Military provinces of Thailand

Military provinces of Thailand (, incorrectly referred to as the "military circles") are subdivisions of the Royal Thai Army. Each military province governs and supports all military units and personnel in its area. Several military provinces are grouped into a military region. A military province can cover one or more civil provinces.
Currently there are 35 military provinces, grouped into 4 military regions in Thailand. 
Map of military provinces of Thailand.
Military provinces in Thailand, according to the 2015 ministerial regulation, can be mapped as follows. Some military provinces cover more than one civil provinces, while many cover only one civil provinces (particularly northern provinces). Each military province is numbered. The first digit denotes the military region in which the military province is located. The second digit is a sequential number 1 to 9 (or 10). As a result, there are no military province 10, 20, 30 and 40.
History.
1948-1965.
From 1897 to 1933, Siam (now Thailand) was divided into 21 civil provinces ("monthons"). Each province covers several civil counties ("changwats"), headed by counts (or governors). Each county contains districts ("amphurs"), which in turns, covers subdistricts ("tambons"). The Government Organisation of Siam Act, 1933 eliminated the existence of monthons. As a result, "changwats" have been referred to as provinces since then.
However, the Royal Thai Army are differently organised. Thailand was divided into military provinces, each of which encompassed many military counties () and units, just like military regions () today. Each military province had several roles, including the recruitment of new soldiers, military justice, national protection and peacekeeping. Military province encompassed many counties (or civil provinces). In 1948, there were five military provinces. Each province contains following counties:
1965-1990.
It was realised in 1966 that the organisation of the army was too centralised, bulky and impractical. The government proposed that the country should be divided into three military regions. Each region covered several military provinces, which, in turns, encompassed many military counties.<ref name="A/008/99">ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, กฎกระทรวง (พ.ศ.๒๕๐๙) ออกตามความในพระราชบัญญัติจัดระเบียบราชการกระทรวงกลาโหม พ.ศ.๒๕๐๓, ตอนที่ ๘, เล่ม ๘๓, ๒๕ มกราคม ๒๕๐๙ (Ministerial Regulations on the Organisation of the Royal Thai Army, 1966)</ref>
1990-2014.
The Royal Thai Army underwent several reorganisations. In 1981, Chon Buri (region 1) and Chiang Mai (region 3) Military Counties was established. Chon Buri Military County covered Chon Buri, Trat and Rayong, while Chiang Mai Military County covered Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Lamphun. Frustrated by the complexities, the government completely rearranged its army into four Military Regions, each region has military provinces as follows
2015-present.
In 2015, a military government led by Prayut Chan-o-cha dissolved all military counties. This resulted in the establishment of many military provinces, covering one or few civil provinces (or counties) to shorten the chain of command. Each military province is allocated its two- or three-digit code, beginning with military region code, followed by the number 1 to 10. It can be observed that the Military Region 2 was completely reorganised into several military provinces. Military Region 3 formerly had 3 military provinces but now have 10 military provinces, most of which cover only one civil province. 
Roles.
In accordance with the ministerial regulations on the roles and coverage of military provinces, military provinces
Naval region.
The Royal Thai Navy has a similar subdivision system. There are three naval regions in Thailand. Each region covers different sections of coastline.