Conscription reforms are needed – Taipei Times

• By Chao Hsuey-wen 趙萃文

Taiwanese actor and singer Greg Hsu (許光漢) was sent to the alternative service training center at the Chenggong Ling (成功嶺) Training Camp in Taichung for his compulsory military service. Allegations were made that he was not receiving enough food.

The Ministry of the Interior responded that the mess hall servers at the camp allot portions based on the individual trainee’s needs. If a trainee is not receiving enough food, each squadron can open up its own additional self-serve dining options. It is misleading to say they are not getting enough food to eat.

Having been born before 1994 like Hsu, I also served for one year in alternative service. When I was doing my basic training at Chenggong Ling, our three daily meal portions were insufficient. Even though our squad leader added to our rations, we hardly had any extra food to divvy up. Only those sitting close to the cafeteria buffet were able to scoop out extra food. Those sitting further away mostly went back to their seats with bowls empty and bellies growling. Before long, different squads of alternative servicemen would yell and berate each other for grabbing too much food. This was a commonplace experience for those doing alternative service.

One reason that alternative service conscripts do not have enough to eat is that their food budget is too low, at about NT$100 per meal. Food suppliers simply cannot provide enough on such a slim budget.

Another reason is that the distribution of food rations is unequal. The command staff at the Chenggong Ling has so much food that they are left to waste, leading conscripts to relish going on official trips to headquarters to “scavenge for food.” Clearly, increasing the food budget, as well as equitable distribution of food rations, would go a long way toward solving the problem.

The training for Chenggong Ling conscripts lasts only 20 days. Whether or not the rations are sufficient is something that could be improved.

Following are a few suggestions to improve conscription service:

First, the training halls could be better used during training time, as well as in the evenings. On paper, it appears as if the daily operations and scheduling at the alternative service center are filled to the brim with activity, but more than half of the time, conscripts are staring into space in classrooms, chatting or playing card games. They ought to be using this free time to improve civil defense training and nationwide civil defense mobilization courses to improve conscripts’ national consciousness, as well as basic soldiering skills and abilities.

Second, with the conscription service period being extended to one year for males born after 1994, the Department of Conscription Services should broaden the conscript penalization process for severe breaches of discipline to prevent an increase in fighting or vandalism infractions. It should give units much more leeway and autonomy for doling out punishment. Not every single infraction needs to be reviewed or reported to the department. Lessening the paperwork would go a long way in speeding up the process of disciplinary action.

From my own experience in management, the vast majority of conscripts follow the rules. If a minority of conscripts continuously break the law or breach discipline, but never receive a punishment, their conduct not only rots away the accountability mechanism, it also produces a “broken window” effect. This leads to even more conduct breaches by conscripts. Trainers ought to swiftly punish those who breach the rules to avoid the spread of a mindset that is conducive to dereliction and misconduct.

Chao Hsuey-wen is an assistant professor and holds a doctorate in law from Fu Jen Catholic University.

Translated by Tim Smith