Difficulties in military recruitment have led President William Lai (賴清德) to announce increased allowances for voluntary military service personnel and combat troops. Beginning on Tuesday, the allowance for lower-ranking soldiers and enlisted soldiers is to rise from NT$10,000 to NT$15,000, demonstrating substantial care for our nation’s military personnel.
Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) told the legislature that the increase reflects the government’s care for soldiers and officers. The biggest increase would be for lower-ranking personnel. The combat unit allowance increase would mainly target soldiers in more demanding combat roles, who would see an increase from NT$5,000 to NT$12,000. This new policy aims to attract outstanding talent to join the military and encourage them to serve long-term.
As for military personnel who are not eligible for this wave of allowance increases, but still require support — including specialized personnel in fields like combat air traffic control units, electronic reconnaissance and cyberwarfare — there might be a second wave of compensation adjustments on the horizon, which would be announced upon approval by the Executive Yuan.
With the enemy threat growing day by day, combat readiness tasks for military personnel are becoming increasingly arduous. Additionally, competition among industries to recruit talent — combined with the impact of low birthrates — has led to a lack of willingness among young people to enlist in the military. All of these factors impact combat readiness. The government has been working to promote improvements in the treatment and benefits of military personnel for some time. To strengthen national defense and maintain security in the Taiwan Strait, enhancing military benefits is not only a short-term solution to address the decline in personnel — it is also a long-term investment in talent. This latest measure would bring multiple benefits to the military, talent stability and improved efficiency.
The Supreme Prosecutor’s Office recently said that the number of criminal cases involving military personnel — including those related to contravening duty and discipline — has steadily climbed each year for the past decade. Moreover, the targets of infiltration by Chinese organizations have expanded from high-ranking officers to include lower-ranking, non-commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers.
Defense and combat readiness are matters that impact the entire nation. The Ministry of National Defense must have the power to move citizens’ hearts and minds to establish a sense of honor, allowing military service to become a source of great pride. Voluntary service personnel are the backbone of our military — thus, we must work to cultivate their sense of honor and responsibility.
Aside from improving treatment and benefits, and strengthening the motivation of the good men and women who serve our country, we must also cultivate advanced skills and impart deeper knowledge within the military. Military service should become a platform for honing skills and fostering talents — much like a university or vocational school. Not only would voluntary service personnel be eager to serve, but even conscripts would be enthusiastic about joining the military.
To counter Chinese espionage and improve personnel in the military, military compensation and troop morale must be addressed simultaneously. It is particularly important that the momentum behind the military’s innovation and sense of heritage be recovered — soldiers will find true courage and determination only when they understand who they are fighting for and why.
Chao Hsuey-wen is an assistant professor.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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