{"id":328097,"date":"2025-12-03T14:02:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T14:02:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/328097\/"},"modified":"2025-12-03T14:02:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T14:02:11","slug":"taiwan-needs-to-refocus-on-its-us-trained-military-officers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/328097\/","title":{"rendered":"Taiwan Needs to Refocus on its US-Trained Military Officers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since taking office in May of last year, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te (\u8cf4\u6e05\u5fb7) has carried out sweeping military reforms<\/a>. However, alongside these changes, it may be time for the Taiwanese government to refocus on retention and promotion among its small cohort of US service academy-trained officers\u2014an issue that Taiwan\u2019s Control Yuan (\u76e3\u5bdf\u9662) briefly investigated<\/a> in 2023. Doing so will foster military leaders who are better prepared to implement Lai\u2019s defense reforms, advance modern military doctrine, and integrate with US military forces\u2014abilities that could help alleviate some of the Pentagon\u2019s operational concerns over a potential US intervention in a Taiwan contingency. To raise retention and promotion, however, the government will need to increase pay and implement a separate accelerated promotion pipeline.<\/p>\n

Taiwan\u2019s US Service Academy Officer Program<\/p>\n

Military reform in Taiwan has never been easy. The Kuomintang (KMT, \u570b\u6c11\u9ee8), which maintained total domination<\/a> of the military up until 2000, built the armed forces around a mindset of Chinese nationalism, and a focus on a conventional force structure nominally oriented towards reconquering the Chinese mainland. While the military has long since shifted to a defensive<\/a> posture, much of its nationalist mindset persists\u2014a fact demonstrated by military leadership\u2019s historic resistance<\/a> to procuring weapons conducive to asymmetric warfare.<\/p>\n

To combat this institutional rigidity and modernize military leadership, the Taiwanese government spends hundreds of thousands of American dollars every year to send some of its top cadets<\/a> to US military academies.<\/p>\n

However, despite the Taiwanese government\u2019s best efforts, none<\/a> of these officers has stayed within the ranks for a full 20-year career after graduation\u2014let alone remaining in service long enough to be promoted to flag officer<\/a> rank where their US military education would most affect military policy. In fact, most of these officers only stay for the minimum service requirement of ten years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In response to concerns in the Legislative Yuan (LY, \u7acb\u6cd5\u9662), the Taiwanese Control Yuan ordered<\/a> the military in November 2023 to investigate why such officers tend to leave early. In the two years since this investigation began, there have been no reported results and the government seems to have forgotten the issue entirely.<\/p>\n

Why Taiwan Needs to Refocus on its US-Trained Officers<\/p>\n

In light of the Lai Administration\u2019s focus on military revitalization, Taiwan needs its US-trained officers now more than ever. Retaining these servicemembers and increasing their influence through promotion will help facilitate the administration\u2019s defense reforms, modernize the military, and improve the military\u2019s ability to seamlessly operate with US forces.<\/p>\n

Since President Lai begun his term, the Ministry of National Defense (MND, \u570b\u9632\u90e8) has carried out significant military reforms at breakneck speed. These changes, ranging from replacing<\/a> bayonet training with modern hand-to-hand combat to implementing<\/a> unscripted drills, all aim to move the military towards becoming<\/a> a more modern and capable force. However, while reforms are necessary, old habits die hard. Regular officers and non-commissioned officers (NCO) who lack<\/a> significant off-island training find themselves unprepared to carry out these changes at the rate the administration is making them. This not only hinders modernization, but\u2014according to on-the-ground reports\u2014is causing greater rates of burnout<\/a> and exhaustion among servicemembers.<\/p>\n

While Taiwan-trained leadership and the rank-and-file may find adapting to these reforms difficult, US service academy graduates are well-equipped to carry them out and guide their colleagues. Indeed, they have spent four years in the United States studying<\/a> and practicing the very military modernization that President Lai seeks to introduce. If Taiwan can better retain these officers, and even promote them to flag officer ranks, they will be able to streamline modernization efforts and address gaps in training and doctrine that other officers may not see.<\/p>\n

