'Flabby' Thai army trims surplus

'Flabby' Thai army trims surplus

BANGKOK (Reuters): Thailand's army chief said on Friday that due to impending budget cuts the once powerful but now flabby army had begun trimming surplus manpower.

Army commander-in-chief Gen. Surayudh Julanond said voluntary retirement schemes had been offered to senior officers with the rank of general or colonel and without specific duties.

"I am fully aware that the scheme to reduce the surplus of officers will demoralize personnel and discourage them. But I decided to do it now in order to resolve a long-standing problem," he told reporters.

The army is about 250,000-strong while the navy and air force each have about half the army's strength. Military sources say there are some 3,000 generals and 10,000 colonels in the army, many without specific duties.