Government Improves Treatment of JSDF Personnel

To improve chronic shortage of strength in the Japanese Self-defense Force (JSDF), Shigeru Ishiba administration launched a minister-level discussion for improving treatment of workers for JSDF. The government is considering extension of the age of retirement to guarantee the job for the veterans, as well as offering reemployments to the post of other organizations. As former Minister of Defense, Ishiba is further sympathetic toward JSDF personnel than other previous prime ministers.

The strength of JSDF is by 20 thousand smaller than 247 thousand of whole capacity at the end of 2023. The JSDF employed 10 thousand of new members, although it had a plan of about 20 thousand of new employments in FY 2023. The ratio of sufficiency against planned recruitment fell down from 90 percent in 2019 to 50 percent in 2023, marking a new low since its foundation in 1954.

 

The first measure the government adopted for securing necessary personnel was to keep veterans in the JSDF. Considering harder work in JSDF than ordinary office workers, the age of retiring is set at 56 years old, younger than the workers in private firms who retire at age of 60 or older. The government is considering extension of the age by 2 years. Salary will be raised by revising the payment system based on ranks and age.

 

The bonus for the workers at special jobs, such as aviation controller or mechanics for aircrafts, will also be raised. It may include the specialists in cyber technology. Each room in barracks of the camps is going to be occupied by an individual so that the members can feel comfortable. It will also be applied to the crew of vessels, introducing communication infrastructure for internet during their cruising.

 

Post-retiring care is one of the crucial points to keep manpower in the JSDF. “It is important for the JSDF members not to have to worry about reemployment and income,” says the basic plan issued by the ministers’ meeting. The government hopes to offer jobs in local police office, fire department or coast guard. Retired JSDF members can still be the professionals in disaster prevention or crisis control. Real estate firm, security guard, construction or transportation can also be the jobs for retired JSDF members.

 

Initial monthly salary of a young JSDF member who graduated high school is set at 157 thousand yen, tens of thousand yen lower than workers for private firms. Because of hard works with low payment, a number of young JDSF members changed their job to private companies.

 

Developments in security situation around Japan has drastically been changed recent years. After invasion to Ukraine, Russia reinforced its tie with North Korea which repeatedly launched missiles to the Japan Sea or beyond. China, which has large number of military personnel ten times more than Japan, is enhancing military capability with increasing submarines and fighter jets.

 

To enhance its security capability to implement its responsibility in regional security, Japan started its effort by taking good care of the JSDF members.

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