Lessons Learned from Taiwan's Military Pay Hike Insights for Defense Professionals This blog post provides five valuable lessons for defense professionals based on Taiwan's decision to increase salaries and benefits for its military personnel. The lessons cover topics such as talent attraction and retention, innovative solutions for manpower shortages, transparency and communication, economic investment in defense, and the critical role of leadership.

Lessons Learned from Taiwan's Military Pay Hike Insights for Defense Professionals

Taiwan's recent decision to increase salaries and benefits for its military personnel offers valuable lessons for defense professionals. By examining this move, we can gain insights into talent attraction and retention, innovative solutions for manpower shortages, transparency and communication, economic investment in defense, and the critical role of leadership.

Lesson 1 Talent Attraction and Retention is Key

Taiwan's pay hike demonstrates the importance of offering competitive compensation to attract and retain talented individuals. By recognizing that young people are essential to maintaining national defense capabilities, Taiwan is taking a proactive approach to talent management. This strategy acknowledges that talented personnel are crucial for maintaining national security.

Lesson 2 Innovative Solutions are Needed to Address Manpower Shortages

Taiwan's response to its military's manpower shortages highlights the need for creative solutions. Raising salaries and benefits is just one part of a comprehensive approach aimed at addressing these challenges. The emphasis on talent investment underscores the importance of developing a long-term strategy for talent management.

Lesson 3 Transparency and Communication are Essential

The Taiwanese government's decision-making process around defense spending, including recent cuts and freezes, emphasizes the importance of transparency and communication. By engaging with opposition parties and the public, Taiwan is fostering a culture of openness that can help build trust in its military and defense strategies.

Lesson 4 Economic Investment in Defense is Critical

Taiwan's decision to increase defense spending to record levels in 2025 underscores the critical role that economic investment plays in supporting national security. By allocating resources to key areas such as submarine programs and drone industry parks, Taiwan is recognizing that a strong economy is essential for maintaining its military capabilities.

Lesson 5 Leadership Matters

President Lai Ching-te's leadership by visiting military camps and vowing to take care of the hard-working officers and soldiers demonstrates the crucial role leaders play in inspiring and motivating troops. By showing appreciation and gratitude, leaders can help build morale and foster a sense of purpose among military personnel.

These lessons learned from Taiwan's grant of pay hike for military personnel offer valuable insights for professionals in the field of defense and national security. By applying these takeaways to their own work, they can develop innovative solutions to talent attraction and retention, while promoting transparency and communication within their organizations.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.