| Unit Name: | Special Operations Battalion, King's Guard |
| Native Name: | กองพันปฏิบัติการพิเศษรักษาพระองค์ กรมรบพิเศษที่ 3 รักษาพระองค์ |
| Dates: | Special Operations Battalion, King's Guard (2019 – present) Special Operations Battalion (? – 2019) Special Operations Division (2007 – ?) Special Operations Company (1986 – 2007) Special Operations Task Unit (1984 – 86) Assault Team 81 (1981 – 84) |
| Country: |  |
| Allegiance: | Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command |
| Type: | King's Guard Special forces Special mission unit |
| Role: | Black operation Close-quarters battle Counterterrorism Direct action Executive protection Hostage rescue Irregular warfare Long-range penetration Manhunt Special operations |
| Size: | Battalion |
| Anniversaries: | 24 July |
| Command Structure: | 3rd Special Forces Regiment, King's Guard Counter Terrorist Operations Center Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters |
| Garrison: | Fort Airavata, Khao Sam Yot, Mueang Lopburi, Lopburi Province |
| Nickname: | ฉ.ก.90 (Task Force 90) กองพันปีศาจ (The demon battalion) Unsung Heroes |
| Motto: | กล้าหาญ, เด็ดเดี่ยว, รวดเร็ว ("Brave, Steady, Prompt") |
| Battles: | |
| Notable Commanders: | Thanasak Patimaprakorn |
The Special Operations Battalion, King's Guard, 3rd Special Forces Regiment (Thai: กองพันปฏิบัติการพิเศษรักษาพระองค์ กรมรบพิเศษที่ 3 รักษาพระองค์) (พัน.ปพ.รอ.รพศ.3 รอ.) also known as Task Force 90 (Thai: ฉ.ก.90) is the tier 1 special forces of the Royal Thai Army (RTA). It is currently part of the 3rd Special Forces Regiment King's Guard (Airborne), Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command (RTASWC).The Task Force 90 has been sometimes referred to as the Thai Delta Force[1]
The Task Force 90 (TF90) was founded by the 1st Division, King's Guard in 1981. In the early stages of creating the TF90, 1st and 2nd generation (42 men per generation) was trained by the British Special Air Service (SAS) and 3rd generation (40 men) was trained by Sayeret Matkal. After that, personnel from all three generations took the knowledge gained from the training to train and develop the next generation of personnel. Currently, TF90 regularly trains with tier 1 special forces units of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), and Royal Thai Police (RTP), as well as foreign special forces. Most of which are US Special Forces, the training will focus on crisis management responding to the terrorist event for tactical operations counterterrorism and hostage rescue. The unit was promoted to King's Guard in 2019.[2] [3]
Although much of the training and recruitment is classified, there are some requirements and training exercises that are now public knowledge. Those who will have the right to be selected to take the test to be in the TF90 unit or not, applicants must be a member of the RTASWC and must have passed a counterterrorism course and hostage rescue course. Applicants must undergo both physically and mentally tests, anyone who passes the test will be admitted to an intensive training course. Like all tier 1 special forces units that have an extremely intensive and high-risk training schedule, there can be serious injuries or may even lead to death. If anyone passes the training, they will be inducted into the TF90.
Task Force 90 is a well-known special mission unit tasked with black operation, capture or kill high-value targets, counterterrorism, direct action, executive protection, hostage rescue, irregular warfare, and special operations that are extremely high-risk and dangerous, usually provided directly from the 3rd Special Forces Regiment King's Guard (Airborne) and when terrorism occurs in the Army's area of responsibility, the chain of command will be transferred to the Counter Terrorist Operations Center (CTOC), Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters (formerly from the Royal Thai Army HQ.) [4] [5]