Starting tomorrow, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will begin taking applications for the overseas alternative military service program, it said in a communique yesterday.
The overseas alternative military service program was created in 2001 to encourage the emergence of a "nation-wide diplomacy movement" and provide more humanitarian assistance to the international community.
The number of "diplomatic draftees" went from 36 in 2001 to 105 last year
The program was a prime opportunity for the government to introduce young people to the world of international affairs and foreign policy by dispatching them to allied countries, the ministry said.
Since the program began, more than 450 young men have been selected for various humanitarian aid missions abroad in lieu of their regular 18-month mandatory military service.
Many graduates of the program have returned to work in the developing countries in which they served, the ministry said.
Applications for the program this year will be accepted for two weeks from tomorrow through April 15.
A total of 118 positions are available, the ministry said.
Applicants who qualify for alternative diplomatic service can register with local conscription divisions during this period, but prior to doing so they should visit the Ministry of the Interior's Conscription Department Web site (www.nca.gov.tw) to obtain details of the program.
This year, the foreign ministry is also seeking individuals with a background in Spanish, environmental protection, veterinarian science, farming machinery, hydraulic systems management, business management, finance and marketing, horticulture, public health as well as public administration.
Additional reporting by CNA
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