In a move to bolster recruitment, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced significant changes to its military personnel requirements. Colonel Huang Ming-chun, a senior official from the MND’s Deputy Chief of General Staff Office, revealed on Wednesday that the military has relaxed its height and tattoo restrictions.
The new policy eliminates the previous maximum height limit of 200 centimeters for both men and women. Additionally, the minimum height requirement for men has been reduced from 152 cm to 150 cm, aligning it with the requirement for women, Huang confirmed during a regular MND news briefing in Taipei.
In another shift, the MND has eased tattoo regulations for several specialized military units, including the National Security Bureau, Army Amphibious Reconnaissance units, Military Police, military marching bands, and the Political Warfare Bureau. Tattoos will now be allowed, as long as they are not visible on the face, neck, or palms, and do not feature offensive imagery, language, or references to criminal organizations.
Furthermore, the MND has opened the door for former volunteer soldiers who voluntarily left the military for personal reasons to reapply for service, provided they have been out for at least a year.
These changes come as part of efforts to address recruitment challenges and retain talent within Taiwan’s armed forces. According to a report to lawmakers, the number of volunteer soldiers in Taiwan’s military dropped to 152,885 in June 2024, down from 164,884 in 2021. The MND has attributed this decline to Taiwan’s low birthrate and is seeking to counter the trend by offering enhanced incentives, including improved pay and benefits.
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