The Ministry of the Interior today said it would tighten fitness exemptions for military service by raising the body mass index (BMI) upper limit, reclassifying flat-footed people for alternative service and limiting exemptions to those with serious organ diseases.
The ministry reported to the Legislative Yuan’s Internal Administration Committee today on the compulsory military service and revised fitness standards.
The ministry said it is to revise conscription fitness standards after controversy over celebrities falsifying medical records to avoid compulsory service.
Photo: Taipei Times
The BMI upper threshold for exemption would be raised from 35 to 45, making it nearly impossible to avoid conscription by gaining weight, Department of Conscription Administration Director Shen Che-fang (沈哲芳) said.
Blood pressure would be a top priority, with exemptions only granted if measurements indicate heart or organ disease, Shen said, adding that future blood pressure checks would require hospitalization for proper evaluation.
Asked how the ministry would handle those found to have illegally avoided conscription, Shen said that those under 36 would be required to complete their service.
Officials are still discussing requiring those 37 or older to make up their service, as some legislators have suggested, he said.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Shen said that new fitness standards are largely finalized.
Anyone with a BMI from 15 to 45 would be required to serve, although the ministry still needs to consult further with medical associations, he said.
In addition, while people with a foot arch under 168 degrees were previously exempt from service, as they are not suitable for active duty, they would now be conscripted for alternative service, he said.
All 193 regulations regarding fitness standards are being reviewed, he added.
Under current fitness standards, men of conscription age are assigned to active duty, alternative service or are exempted based on their medical examination results.
Those with a BMI over 35 or under 15 may be exempted.
With the revised regulations raising the BMI threshold to over 45, for a height of 170cm, the previous weight exemption of more than 101.3kg would be increased to 130.05kg.
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