The Defense Ministry is recruiting “reserve personnel” who do not need to resign from their regular jobs. Private sector workers and freelancers who wish to hold military ranks and serve the nation can check their qualifications and application steps now.
On 18 Feb 2026, the Defense Ministry Spokesperson’s Office Facebook page posted: “Working in the private sector or freelancing but want to have a military rank and help the nation and people—how do you do it?”
It stated that the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defense is recruiting reserve soldiers, surplus soldiers, discharged female soldiers, or the general public to join the reserve personnel of the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defense for 2026, with 12 positions available as follows.
1. Department of Defense Science and Technology (DST) reserve personnel at the commissioned officer level, ranks of Lieutenant Colonel and Lieutenant, totaling 4 positions.
2. Department of Military Industry, Center for Defense Industry and Military Energy (DMI-CDIME), reserve personnel at commissioned officer level, ranks of Lieutenant Colonel and Lieutenant, 1 position; and rank of Sub-Lieutenant, 1 position.
3. Department of Military Energy, Center for Defense Industry and Military Energy (DME-CDIME), reserve personnel at commissioned officer level, rank of Colonel and Commander, 1 position.
4. Secretariat Office, Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defense, reserve personnel at commissioned officer level, ranks of Major and Captain, 1 position; Lieutenant Colonel and Lieutenant, 1 position; and Sub-Lieutenant, 3 positions.
Applicants can apply at any of the four units or at the Department of Defense Personnel, Srisaman Road, Ban Mai Subdistrict, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi Province during office hours, or apply online 24 hours.
For more information, contact the Reserve Forces Division, Reserve Personnel and Conscription Affairs Bureau, Department of Defense Personnel at 0-2560-5384, 06-5828-0932, or inquire via Line Open Chat: RESERVESDMD. More details available on the website.Department of Defense Personnel (click)
For this recruitment, interested individuals do not have to resign and can continue their current jobs as usual. Reserve personnel are those with specialized knowledge or expertise, holding the status of government officials or employees but are not permanent officials or employees of the Defense Ministry. This recruitment brings skilled or experienced individuals into the national reserve system, allowing the military and government to effectively utilize their capabilities when necessary, such as in security, public assistance, disaster relief, and other military or government missions.
Once selected and appointed, individuals will be listed on the unit’s personnel roster for six years and will perform duties when ordered during specified periods each year, such as training, education, or preparedness activities.
However, in urgent national situations like war, mobilization, or disasters requiring additional support, agencies can order reserve personnel to report for duty immediately as needed.
During periods of active duty, reserve personnel receive personal benefits such as:
After completing their assignments, they return to their regular jobs. In summary, they maintain their usual occupations while serving as support personnel for the military and government when called upon.
