Hundreds of young men gathered early one recent Thursday morning at the Central Westgate mall in Nonthaburi, on the outskirts of Bangkok, to participate in Thailand’s annual military draft lottery. The conscription process, long established in the country, requires men who turn 21 to either volunteer for military service or enter a lottery where drawing a red card mandates two years in the armed forces, while a black card grants exemption.

The draft remains a contentious issue despite heightened nationalism following recent border conflicts. On Tuesday, Thailand’s Constitutional Court upheld the legality of the conscription system in a decision closely observed across the country. The military, alongside the monarchy, continues to wield significant political influence, having staged multiple coups in recent decades.

At the lottery event, men stepped forward to select a card from small tubes resembling straws filled with red or black cards. Reactions from family and friends ranged from cheers to visible distress. Among those drafted was Patchaya Tharongphon, 23, a freelance event planner and father who expressed apprehension about leaving behind his young daughter. He was assigned to two years of service in the Navy but said he intended to view the opportunity positively, acknowledging the job’s benefits and steady income for his family.

Others voiced frustration or dramatic disappointment upon drawing red cards. Volunteering to serve shortens mandatory enlistment, with high school graduates serving one year and college graduates six months. Wuthichai Sonthana, 23, who recently volunteered, cited the brevity of the commitment and the desire to move forward with his life as his reasons.

The military reported a 22 percent increase in volunteers over the past year, nearing 50,000 men. Analysts attribute this partly to economic challenges; conscripts receive a monthly salary of about 11,000 baht ($340) plus food, housing, and medical care. “Both patriotism and the economy influenced this year’s numbers,” noted independent military observer Analayo Korsakul. He added that conscription provides financial security during uncertain times but also highlighted the broader implication for Thailand’s aging population and economic productivity.

Conscription has faced longstanding criticism due to reports of widespread abuse within military training, including hazing, physical punishment, and sexual abuse. Human rights organizations have documented multiple deaths linked to mistreatment between 2015 and 2024. Military officials acknowledge these concerns and have pledged reforms, including prohibiting excessive disciplinary measures and prosecuting offenders under civilian law—a measure enforced since 2023. Nonetheless, critics also highlight practices such as using conscripts as personal servants and laborers on military-owned enterprises.

Col. Chatchawarn Angwanisakul, overseeing the lottery at the mall, recognized the flaws but described ongoing reform efforts as “slow but underway.” Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers continue to call for increased transparency in military budgeting and question the necessity and scale of annual conscription quotas.

Advocates for ending the draft argue that transitioning to a fully volunteer-based military could foster a more specialized force and reduce economic disruption. At the lottery, some participants expressed acceptance of their fate regardless of the outcome. Kitinan Binkareem, 22, an animal caretaker, stated he viewed the result as guiding his life path. After drawing a black card, he was relieved to avoid conscription, free to continue his civilian work.