Better retaining US-trained officers will also alleviate the Pentagon\u2019s logistical concerns<\/a> when considering whether the American military should intervene in a conflict over Taiwan\u2014intervention that Taiwan\u2019s defense strategy<\/a> ultimately relies on.<\/p>\n

A US intervention to defend Taiwan involves major logistical complications. Breaking up or preventing a People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA, \u4e2d\u570b\u4eba\u6c11\u89e3\u653e\u8ecd) blockade of Taiwan would require flawless coordination between the US and Taiwanese militaries, especially in the early stages where both navies would likely focus on creating a maritime corridor<\/a> to Hualien in eastern Taiwan.<\/p>\n

This means both militaries need to improve interoperability and learn how the other fights, which, in an ideal world, requires large-scale joint military drills and rehearsals\u2014something the United States so far is unwilling to do in the face of Beijing\u2019s political pressure. This lack of familiarity poses real risks when conducting large-scale operations. At an event at the Hudson Institute<\/a> in July, US Navy Rear Admiral (ret.) Mark Montgomery echoed this sentiment and mused, \u201cI have a son stationed in Japan. I jokingly say that my number one worry is his ship gets sunk by a Chinese weapon. My number two worry is a US Army weapon. We\u2019ll set that one aside. But my number three worry is a Taiwan weapon, and I say their Navy should worry about us doing the same to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

While US-trained officers cannot replace the need for joint exercises, US service academy graduates intimately understand American strategy and tactical methodologies\u2014know-how that would allow for more effective communication between the two armed forces.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Hu<\/p>\n

Image: Hu Chao-lin, a cadet from Taiwan training at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, speaking with a faculty instructor (May 2015). (Image source: CNA \/ YouTube<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Why Taiwan Struggles to Retain These Officers<\/p>\n

For many reasons, Taiwan has long struggled to retain its small cohort of US service academy graduates. Yet, two major factors stand out: historically low pay and poor career mobility. While the Lai Administration has sought to address some of these issues, the government can still go further.<\/p>\n

Low Pay<\/p>\n

Across the board, below-average pay has persistently disincentivized Taiwanese officers from staying the full 20 years. While the Lai Administration has instituted significant pay increases<\/a> over the past few months, there is still room for improvement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As recently as 2024, a newly-minted second lieutenant made<\/a> about NTD 52,210 (USD 1,626) a month in total pay\u2014about NTD 6,500 (USD 200) below what is considered middle class<\/a> in Taiwan. Under the 2024 pay scale, an officer\u2019s base pay would not reach the minimum threshold for what is considered middle class until they reach the rank of captain, and would not surpass the 2022 median<\/a> household income until they become a colonel\u2014a rank that typically requires at least 20 years<\/a> of service.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Compare these statistics with those of US officers, where a second lieutenant already makes enough in base pay<\/a> to qualify as middle class<\/a>. US officers reach the American median income by captain, and attain upper middle-class as lieutenant colonels.<\/p>\n

According to one Taiwanese West Point graduate, the pay issue was particularly salient. In a phone interview, Yujen Lien (\u9023\u4e8e\u4ec1), of West Point\u2019s 2009 graduating class, stated that although his time in Taiwan\u2019s military was a generally positive experience, he ultimately decided to leave after the minimum ten years so that he could pursue a career at TSMC with a higher salary and a better work life balance.<\/p>\n

Lien is not alone in sharing this sentiment. Indeed, of the 4,172 volunteer service members who opted for early discharge in 2023, 52.2 percent<\/a> cited better civilian job opportunities as their primary reason.<\/p>\n

To its credit, the Lai Administration<\/a> is taking steps to address low pay. Beginning April 1<\/a> of this year, the Lai Administration increased the military\u2019s monthly NTD 10,000 (USD 320) stipends to offset base pay for volunteer service members: with junior, mid-ranking, and flag officers seeing a 50 percent, 40 percent, and 30 percent increase respectively. Front line officers in combat units saw even greater increases.<\/p>\n

These increases<\/a> translate into new second lieutenants earning a total of NTD 58,000 (USD 1,850) a month\u2014just enough to be considered middle class in Taiwan. While this is a positive development, it still only puts servicemembers on par with their US counterparts\u2019 base pay. What\u2019s more, these stipend increases are regressive with rank, which disincentivizes long-term promotion. Additionally, officers who are forced out of direct combat roles due to promotion<\/a> may risk losing additional combat-related stipends.<\/p>\n

