Senior Colonel (WAC) Khunying Orachorn Kongsompong Biography

1. During Military Service

• 1958: Acting Second Lieutenant, Adjutant General, Royal Thai Army Signal Department
  and the first female news anchor of Channel 5 Television Network (owned by Royal Thai Army)
• Local and international news editor
  (after marrying Second Lieutenant (rank at the time) Sundhara Kongsompong)
• English language teacher, RTA Army Training Command
• Language Teaching Program Supervisor, RTA Army Training Command; and coordinating with JUSMAG for Army Officers who were granted scholarships abroad
• General Education Division Supervisor, Army Aviation School, Army Aviation Center (Lopburi)
• Temporary duty at Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) for self-development and self-protection section, of which the government urged to stimulate the development plan and had 6 ministries working together at ISOC HQ. Village competitions were held where she was an awarding committee for the price of 1 million Baht to the winning village in provincial level.

2. Charity Work (in parallel with military work)

When she was in the position of Vice President to Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters Wives’ Association (1987-1990), acting President, Senior Col. Orachorn focused on moral uplifting and giving support to the soldiers’ families. Vocational trainings were offered to the housewives to enable them for side jobs, utilizing their time to the utmost, hence, earning extra income. Scholarships were also given to the forces’ children with good grades.

When Sen. Col. Orachorn was the President to Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters Wives’ Association (1990-1992), she had enabled the Wives Association of the Ministry of Defense, Thai Army Wives Association, Thai Navy Wives Association, Air Force Wives Association, and Police wives Association to work together. During those years, all the military forces and police forces were firmly united to help those in need with great determination, in Bangkok and provincial areas. Some examples are the poppy flowers project of which the profits contributed to the War Veteran Family Assist Foundation, and selling lotus flowers on Visakha Bucha (Vesak) Day to support the Center for Promotion of Buddhism; Somdet Phra Sangharaja Chao Krommaluang Vajirañāṇasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand at the time, was the President. At that time, the lotus flower project was not yet well known. Sen. Col. Orachorn had initiated the promotion by broadcasting on public radio (“Khuikan Thi Chan Ruean” talk show on FM 919), military/police radio channels, including writing columns on newspapers. Another initiation from Sen. Col. Orachorn was to have the trained wives arrange the lotuses on pedestal trays which needed some artistic skills and creativity. The pedestal trays marketing had brought millions of Baht and was proven to be more efficient than selling individual lotus for 5 Baht each.

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Promptly visited to the flood area where Gay typhoon hit, handed out survival bags to the flood victims, and followed up on the recovery process, including the rebuilding stage (accommodations, schools, agricultural lands) for 3-4 years consecutively

• Organized Bangkok-Tak rally for the “Green Isan” Project
• Organized concert for “Green Isan” Project; the project that was primarily initiated by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej
• Contributed to The Kidney Foundation of Thailand, hence, received the emblem golden S.W. (abbreviated royal name of Sangwan) badge from the hands of the revered Royal Grandmother, Somdech Phra Srinagarindra Boromarajajonani.
• Contributed to the Thai Red Cross Fair since 1958 and was bestowed a Red Cross Medal of Merit and First Class (Gold Medal) of Red Cross Medal of Appreciation from Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

1. As Senior Colonel (WAC)

• Maintain discipline and strictly adhere to military traditions
• Value seniority and uphold fraternity
• Know your subordinates well, hence, appropriate work assignment
• Uphold the values of honesty and loyalty to the nation, religion, and the monarchy for life
• Work with well-planned objectives and procedures: gathering information; following up on process; supervising and working closely with the subordinates; solving problems or adjusting the plans as appropriate in order to achieve goals and commanders’ intents

2. As civilian

While holding the position of the Civil Vice President and President of Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters Wives’ Association for 5 years (1987-1992), the following principles were observed by Sen Col. Orachorn in working with civilians:

• Be modest and humble
• Respect others
• Memorize names of people you have met
• Aware that every accomplishment is an outcome of everyone’s involvement
• Believe that charity works must be done with sacrifice and sincerity without expecting anything in return
• Be transparent and preserve one’s dignity

• Promoted to the rank of Senior Colonel (WAC) (the highest rank for female officers at that time)
• Awarded The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand, The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, and The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
• Be appreciative of colleagues and subordinates visits even after her retirement