve Force Students ( ; ) is a military youth organization in Thailand under control of the Royal Thai Army . History . In 1934 , prior to World War II , the Yuwachon Thahan ( or " junior soldiers " , Thai : ) were established by Field Marshal Luang Pibulsonggram . At the beginning of World War II these teenage junior soldiers were actually sent to fight the troops of the Japanese Empire that invaded southern Thailand on 8 December 1941 . After the war ended in September 1945 , the Yuwachon Thahan were disbanded . However , in 1948 Lieutenant General Luang Chatnakrop ( พล . ท . หลวงชาตินักรบ ) created the Army Reserve Force Students to replace them . Nowadays most male students who participate in the reserve do so to avoid the chance of being conscripted for two years as enlisted soldiers in the active duty military . Because of this , the requirements for admission have risen recently . Requirements . The current requirements are : Applicants are ranked by their fitness score . Those with higher scores will have priority . Some who do not meet the criteria may be accepted in a case - by - case basis . Those who are selected will receive a beret . Their training includes a rifle range , where they are instructed in the use of a rifle . The weapons is use today are the HK33 and M16 rifles Thai students at international schools in Chiang Mai trained different sites , usually not at the main Territorial Defense School . Study . Army Reserve Force Students study 20 weeks per year , including a period of field training for grade 2 through grade 5 ARFS students . They must have perfect attendance . At the end of every semester , they have to pass an exam to study in the next grade . Army Reserve Force Students have to test : Army Reserve Force Students have 5 grades : Field training lengths ( dependent on grade and gender of the student ) : Uniform and Insignia . Army Reserve Force Students wear an olive - green uniform and beret ( former green coat and Kepi ) with Army Reserve Command insignia ( Cross swords under The great crown of victory ) on their collar beret and belt . Army Reserve Force Students distinguish their school and province by school ' s coat of arms on the right shoulder , and province badge on left chest . Special training . About 200 4th grade Army Reserve Force Students who pass the physical test will be allowed to enter the parasail training course . This course is currently conduct annually . The physical requirement is 1 miles running - under 7 . 45 minutes . Push - up 50 in 2 minute . Sit - Up 100 in two minutes . Pull - Up 20 times without times . Battle of Tha Nang Sang Bridge . On the morning of 8 December 1941 , the first day of Japanese invasion of South East Asia , the Japanese army entered Thailand at many places , including Changwat Chumphon . At Ma Hat Bay ( อ่าวมะหาด ) , Japanese troops landed on beaches from Ban Pak Nam Chumphon ( บ้านปากน้ำชุมพร ) to Ban Kho Son ( บ้านคอสน ) . The 38th infantry Battalion of the Royal Thai Army was about 17 km away from the location , too far away to intercept the invading Japanese troops in time to protect the provincial capital . As a result , about one hundred of the Yuwachon Thahan and the local police force were ordered to hold the Japanese invaders on the west side of Tha Nang Sang bridge until the 38th Infantry could arrive . The teenager soldiers sent their 1st Light Machine Gun company across the bridge at 8 . 00am and moved through Wat Tha Yang Tai to block Japanese reinforcements . The commander of 38th infantry battalion ordered his his own 4th Heavy Machine Gun Company across the bridge to protect the government offices next the Tha Taphoa River , but heavy Japanese troops prevented their crossing . The junior soldiers , led Captain Thawin Niyomsen ( ร้อยเอกถวิล นิยมเสน ) , commander of the Chumphon Junior Soldiers Training Centre , dashed across the bridge to seize strategic points on the western side . Captain Thawin was killed while he was seeking a better location for his light machine gun squad . Now led by Sergeant Samran Khuanphan ( สิบเอกสำราญ ควรพันธ์ ) from the Junior Soldiers Training Center , the junior soldiers were able to hold their position until the cease fire order came later in the day . The Thai government had accepted Japan ' s terms .