Taiwan has introduced new regulations that allow recently discharged military personnel to re-enlist within a year, as part of efforts to tackle its ongoing manpower shortage.
According to reports from United Daily News, the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense recently amended the Regulations on the Selection and Service of Military Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers to include this provision.
This change marks a significant departure from the previous policy, which barred discharged and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) from rejoining the military. With this new flexibility, Taiwan hopes to ease the pressure on its armed forces.
As of June last year, Taiwan’s volunteer military force had dropped to a record low of 152,885 personnel, the smallest number since 2018. This new policy is expected to provide much-needed relief to Taiwan’s military, strengthening its manpower in the face of rising regional tensions.
Legislator Lin Yi Chun noted that the policy shift will help strengthen key frontline positions, focusing on re-enlisting specialized personnel and combat troops. In a related move, the Ministry of Defense plans to transfer operational command of the Marine Corps’ 66th Brigade from the Army’s 6th Corps to the Ministry’s General Staff to enhance Taiwan’s defense capabilities.
After the Lunar New Year holiday, Taiwan’s military will significantly reorganize the 66th Brigade. This restructuring includes disbanding the brigade’s tank and artillery battalions while creating new units for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Stinger surface-to-air missile systems. These changes are intended to modernize Taiwan’s defense posture and improve operational efficiency in response to evolving security challenges.
As Taiwan continues to explore various strategies to address its military manpower challenges, defense analysts and regional security experts will closely watch the effectiveness of these reforms.
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