Kyaw Htin
Encyclopedia
General
Thura Kyaw Htin is the former Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Union of Myanmar and a highly decorated soldier.
. He served with Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
based in Ahlone, Rangoon
. On 9 September 1944, he attended the 4th intake of Officer Training School in Mingalardon, Rangoon
. After the graduation, he was posted as platoon commander to 4th Burma Rifle Battalion
. During the fascist revolution against Japan, Kyaw Htin served in Patriotic Burma Force (PBF) as platoon commander for 104th Infantry Battalion. At the end of Second World War, Patriotic Burma Force was abolished on October, 1945 due to re-organisation, Kyaw Htin returned to his native town, Prome.
On 29 January 1946, Kyaw Htin re-enlisted as a private
in 4th Burma Rifle and rose through the ranks to Corporal
, Sergeant
and Platoon Commander. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major
on 15 February 1946 and to the rank of Second Lieutenant
on 20 September 1948. He was then transferred to 3rd Burma Rifle as platoon commander. Kyaw Htin was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
on 20 March 1949 and transferred back to 4th Burma Rifle as platoon commander on 22 March 1949. He was awarded with Thuya medal, prestigious award for gallantry and bravery in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of Myanmar Armed Forces on 9 June 1950. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 6 December 1950 and served as Company Commander
.
Kyaw Htin was transferred to Reinforce Battalion
under Southern Regional Military Command on 23 November, 1953 and became acting battalion commander on 26 May 1955. He was then transferred to 10th Infantry
Brigade
on 9 March 1957. He was promoted to the rank of Major
on 28 May 1957. He was then transferred to 1st Chin Rifle Battalion
on 31 January 1959 as acting battalion commander. On 28 May 1962, Kyaw Htin became Lieutenant Colonel
and became official commanding officer
of 1st Chin Rifle Battalion
.
Kyaw Htin was transferred to South Eastern Regional Military Command Headquarters
as Colonel General Staff (GSO1) on 7 December 1963. On 19 September 1964, Kyaw Htin was posted to Military Operations Headquarters within the Ministry of Defense as Colonel General Staff (GSO1). He also became Deputy Director for Directorate of Armor and Artillery at the same time.
On 18 May 1966, he was posted to 77th Light Infantry
Division
(LID) as Deputy Commander. While serving with 77th LID, he was promoted to the rank of full Colonel
. He was the posted to 99th Light Infantry
Division
as Division Commander on 12 August 1968, as Commander for Yangon Regional Military Command on 3 July 1969.
He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
and became Vice Chief of Staff
(Army) on 8 March 1974. Kyaw Htin was promoted to the rank of Lt-General on 6 March 1976 and became Commander in Chief of Tatmadaw. On 6 March 1977, Kyaw Htin was promoted to General
and subsequently given the post of Minister for Defence while still serving as Commander in Chief of Tatmadaw.
On 9 November 1981, Kyaw Htin became Deputy Prime Minister
and simultaneously serving as Commander in Chief of Tatmadaw. Kyaw Htin became Minister of Defense on 4 November 1985 and step down as Commander in Chief. General
Saw Maung
succeed him as Commander in Chief of Tatmadaw. Kyaw Htin honorably resigned from the Army on 30 November 1985.
Division Management Committee. He then served in various political posts within BSPP.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Thura Kyaw Htin is the former Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Union of Myanmar and a highly decorated soldier.
Military career
Kyaw Htin enlisted the then Burma Defense Army (BDA) on 8 May 1943 as privatePrivate (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
. He served with Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
based in Ahlone, Rangoon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
. On 9 September 1944, he attended the 4th intake of Officer Training School in Mingalardon, Rangoon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
. After the graduation, he was posted as platoon commander to 4th Burma Rifle Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
. During the fascist revolution against Japan, Kyaw Htin served in Patriotic Burma Force (PBF) as platoon commander for 104th Infantry Battalion. At the end of Second World War, Patriotic Burma Force was abolished on October, 1945 due to re-organisation, Kyaw Htin returned to his native town, Prome.
