The Royal Thai Army has responded to the Cabinet’s resolution by implementing alternating Work from Home (WFH) and on-site shifts, postponing overseas travel except for essential and necessary missions. The Royal Thai Navy is intensifying energy conservation efforts, while WFH arrangements must not affect core duties.
On 11 Mar 2026 GMT+7, due to unrest in the Middle East potentially affecting global energy markets, the Royal Thai Army’s Personnel Department has set guidelines for personnel deployment alongside energy-saving measures. These align with the Cabinet’s resolution on 10 Mar 2026 GMT+7 and aim to maintain operational efficiency continuously amid the energy crisis.
Regarding personnel deployment, commanders and those in key positions will continue regular on-site duty (Work at Office) at their units.
Personnel outside those key positions may have shifts alternating between on-site duty and Work from Home, as appropriate, provided this does not affect official duties.
Personnel working from home must check in via designated applications or communication systems at 08:30 and 13:00 hrs, remain reachable during official hours, and be prepared to return immediately if necessary.
Concurrently, the Army has introduced energy-saving measures at both individual and unit levels. Individuals are encouraged to reduce energy use at home and consider public transportation to minimize fuel consumption when travel is necessary.
Within official premises, lighting and air conditioning should be used only as needed, matching the number of personnel present. Air conditioners should be set no lower than 26°C. Online meetings are encouraged when appropriate. Personnel should be consolidated in shared spaces to reduce energy use. Overseas travel should be avoided or postponed unless the mission is critical and necessary.
These guidelines support the government’s policy for efficient national energy management while maintaining personnel readiness and continuous Army operations to fully support national security and public welfare.
Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiyaphan, Navy spokesperson, stated that due to escalating conflict in the Middle East impacting the global economy and energy supply chains, the government has established measures to mitigate potential effects and requested serious cooperation from public and private sectors to save energy. The Minister of Defence has instructed all Defence Ministry units to use energy efficiently to reduce fuel and electricity consumption and ease public budget burdens.
The Navy immediately adopted these policies by strengthening existing energy-saving measures to produce tangible results quickly and align with government directives. Key points include controlling fuel use for non-urgent missions, reducing official vehicle trips, promoting teleconferencing instead of travel, canceling or postponing non-urgent activities with high energy consumption, and strictly managing electricity use—such as setting air conditioner temperatures per government guidelines, switching off unused equipment, and maintaining electrical devices to minimize energy loss, with strict oversight to ensure compliance.
Additionally, the Navy has considered Work from Home arrangements for administrative, analytical, and managerial tasks that can be performed via government information systems. This aims to reduce travel, fuel use, and overall energy consumption, provided it does not affect core missions, particularly combat readiness and military operations.
“The Navy confirms it will implement these measures seriously to maximize state resource efficiency while maintaining combat readiness and national security capabilities, and contribute to strengthening the country’s energy security amid current global volatility,” Rear Admiral Parach said.