View of Building 5

Building 5

Building 5 is the location of Battalion 1 and the Cadet Regiment Head Office. It was built by Ear-Nguan Thanjongmat Co., Ltd. in 1993 at a cost of over 50 million baht (according to the plaque on the first floor of the Building 5). There are 4 floors, 80 rooms and 12 bathrooms. Each bedroom has three beds, two ceiling fans and four desks with lights. Each bedroom has three cadets: one from the first, second and third year each, but fourth-year cadets are separated
(they live together) and their bedrooms have four beds.

On the second floor there is a big living room with one satellite television, a DVD player and stereo surround system. So, in their free time cadets usually relax in the living room. Sometimes it’s used as cinema or for shows, for example the Three - Anchor Band mini concert etc. Not only a living room but the second floor also has a Cadet Regiment Commander Room.

On the third floor is a Buddhism room and cadets always use it to pay homage to the Lord Buddha Spirit. Building 5 is a very nice place. It's near the Chao Phraya River. So, in panoramic view you can see the Phra Samut Chedi [a temple, Ed.], the Chao Phraya suspension bridge and view of merchant ships, fishing vessels or sailboats. In the evening, the sunset will impress your heart. For all Naval Cadets, 4 years life in RTNA has a lot of memories. So, every cadet loves this building. They hope Building 5 will be invulnerable until hell freezes over.

 

Commander

Naval Cadet Regiment

Captain Jongkon Meesawut

Detail Officer Commander Ardthasit

Tactical Action Officer Commander Apichat Kaewduangthian

Logistic Officer Commander Pirot Inthaiwong

Battalion 1

Commander Warodom Jiarakun

Lieutenant-Commander Ronnayut Osathanon

Rank & Duty Reference from : http://navy.in.th/navyterm.php

Interview

Lieutenant- Commander Attasit Wongpaibul is the commander of Battalion 1, the Royal Thai Naval Cadet Regiment. Today, our team has a great time meeting him. These are the details of the conversation of Larb Saeb and him.

Larbsaeb: Hello!! Lieutenant-Commander Attasit Wongpaibul.

Lieutenant-Commander Attasit: Hello.

Larbsaeb: Could you introduce yourself to everyone?

Lieutenant-Commander Attasit: OK. My name’s Lieutenant- Commander Attasit Wongpaibul. I’m a commander of Battalion1, the Royal Thai Naval Cadet Regiment.

Larbsaeb: We’re fourth-year cadets. Now, we’re working on our English senior project and our topic is building 5 of the Royal Thai Naval Cadet Regiment.

Lieutenant-Commander Attasit: You’re welcome. What do you want to know?

Larbsaeb: Umm…What’s the goal of Battalion 1?

Lieutenant-Commander Attasit: Battalion 1, our mission is to improve cadets' discipline. The location of Battalion 1 is the first floor of building 5, near the Royal Thai Naval Cadet Regiment Headquarters.

Larbsaeb: What do you know about the history of building 5?

Lieutenant-Commander Attasit: When I was a Cadet, our barracks were only 4 buildings and very old, more than 40 years. There was no building 5. There was a grass field. Building 5 was built in 1993 to replace our old building. Newer, more modern and larger than the 4 buildings that I ever stayed in.

Larbsaeb: Newer, more modern and larger…..urr…What does it mean?

Lieutenant-Commander Attasit: In 1993 building 5 was just built. So, it was the newest of all cadet barracks. There was fitness room, computer room and living room for watching TV, everything in that period was very modern.

Larbsaeb: What’s your opinion about building 5 and naval cadets?

Lieutenant-Commander Attasit: Nowadays, cadets spend their life in modern barracks, most in building 5. So, they’ll have a choice to do a lot of activities such as weight training, watching TV or video. Their life is more comfortable than mine, 10 years ago everything was lacking. So, I hope they’ll appreciate the Naval Academy, try to take care and keep building 5 like their home. I hope building 5 will be invulnerable until hell freezes over.

Larbsaeb: Thank you for your answers today, Lieutenant- Commander Attasit. You’re our kindest commander.

Lieutenant-Commander Attasit: Hahaha…Ok, Ok. You’re welcome.

Naval Cadets Daily Routine at Building 5

Cadets have marching every morning

MORNING

Naval Cadets always wake up at 0530 a.m. (Reveille).

And then, they’ll fold their blankets and have a row call at the Building 5 grounds.

From 0545 to 0645 a.m., they have Physical training (PT) and exercise.

After 0645 a.m. is personal time, but the Plebes (first year cadets), they must clean the bathroom and the toilet every day in the morning.

At 0715 a.m., they have breakfast.


EVENING

At 0330 p.m., Naval Cadets will come back to Building 5 after their class.

At 0415 p.m., row call for evening exercise (jogging, swimming, tennis etc.) or personal activities.

At 0630 p.m., they have dinner.

From 0700 to 0910 p.m., they’ll do their homework or review the subjects they will study the next morning and afternoon.

At 0915 p.m., they have a row call to pray and explain about what they should do the next morning etc.

At 0930 p.m., the Plebes will clean the bathrooms.

From 1000 to 1055 p.m., is personal time.

At 1100 p.m., lights out.

Interesting Facts about Building 5

5120 Room 5120 on the first floor of building 5 is used to operate, communicate with the Watch Officer and other people. A cadet who's on duty must work in this room every day.

Vesatri Bronze Bell the Bronze bell of building 5 looks beautiful and classic, the bronze bell of H.T.M.S. Vesatri. She was a warship of King Rama 5 in 1885. After she was sunk at Port Swetenham Pier, Malayu in 1890, the Royal Thai Navy gave the Vesatri Bronze bell to the Naval Academy. Nowadays, the Vesatri Bronze bell is set at building 5 and every cadet always calls it "the building 5 Bronze bell".

A Nurse Ghost In our Battalion, Building 5 has one woman, but she doesn't breathe. Yes, we’re talking about the Spirit of a Mystery Ghost. Many years ago, we heard her story. She was a nurse. She was a Naval Cadet’s girlfriend. She killed herself near Building 5. Nowadays, her spirit still waits for her boyfriend.

Somebody saw her spirit. He said that he heard a strange sound like a whisper on the third floor one midnight. When he went there, there wasn't anybody. Suddenly, he saw a woman; she was in a nurse uniform. Her face was pale. She had long straight hair and no black eyes. Her white eyes were pale. She cried and screamed.

Sometimes, after lights out, if you're still awake, you may see a woman ghost on the third floor.

Ciuri Ciuri - Roy Paci & Aretuska