 The Tatmadaw's organisational and command structure dramatically changed after the military coup in 1988.In 1990, the country's most senior army officer become a senior general (equivalent to field marshal rank in Western armies) and held the positions of chairman of State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), Prime Minister and Defence Minister, as well as being appointed Commander in Chief of the Defence Services.He thus exercised both political and operational control over the entire country and armed forces.