Two Army officers (a company commander and a platoon leader) committed suicide last week. The news shocked the whole society. We couldn't help but ask, "What has happened to the military?"
It is widely believed that military officers who have undergone harsh training in military academies and other defense agencies are physically fit and mentally mature, ready to take the reins of the country when the war bell rings. They are taught to kill the enemy, not themselves.
After serving for sixteen years in the Army, the author of this article has been promoted to lieutenant colonel from the ranks. In the past, it was not unusual to hear that some GIs took their lives when they were serving in the Army, but it seldom happened to officers. However, in recent years, an increasing number of officers have been unable to cope with the pressure of their work and chosen to take the drastic measure of ending their lives.
Speedy democratization has brought change to many areas of Taiwanese society, and the military is no exception. The once fearsome military is now under the strict supervision of the mass media and other civilian organizations (the Legislative Yuan being the most notable).
In a democracy, the principle of civilian superiority over the military is strictly observed. Military observers in this state, unlike their counterparts from old times, are more than willing to operate under this framework. However, inappropriate intervention and illegal lobbying from the outside world have made the job of today's commanding officers more difficult.
On the one hand, basic-level commanders are responsible for the training and maintenance of discipline in their units. The training should be harsh and tough and the discipline should be strict, to ensure that our soldiers are ready to launch a counter-attack against an invading enemy at any time. On the other hand, commanding officers are asked by their superiors to be kind and lenient to their charges so that the draftees, who are not motivated to join the Army, can soon adapt themselves to a "pressure-free" military life.
It is not difficult to imagine what a pressure-free military life could be. In the wake of a number of training-related casualties and abuse-related deaths, many officers have been reprimanded, disciplined and even court-martialed. In order to meet the demands of high-ranking officers and make sure that they won't be held accountable for any misconduct in their command, young officers today have no choice but to abdicate their authority.
The military is a very unique profession. In his book The Soldier and the State, Samuel Huntington gave a very appropriate definition to the profession: "management of violence."
If our professional soldiers (ie, the officers) fail to fulfill their duties and keep their men on track, the whole society suffers.
Unfortunately, the morale of our officers has hit an all-time low as the pace of Taiwan's democratization quickens. Long working hours and low social status have discouraged youngsters from this arduous profession. It has become more and more difficult for our military schools to attract enough high school graduates to join the Army, and this situation will worsen so long as our people continue to hold a skeptical attitude toward the military.
Like some civilian and government organizations, the military has also had scandals and corruption. However, the majority of commanding officers are working very hard in the air, on land and at sea to provide our countrymen with a shelter to live in. They don't expect people to give them credit for what they have sacrificed (separation from their loved ones, heavy workload and numerous duties), but at least the public should not be too critical of them. Professional soldiers also need your support and encouragement
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