Regional Military Commands

   (RMC)

   Before 1988, the Army (Tatmadaw Kyi) conducted its operations on the regional level through nine Regional Level Commands, which after the establishment of the State Law and Order Restoration Council were expanded to 12. At the beginning of the 21st century, the RMC are the Northern Command (Kachin State, headquartered in Myitkyina); Northwestern Command (Sagaing Division, headquartered in Monywa); Northeastern Command (northern Shan State, headquartered in Lashio); Central Command (Mandalay Division, headquartered in Mandalay); Eastern Command (southern Shan State, headquartered in Taunggyi); Triangle Command (eastern Shan State, headquartered in Keng Tung); Western Command (Arakan [Rakhine] and Chin States, headquartered in Sittwe [Sittway]); Southwestern Command (Irrawaddy [Ayeyarwady] Division, headquartered in Bassein [Pathein]); Southern Command (Pegu [Bago] and Magwe [Magway] Divisions, headquartered in Toungoo [Taungoo]); Rangoon (Yangon) Command (Rangoon [Yangon] Division, headquartered in Mingaladon Township); Southeastern Command (Mon and Karen [Kayin] States, headquartered in Moulmein [Mawlamyine]); and the Coastal Region Command (Tenasserim [Tanintharyi] Division, headquartered in Mergui [Myeik]). RMC commanders are of major general (two-star) rank, but at the beginning of the 21st century, they were not included in the State Peace and Development Council junta.