Taiwan Increases Military Specialty Pay for Key Personnel

Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo is set to address the Legislative Yuan regarding plans to enhance specialty pay for military personnel involved in drone operations, cyberwarfare, air traffic control, and electronic reconnaissance. This initiative follows a revision of the Pay Act of the Armed Forces, which the opposition-controlled legislature passed in June, mandating a uniform salary increase for volunteer soldiers.

The proposed salary increase would raise pay from the current NT$15,000 to NT$30,000 for all volunteer soldiers. However, this increase has not been included in the central government’s budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year due to concerns over the constitutionality of the legislation. The Executive Yuan has filed for a constitutional interpretation and a temporary injunction regarding the bill.

In the latest report submitted by the Ministry of National Defense, the proposed uniform pay raise was absent from planning documents. Instead, the ministry detailed plans to increase specialty payouts for various roles within the military. Specifically, category one payouts are set to rise from NT$5,000 to NT$12,000, while category two payouts will increase from NT$3,000 to NT$7,000.

The ministry emphasized that drone operators and fire support teams play critical roles in battlefield monitoring and targeting high-value enemy assets, thereby qualifying them for additional category one and two payouts. The eligibility for these increases extends to personnel in both Army and Navy pilot roles, as well as anti-aircraft and communication units.

In a significant move, the ministry plans to boost wages for cyberwarfare units by NT$10,000 per month, with the number of servicemembers affected increasing from 15 percent to 30 percent of the unit. The Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command, responsible for managing tactical control over information and communication, is also set to benefit from this increase.

Wages for tactical air control units will see an increase from NT$5,100 to NT$11,200, while electronic surveillance units will experience raises from NT$4,100 to NT$13,600. Additionally, the Military Security Brigade, which handles military counterintelligence, will receive wage increases to better reflect the complexities of their mission and to enhance personnel retention.

To further improve retention of non-commissioned officers, the Ministry is contemplating the creation of the rank of command sergeant major. As of October, voluntary military recruitment has risen by 2,000 compared to the previous year, indicating that the proposed pay increases are attracting more volunteers into the military service.

These developments underscore the Ministry of National Defense’s commitment to enhancing the compensation of military personnel in critical roles, aiming to strengthen Taiwan’s defense capabilities amid evolving security challenges.