Limited Job Opportunities<\/p>\n

Though the military offers job stability, Taiwanese society views its armed forces unfavorably<\/a>. It is therefore difficult for veterans to find employment. This sentiment has two origins: the military\u2019s history of serving as the enforcement arm of KMT authoritarianism; and the general public\u2019s perception of the armed forces\u2019 unprofessionalism.<\/p>\n

Taiwanese society has long distrusted the military. Under the KMT\u2019s command, the military enforced martial law on the island for 40 years until 1987. This period, known as the White Terror<\/a> (\u767d\u8272\u6050\u6016), saw the military enforcing KMT repression, including\u00a0 carrying out arrests and executions. While this history may not be as relevant to the younger generations, the older generation remembers this period well\u2014and many of them are employers.<\/p>\n

Besides distrust caused by history, the Taiwanese public has historically viewed<\/a> the military as incompetent. While the government has recently implemented overhauls, conscripted military training has a reputation<\/a> for being nothing more than glorified summer camp. Due to these impressions, military experience is less impressive to employers than it is<\/a> in the United States<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Exacerbating this trend, US service academies\u2014despite being comparable<\/a> in certain metrics to Ivy League schools\u2014do not possess the same name recognition in Taiwan as they do in the United States. Yujen Lien noted that this made it more difficult for him to land job interviews, forcing him to pursue a master\u2019s degree at a Taiwanese university to become more competitive.<\/p>\n

Recommendations<\/p>\n

If the government hopes to encourage US service academy-educated officers to stay in the military long-term, it will need to increase its financial incentives and improve the armed forces\u2019 reputation in the civilian world.While the administration\u2019s recent stipend increases will likely help improve recruitment and retention at the lower ranks, the government can do more to incentivize long-term retention by implementing progressive stipend increases by rank\u2014a change that would model<\/a> the US military.<\/p>\n

To further incentivize US-trained officers to remain long-term, the Taiwanese government may consider creating a separate pay scale for these officers with an accelerated promotion pipeline. Because there are so few<\/a> of these officers, higher pay would not significantly burden the defense budget.<\/p>\n

Other governments have successfully implemented dedicated pay scales for employees with highly-desired skillsets. The US government<\/a>, for example, provides separate, higher pay scales from the regular general schedule (GS) scale for professionals in highly sought-after fields (like STEM or law) to try to match what these individuals could earn in the private sector.<\/p>\n

Additionally, by creating an accelerated promotion pipeline, the Taiwanese government would not only elevate these officers\u2019 influence in military command but also offer them greater career potential. If the military were to allow these officers to reach higher ranks in a shorter time, it would incentivize US service academy graduates to serve longer. Such a promotion system would also render them more competitive in the civilian world post-retirement.<\/p>\n

Finally, in order to further improve post-service employability, the military must also enhance the public perception of its professionalism\u2014a task easier said than done. However, the government has taken positive steps in this area, such as increasing the mandatory conscription period, overhauling military training, and prioritizing asymmetric<\/a> doctrine. While it is too early to tell if these actions have shifted public opinion, polling from 2023<\/a> suggests that the general public overwhelmingly supports such changes.<\/p>\n

If the government hopes to change public opinion, the administration will need to press on with these sorts of reforms\u2014progress that President Lai seems<\/a> resolved to continue.<\/p>\n

The main point: As Taiwan continues to rapidly reform its military, its need for US-trained officers will grow. If the MND wishes to incentivize these officers to stay in the military long-term, it will need to increase their pay and improve post-military employability by implementing an accelerated promotion pipeline.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Since taking office in May of last year, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te (\u8cf4\u6e05\u5fb7) has carried out sweeping military…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":328098,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[23,6052,166796,166797,3,43990,3998,21,19,22,20,25,24],"class_list":["post-328097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-united-states","tag-america","tag-defense","tag-lai-ching-te","tag-ministry-of-national-defense","tag-news","tag-officers","tag-taiwan","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328097","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=328097"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328097\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/328098"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=328097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=328097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=328097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}