Discussion for Improvement of Treatment for JSDF Personnel

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba launched a ministers’ conference for reviewing treatment of the members of Japan Self-defense Force (JSDF). While the government of Japan has been reiterated necessity of enhancing defense capability with exacerbation of security environment around Japan, the JSDF faces shortage of human resource. The meeting is going to lay out how to improve the working situation of JSDF members.

The JSDF personnel has not fulfilled its full strength for years. At the end of March 2024, about 223 thousand members were affiliated to the JSDF, shorter than necessary strength of 247 thousand. Applicants have been declining with drop of birthrate, marking the lowest record in sufficiency against recruitment plan at 51 percent in FY 2023.

 

The government attributes this reluctance against serving to low quality in their job. It has been said that the jobs in the JSDF are hard, dirty and dangerous with low payment. A high school graduate receives 157.1 thousand yen of starting pay in JSDF, while each personnel in police office or fire department in Tokyo receives 193.4 thousand yen.

 

National Security Strategy 2022 proposed enhancement of human resource of self-defense force, regarding the JSDF personnel as “core of defense capabilities.” “Japan will also improve treatment of SDF personnel, and drive efforts to foster an environment in which all SDF personnel can maintain high morale and fully fulfill their abilities,” says the strategy.

 

Retirement for JSDF staffs is set earlier than average workers. Colonels, Majors, Captains and Lieutenants have to leave the force at the age of 58. Even a General needs to retire at 62. The retirement of workers in private firms has been extended recent years. Some companies set the age of retirement at 70. It is inevitable for the government of Japan to arrange reemployment for retired JSDF members.

 

Ishiba administration considers including related spendings in the annual budget for FY 2025. It will revise related legislation, if necessary. Regarding social situation in which serving JSDF is not respected so much, the administration also discusses further active conferment of decoration for JSDF staffs. The ministries will make more integrated efforts for raising wage or allowance and coordination for recruitment.

 

The previous administrations have emphasized growing role of JSDF in enhancing security of Japan, demanding the nationals to pay more respect for JSDF staffs. However, the treatment for them has been left behind, focusing on necessity of building up budget for greater defense capability, or planting the people a sense of threat from North Korea whenever they launched missiles.

 

As an expert of defense policy, Ishiba highlighted the treatment of JSDF oersonnel. However, it is still skeptical for the nationals of Japan to approve accumulation of budget for the JSDF in the time of increasing economic burden with price inflation.

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