The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Wednesday relaxed physical standards for new recruits and amended the salaries of volunteer soldiers to boost recruitment numbers.
The amendments targeting articles 4 and 8 of the Volunteer Soldier Selection and Training Act (志願士兵選訓實施辦法) relaxed the height and body mass index (BMI) requirements, and adjusted the base pay and other standards for volunteer soldiers to match those of privates in the army.
The ministry said it made the changes after referencing volunteer requirements in the US and Japan.
Photo: CNA
The height range requirement for male recruits was changed from between 160cm and 195cm to between 152cm and 200cm, while that for female recruits was changed from between 155cm and 185cm to between 150cm and 200cm, the ministry said.
The BMI range for men, which used to be between 17 and 31, was changed to between 16.5 and 32, while the requirement for women remains the same at between 17 and 26.
The restriction on having a foot arch larger than 168 degrees has been removed, allowing those previously considered flatfooted to also be eligible for service.
Male recruits must have a hemoglobin count of at least 13 grams per deciliter (g/dL) and female recruits 12g/dL, compared with previous limits of 12g/dL and 11.5g/dL respectively.
The restrictions on hemoglobin count aim to bar anemic people from military service.
The changes were made to take the WHO’s definition of anemia into consideration, the ministry said.
The new rules also relax eyesight requirements for joining the military police.
Previously, recruits needed to have 20/25 vision, or if they are wearing glasses, both eyes must be within negative-6 diopters, the ministry said.
The relaxation of vision requirements was due to an increase in the number of people with myopia, it said.
The height requirement of between 160cm and 195cm for men was left unchanged for military police, while the minimum female height requirement was reduced from 156cm to 155cm, retaining the maximum height of 185cm, the amendments say.
Additional reporting by CNA
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