The length of the compulsory military service period has been reinstated to one year, and the Ministry of National Defense will also increase the monthly salary of conscripts to NT$26,307. It said conscripts will have to complete eight weeks of boot camp to be eligible for the new monthly salary.
The government recently decided to reinstate the length of the compulsory military service period to one year, and the Ministry of National Defense only has one year to prepare. The monthly salary of conscripts was also adjusted to NT$26,307, which will be NT$20,320 in disposable income. During a press conference on Jan. 5, the ministry said conscripts must complete an eight-week boot camp in order to start receiving this salary of about NT$20,000. During the eight-week boot camp, the salary will be around NT$10,000.
Teng Ke-hsiung, Director, Dept. of Resources Planning, MND: “After they enlist, complete training, and get certified in a specialty, then they are qualified to receive the additional NT$10,190. In other words, once they complete training and are certified in a specialty, they will receive NT$20,320. The stipends are distributed in stages and conditionally.”
The ministry said there will be additional benefits for conscripts stationed on outlying islands or in remote areas, but they will receive less than enlisted soldiers. There will be live ammunition training over the one-year service period based on the training given to active duty troops. Troops will also take part in the exercises. They could learn how to operate Javelin and Harpoon missiles, which have played a significant role in the Ukraine-Russia war. However, these are considered to be extremely specialized weapons, and there are concerns that one year is not long enough for conscripts to learn how to use them.
Chang Chun-chih, Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Training, MND: “Javelin missiles require about four weeks of training. Simulators will be used to increase the training intensity. There will also be live ammunition drills, and we will integrate the annual arms shooting process to conduct training for shooting.”
The All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency said conscripts who have received training in advanced specialties will be assigned to appropriate units for refresher training once they are discharged according to needs. Some scholars suggest sending outstanding conscripts to receive training in the U.S. and upgrade their combat capability. The agency said it will consider this suggestion.
義務役恢復一年役期，國防部只剩一年準備時間，明年就要正式上路，外界放大檢視，這次兵役改革大幅調高役男薪水，月薪達2萬6307元，實領2萬320元。不過，國防部今日召開記者會指出，必須完成集訓才能領到2萬元，代表入伍訓練8週，這段期間月薪只有1萬多元。
國防部資源司長鄧克雄表示：「那入伍結訓之後，他取得一個專長的證書，他變成說可以領，專業加給是1萬190元，所以是他結訓拿到合格證書下部隊之後，他所領的才是2萬320元，這是有階段性的一個跟條件性的一個發（津）貼的方式。」
至於役男分發到外島或偏遠地區，國防部表示，同樣會有薪資加給，但金額仍低於志願役。此外，兵役恢復一年，將比照現役部隊，納入實戰化射擊訓練，並投入部隊演訓，還有望操作標槍飛彈、刺針飛彈等，這些在俄烏戰爭大放異彩的反裝甲武器。不過，畢竟屬於高階專長武器，引起外界質疑這樣役期長度無法培養合格的標槍飛彈兵。
國防部訓練參謀次長室次長張俊志表示：「那標槍飛彈大約要實施4週的訓練，那同樣的他到部隊裡面，會持續運用模擬器的方式，來增加他的一個訓練強度，那最後要做實彈射擊的話，我們會結合年度的武器射擊的流程，來做一個射擊訓練。」
全動署則指出，這些受過高階專長訓練的義務役，退伍後會按照軍種、部隊需求，分配到適當的部隊接受教召。另外有學者建議，可遴選優秀的義務役赴美受訓提升戰力，全動署回應，會謹慎評估列入參考。
