The Ministry of National Defense (MND) today said plans are already in place to procure equipment for military conscripts in phases, following reports that conscripts are unable to complete elements of their training due to lack of equipment.
The one-year military conscription service was reinstated at the start of this year, with the first batch of conscripts already undergoing base training.
Chinese-language media today reported that bases are experiencing an equipment shortage, with fears that training requirements cannot be met.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
The first batch of conscripts is expected to finish 13 weeks of base training by next month, the United Daily News reported.
Infantry operations officials reportedly told legislators that with insufficient equipment, they could not reach training objectives, the media outlet said.
The MND said that soldiers’ equipment is subsequently added to annual budgets for delivery in phases.
Funds would be fairly allocated to ensure the smooth operation of the training program, the ministry said, adding that equipment procurement is already part of the military’s five-year infantry improvement plan.
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