The number of conscripts reporting for one-year military service is set to grow to about 53,600 by 2029, while the budget for military personnel would likely increase by NT$16 billion (US$522.41 million) by then, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a written report to the Legislative Yuan.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Dec. 27 announced that compulsory military service would be extended from four months to one year as part of efforts to bolster the nation’s combat readiness in the event of a Chinese attack. The change in policy affects all men born after Jan. 1, 2005, starting from Jan. 1 next year.
Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) is to brief lawmakers about the details of the plan in a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign and National Defense Committee today.
Photo: Daniel Ceng, AP
Although 78,600 conscripts would be drafted next year, only about 9,100 are expected to report for the one-year military service, as most high-school graduates tend to postpone their service until after college, the ministry said.
The remaining 69,500 conscripts would undergo four months of military training, it said.
The number of conscripts undergoing one-year military service would gradually increase to 53,600 by 2029, while the number taking part in the four-month training would gradually decrease to 9,300, the ministry said.
Conscripts would mostly supplement garrison troops, followed by main battle forces, it said.
To ensure that troops have enough leaders, the ministry said it would in 2027 begin offering an annual test to recruit college graduates to serve as professional army and non-commissioned officers.
As the monthly salary of a one-year conscript is to be raised to NT$26,307, the budget for military personnel costs is estimated to increase by NT$2 billion next year, it said.
Due to the annual increase of one-year conscripts, military personnel costs would rise by NT$16 billion by 2029.
Rifle training for conscripts is also to be adjusted.
Aside from being trained to shoot in a prone position, conscripts would be trained to shoot while standing and kneeling, as well as how to change shooting positions, it said.
They would learn to change magazines and troubleshoot their rifles, the ministry said.
The ministry’s “Intensified Shooting Training Monthly Execution Plan” showed that military units are practicing shooting once a month until December, with each conscript allowed to shoot 50 rounds.
Conscripts are allowed to shoot 60 rounds during night-time combat training, which is conducted once per season, the ministry said, adding that they are allowed to shoot 100 rounds during annual shooting training at a military base.
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