TRANSITIONING THAI SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES TO A UNIFIED COMMAND: A STUDY ON ENHANCING COUNTER-HYBRID WARFARE CAPABILITIES

The command structure of Thailand’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) has remained unchanged since the Cold War era. Thai SOF units continue to operate under their respective parent military services and primarily function as tactical-level support elements for conventional forces. Although Thailand’s national security environment has evolved rapidly, the development of SOF has emphasized quantity over quality, particularly in terms of organizational adaptation to emerging hybrid threats. These threats include traditional and irregular challenges arising from grey-zone activities, coercion over water resources, and transnational crime network issues that conventional security instruments alone cannot adequately address. As the National Security Council identifies the Mekong River as an emerging regional hybrid threat, the current capabilities of Thai SOF appear limited and outdated in effectively addressing such challenges. This study examines Thailand’s evolving national security threats and explores the organizational restructuring required to enhance SOF effectiveness in countering hybrid threats and hybrid warfare. Comparative case studies of the United States, Philippines, and Colombian Special Operations Commands are used to identify lessons learned by SOFs in responding to hybrid threats. Establishing a unified command structure for Thailand’s SOF is imperative, strengthening interoperability and developing it into a strategic instrument.

Department dc:contributor.department

Defense Analysis (DA)

Grantor dc:publisher

Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Satravut, Ammarit

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Borer, Douglas A.
• Stevens, Michael R., Jr.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is reserved by the copyright owner.

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10945/74872

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/74872