FRONT ROW SEAT:The defense minister has invited non-commissioned officers to sit alongside generals and give base reports as part of efforts to improve their status
Taipei Times
Date: Feb 06, 2017
By: Lo Tien-pin and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter
Minister of National Defense Feng Shih-kuan (馮世寬) has announced a measure to

Minister of National Defense Feng Shih-kuan, left, receives a report at the Military Police Command in Taipei on Jan. 3. Photo courtesy of the Military News Agency
allow non-commissioned officers to report to the minister in person, along with plans to improve the salaries and welfare of non-commissioned officers, as well as offer them higher recognition.
When visiting military bases, the minister is to hear reports from the base commander, as well as the chief petty officer, a move expected to improve the morale of non-commissioned officers.
There are about 73,000 non-commissioned officers in the nation’s armed forces consisting of 215,000 personnel, according to the Ministry of National Defense’s (MND) annual budget plan. [FULL STORY]