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Commander-in-Chief of the Army
ကာကွယ်ရေးဦးစီးချုပ်(ကြည်
Army Flag of Myanmar
Flag of the Myanmar Army
Soe Win
Incumbent
Vice-Senior General Soe Win
since 1 April 2011
Flag of Myanmar Myanmar Army
Reports to Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
Appointer President of Myanmar
Term length No fixed length
Precursor Vice Chief of Staff (Army)
Formation 4 January 1948

The Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Army is the highest ranking military officer of the Myanmar Army. Up until 1990, Myanmar Armed Forces has Chief of Staff system and Myanmar Army was led by Vice Chief of Staff (Army). A new system was introduced in 1990 during Armed Forces reorganisation and all three branches of Armed Forces are now led by the Commander-in-Chief.[1] The Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Army also traditionally serves as Deputy Commander-in-Chief.[2]

List of chiefs[]

Vice Chief of Staff (1948–1990)[]

Vice Chief of Staff Took office Left office Time in office Notes
1Doe, SawBrigadier general Saw Kyar Doe4 January 194831 July 1948209 daysKaren Officer, then named "Deputy Chief of Army staff. Was replaced with Ne Win in August 1948. So Kya Doe moved to the post of Chief of Operation but forced to retire due to civil war with Karen
2Win, NeBrigadier general Ne Win
(1910–2002)
1 August 19481 February 1949184 daysMember of Thirty Comrades, Became Chief of General Staff in February 1949. Later became President and Chairman of Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) till July 1988
3Gyi, AungBrigadier general Aung Gyi
(1919–2012)
28 April 19597 February 19633 years, 184 daysPromoted from Colonel General Staff in April 1959 as Vice Chief Staff (Army) but resigned in February 1963 and was imprisoned few times. First Chairman of NLD but left after few months in December 1988
4Yu, SanBrigadier general San Yu
(1918–1996)
9 February 196320 April 19729 years, 71 daysLater became Chief of Defence Staff in April 1972 // then Became Secretary of Council of State in March 1974 President
5
Tin Oo
Oo, TinBrigadier general Tin Oo
(born 1927)
20 April 19721 March 19741 year, 315 daysSucceeded San Yu as Chief of Defence Staff in 1974 but dismissed two years later and imprisoned for alleged holding of information in coup attempt next year, later founded NLD with Suu Kyi and Aung Gyi and became Vice-Chairman of National League for Democracy and chairman when Aung Gyi left. House arrest for few times and became Vice Chairman of NLD again and later Patron of NLD
6Htin, KyawBrigadier general Kyaw Htin
(1925–1996)
2 March 19746 March 19762 years, 5 daysLater became Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister // Briefly became Joint General Secretary of BSPP in 1988 July- September
7Ko, AyeLieutenant general Aye Ko
(1921–2006)
2 April 19767 August 19815 years, 154 daysLater became BSPP general secretary and then Vice President
8Ye, TunLieutenant general Tun Ye7 August 198121 July 19831 year, 348 daysRetired from Army in 1983 at age 60 and became Member of Council of State till 1988. Then became general secretary and then Chairman of National Unity Party which was re-incarnation of BSPP
9Maung, SawLieutenant general Saw Maung
(1928–1997)
21 July 19834 November 19852 years, 106 daysBecame Chief of Defence Staff in November 1985 // later promoted to Senior General, coup in 1988 and formed State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
10
Than Shwe
Shwe, ThanLieutenant general Than Shwe
(born 1933)
4 November 198518 March 19904 years, 134 daysBecame Commander in Chief of Tatmadaw in 1992// later promoted to Senior General and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)

Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Army (1990–present)[]

Commander-in-Chief Took office Left office Time in office Notes
1
Than Shwe
Shwe, ThanSenior General Than Shwe
(born 1933)
18 March 199022 April 19922 years, 35 days.
2
Maung Aye
Aye, MaungVice Senior General Maung Aye
(born 1937)
22 April 199231 March 201118 years, 343 dayslater promoted to Vice Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)
3
Soe Win
Win, SoeVice-Senior General Soe Win
(born 1960)
1 April 2011Incumbent13 years, 255 days.

See also[]

References[]

  1. Selth, Andrew (2002): Burma's Armed Forces: Power Without Glory, Eastbridge. ISBN 1-891936-13-1
  2. Maung Aung Myoe (1999). Building the Tatmadaw. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 73. ISBN 9780731527427. 
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