Study Program

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Training curriculum for Royal Initiative Volunteers 904

The Royal Initiative Volunteer Project began as a result of the concern of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Rama X, for the wellbeing and happiness of his people, his desire to bring stability and unity to the nation, and his vision to further King Rama IX’s royal projects to relieve the suffering for the people and develop the country.

The Royal Initiative Volunteer Project was launched on 21 June 2107 at Sukhothai School, Dusit District, Bangkok, as a small starting point, just as one would clean up the surroundings of one’s own house first.

Volunteers can be divided into 3 categories:

Development Volunteers: carry out development work to improve their respective communities, from nature and environmental conservation, to the improvement of public amenities, safety, vocations and health.
Disaster Relief Volunteers: monitor and plan disaster relief strategies for both natural and man-made disasters that will affect the people in the area, and provide relief for victims of floods, storms and fires.
Ad hoc Volunteers: conduct activities at ceremonial events or to receive the King on various occasions, work with relevant government units to facilitate public participation, and prepare pre-event and venue arrangements, as well as restore normalcy to the venue after the event.

Volunteer Training under Royal Initiative

For the Royal Cremation Ceremony of King Rama IX and the Un Ai Rak Winter Fair, approximately 4 million people showed interest in signing up as Ad Hoc Volunteers. It was therefore necessary to select qualified persons to receive training as volunteer leaders, to provide them with skills training, instill a sense of stability in the institutions of nation, religion and monarchy. Training sessions were planned carefully to help participants become partners in the development and protection of the nation, and to become loyal subjects to the throne.

3 tiers of volunteer training:

General curriculum – 7 days
Main curriculum – 6 weeks
Special curriculum – 3 months

The first Main Curriculum training course was conducted from March-April 2019, and was attended by representatives from the four armed forces. It took place at the headquarters of the King’s Close Bodyguards in the Vibhavadi Royal Grounds. The curriculum was vetted by the King, who also funded the renovation of the venue, training costs, outfits and equipment as well as meals throughout the training programme.

Objectives of the training programme:

To enable participants to become trainers within their own military units and designated areas.
To enable participants to become leaders of volunteers so they conduct their activities effectively, to provide advice on volunteer work, and apply this knowledge to provide disaster relief with emphasis on the 4 basic necessities of life, education, medical treatment and vocations.
To enable participants to understand the problems facing the country, to pinpoint problems within each locality, and to provide advice to regional volunteers so the Control Centre can properly analyse the situation and provide direct assistance.
To enable participants to have the knowledge, discipline, character and skills to help others, to become model citizens for the growth of the country.
To enable participants to become trainers for the next generation of volunteers.

Qualifications of participants:

Possess positive attitude towards the country and the monarchy; be willing, respected, selfless, and mindful of the benefit for society.
Officially cleared as not a security threat o the nation.
Approved by superiors to attend the training course, with attendance counting as official duties, and supervisors being allowed to find replacements during their absence.
Possess good health; able to attend the duration of the course; not suffering from chronic diseases; not pregnant.
Considered by superiors as an excellent candidate who will contribute to the growth of the country.

The Main Curriculum is based on a participatory approach, sharing experiences and learning as a team, with practical sessions, learning from experts in their field, over a period of 6 weeks, covering 6 subjects in 462 hours:

General military practices (27 hours) to improve physical strength, understand orders, responsibilities, general military discipline; to learn how to think systematically.
Knowledge training – ideology/monarchy (85 hours) to learn about Thai history especially the contributions of each king from past to present; how they protected the country from threats such as colonialism, the spread of communism during the Cold War, and poverty.
Knowledge on volunteering (80 hours) to learn proper guidelines on volunteer work, to be able to develop personnel to their full potential in effectively carrying out their duties in the three volunteering categories.
Vocational studies – optional (30 hours) with a choice of 1 subject that will help various volunteer activities. Participants will be presented with a certificate upon completion of the course.

Electrician
Electricity lineman
Carpenter
Plumber
Cement mason
Painter
Small machine technician (for agriculture)
Vegetable and fruit carving
Flower arrangement and garland making
Making lotus-shaped flower arrangements
Thai cooking
Thai desserts and snacks
Food preservation and processing

5. Royal Development Principles (90 hours) to understand the 4 basic Royal Development Principles of Understand, Outreach, Development, and King Rama IX’s Sufficiency Economy concept; his development procedure and royal development projects to help ease the suffering of the people.

The principles will help participants analyse and understand the situation, the responsibilities and the vocations, so that the royal development principles can be applied successfully.

6. Field visits (150 hours) to understand the true problems of the people and farmers, how to solve them, and how to apply the knowledge learned to those situations using the Royal Development Principles of King Rama IX; to understand the finer details of practical field work from those with field experience to be able to build on from the past; study visits to the Royal Projects at Chitralada Villa, the Grand Palace, the Sufficiency Economy Model Village at Ban Ang Tabak in Chachoengsao Province the Chang Hua Man Royal Project in Phetchaburi Province, and the Mab Aung Natural Agriculture Centre in Ban Bueng District, Chon Buri Province.

During training, participants will receive volunteer uniforms, a blue cap and yellow scarf which are the Volunteer 904 symbols, and a training handbook. Meals and snacks will also be provided, as well as meals on special occasions and Family Day when family members are allowed to visit participants and join meals. Participants who become ill during the training course will receive royally-bestowed flowers and gifts. His Majesty the King appointed Air Chief Marshal Satitpong Sukvimol, the King’s Principle Private Secretary, to preside at the opening of the course 1/2019, and present certificates and Volunteer 904 training programme emblems to participants.

Meaning of Volunteer 904 training programme emblems:

The Great Crown of Victory refers to the glory and benevolence of His Majesty the King.

The monogram “Wor Por Ror” refers to His Majesty the King.

The left star refers to government officials.

The right star refers to the people.

A single colour refers to unity.

The total meaning is that the king, his government officials and the people are all united as one.

Wings refer to the king’s glory that embraces the nation, bringing prosperity.

The silk sash bearing the words “Good Deeds from the Heart” refers to His Majesty’s desire for everyone to do good.

Upon completion of the training programme, participants will find themselves changed, with a deeper understanding of the concept of Royal Initiative Volunteer as the spirit of goodwill towards fellow human beings, of sacrificing one’s physical, spiritual and mental strength for public benefit without desiring anything in return. It is a spirit imbued with “merit” – peace and the power of goodness – and serves to reduce “ego”.

Participants will be able to transfer this knowledge to train other government officials in their units, the general public in the vicinity of their offices, and various communities. They will also become leaders of volunteers to carry on the vision of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn who is committed to the wellbeing of his people, the stability and unity of the nation, and to carrying on the royal projects and royal vision of King Rama IX in the country’s development. Upon completion of the training programme, participants will find themselves changed, with a deeper understanding of the concept of Royal Initiative Volunteer as the spirit of goodwill towards fellow human beings, of sacrificing one’s physical, spiritual and mental strength for public benefit without desiring anything in return. It is a spirit imbued with “merit” – peace and the power of goodness – and serves to reduce “ego”.

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