In order to encourage more Taiwanese to enlist for military service, Premier Jiang Yi-huah yesterday approved increases to the monthly salaries of volunteer soldiers.
Effective January 1, 2014, the monthly pay for noncommissioned officers (NCOs) and enlisted soldiers who volunteered for service will be raised by NT$2,000 to NT$4,000 (US$67 to US$133). Monthly bonuses for volunteers serving on outlying islands will be raised from NT$12,360 (US$411) for class 1 (Nansha) and NT$9,790 (US$326) for class 2 areas (such as Dongsha, Dadan and Erdan) to NT$20,000 (US$665) for class 1 and NT$12,000 (US$399) for class 2 areas, respectively.
For example, a volunteer private's monthly salary would rise from NT$29,625 (US$986) to NT$33,625 (US$1,119). If serving on Nansha, he or she would receive an additional NT$20,000 (US$665) in pay for a total monthly salary of NT$53,625 (US$1,784).
In countries with all-volunteer militaries, NCOs are typically the core of each unit, and many of them rise to their post after acquiring a great deal of experience as enlisted soldiers; hence NCOs and enlistees have a very close working relationship. The ROC is seeking to move in this direction, so it is raising the pay of its NCOs (not including master sergeants) by NT$2,000 (US$67).
Adjustments to special pay for duty for combat troops, retention bonuses, and other items may be reviewed at a later time on the basis of enlistment numbers and the government's financial position.
These raises are meant to make military service a more competitive career choice in comparison to other occupations. Recruitment, the key to an all-volunteer system, has fallen below expectations the past two years, and the government hopes higher pay will encourage more young adults and graduates to join the armed forces and serve longer careers there.
Several sectors of society have paid close attention to the all-volunteer military policy, and many people have raised suggestions about it, officials acknowledged. The government insists it has not wavered in its devotion to the program, which it considers a major transformation to the martial system that will have an impact on both national security and Taiwan's long-term development.
"An all-volunteer military cannot be formed overnight, as numerous questions and challenges must first be resolved," the Executive Yuan affirmed. "This change must instead proceed step by step, with each measure taken at the appropriate time and with sophisticated review continuing throughout."
The Executive Yuan has established a taskforce dedicated to the all-volunteer military program. At its inter-ministerial meetings, convened regularly by Minister without Portfolio Lin Junq-tzer, relevant resources are coordinated and integrated in order to effectively achieve the policy's goals.