In addition to taking a physical fitness test, army chiefs and officials will now be required to take an English competency test, according to Army Chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart, in a meeting of officials of the Royal Thai Army’s organic units on Tuesday, July 4.

This announcement came after an order by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha during the 12th Economic and Social Development Plan and Thailand’s future at Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi, that military officers must be able to pass English competency test.

He also explained that any recruitment test for civil servants from now on, will include a mandatory English language test.

PM Prayuth explained the importance of the English language saying that all official documents should have Thai and English versions respectively. “It will show the development and be well-informed. At least it [an English document] can help about the literacy rate. I don’t want others to be dumb like me,” he explained.

Most documents, which include visa documents for expats, are mostly in the Thai language, making applicants, who do not have liaison officers, a tad bit difficult.

Source: Thai Visa