On 29 January 1946, Kyaw Htin re-enlisted as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in 4th Burma Rifle and rose through the ranks to Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
, Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
and Platoon Commander. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
Sergeants major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers...
on 15 February 1946 and to the rank of Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on 20 September 1948. He was then transferred to 3rd Burma Rifle as platoon commander. Kyaw Htin was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 20 March 1949 and transferred back to 4th Burma Rifle as platoon commander on 22 March 1949. He was awarded with Thuya medal, prestigious award for gallantry and bravery in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of Myanmar Armed Forces on 9 June 1950. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 6 December 1950 and served as Company Commander
Company Commander
A company commander is the commanding officer of a company, a military unit which typically consists of 100 to 350 soldiers, often organized into three or four smaller units called platoons....
.
Kyaw Htin was transferred to Reinforce Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
under Southern Regional Military Command on 23 November, 1953 and became acting battalion commander on 26 May 1955. He was then transferred to 10th Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
Brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
on 9 March 1957. He was promoted to the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
on 28 May 1957. He was then transferred to 1st Chin Rifle Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
on 31 January 1959 as acting battalion commander. On 28 May 1962, Kyaw Htin became Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and became official commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of 1st Chin Rifle Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
.
Kyaw Htin was transferred to South Eastern Regional Military Command Headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
as Colonel General Staff (GSO1) on 7 December 1963. On 19 September 1964, Kyaw Htin was posted to Military Operations Headquarters within the Ministry of Defense as Colonel General Staff (GSO1). He also became Deputy Director for Directorate of Armor and Artillery at the same time.
On 18 May 1966, he was posted to 77th Light Infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
Division
Division
-Mathematics:*Division , the inverse of multiplication*Division , digital implementation of mathematical division*Division, in relational algebra-Science:*Cell division, the process in which biological cells multiply...
(LID) as Deputy Commander. While serving with 77th LID, he was promoted to the rank of full Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. He was the posted to 99th Light Infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
Division
Division
-Mathematics:*Division , the inverse of multiplication*Division , digital implementation of mathematical division*Division, in relational algebra-Science:*Cell division, the process in which biological cells multiply...
as Division Commander on 12 August 1968, as Commander for Yangon Regional Military Command on 3 July 1969.
He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
and became Vice Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
(Army) on 8 March 1974. Kyaw Htin was promoted to the rank of Lt-General on 6 March 1976 and became Commander in Chief of Tatmadaw. On 6 March 1977, Kyaw Htin was promoted to General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and subsequently given the post of Minister for Defence while still serving as Commander in Chief of Tatmadaw.
On 9 November 1981, Kyaw Htin became Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
and simultaneously serving as Commander in Chief of Tatmadaw. Kyaw Htin became Minister of Defense on 4 November 1985 and step down as Commander in Chief. General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Saw Maung
Saw Maung
Senior General Saw Maung was the founder of the State Peace and Development Council in Myanmar. He served as their Chairman from 1988 to 1992.-Early life and career:...
succeed him as Commander in Chief of Tatmadaw. Kyaw Htin honorably resigned from the Army on 30 November 1985.
Political career
Kyaw Htin joined Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) in 1969 as Chairman of YangonYangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
Division Management Committee. He then served in various political posts within BSPP.
Personal life
On February 13, 1951, Kyaw Htin, then 25 years old, married Khin Win Myint in Pyinmana and had eight children together. After his resignation from the Army in 1985, he lived the rest of his life at his residence in Yangon. During his retirement, he did not interfere with politics. On January 26, 1996, at the age of 70, he died at his Yangon residence.See also
- Military of MyanmarMilitary of MyanmarThe Myanmar Armed Forces, officially known as Tatmadaw is the military organization of Burma, also known as Myanmar. The armed forces are administered by the Ministry of Defence and are composed of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force...
- Myanmar Army