National Defense: Military Education

As introduced by the Yearbook of the Republic of China:

Military education includes preparatory education, fundamental education, in-service education, and advanced education. After completing fundamental education, a career officer must receive short-term specialized training at a number of military-branch schools, such as the infantry, armor, and artillery branch schools of the Army.

Candidates for colonel (captain) or major general (rear admiral) must complete advanced military education at the National Defense University.

The National Defense University, formerly the Armed Forces University, was integrated with the Chung Cheng Institute of Science and Technology, the National Defense Medical College, and the National Defense Management School on May 8, 2000.

The professional track for specialized military personnel includes medical personnel, engineers, and technicians at various specialized military schools, such as Fu Hsing Kang College and the National Defense Medical Center.

Military Academies

The ROC Military Academy (ROCMA) offers electrical engineering, civil engineering, information, physics, chemistry, and management courses. All students must complete 128 credits in four years.

Immediately following graduation, lieutenants receive further training in a branch specialty, such as infantry, armor, artillery, missiles, engineering, transportation, communications, electronics, chemistry, or military police.

The ROC Naval Academy (ROCNA) offers courses in marine science, applied science, marine engineering, electrical engineering, and information management. All students must complete 128 credits in four years. They also must serve an apprenticeship aboard a ship.

Just prior to graduation, all NA cadets will sail abroad in the "Fleet of Friendship" for two months of shipboard training. In recent years, the "Fleet of Friendship" has sailed to Latin America. During the long voyage, future naval officers are given a chance to practice combat skills, tactics, and navigation.

The ROC Air Force Academy (ROCAFA) trains pilots for fighters and other combat and transport aircraft. Cadets learn aeronautics, navigation, avionics, aviation management, and related skills in the four-year program. They participate in supervised flight operations during their second year. At the beginning of their junior year, cadets are divided into five sections to receive either specialized training in flying, aviation equipment, electronic communications, air defense, or air control.

Fu Hsing Kang College (FHKC), located in the Beitou district of Taipei, was established in 1951 to train political warfare officers for the Armed Forces. There are three levels of education at FHKC: basic, advanced, and graduate. The college has five departments and three graduate schools offering master's and doctoral degree programs.

The National Defense Medical Center (NDMC) trains military medical specialists, providing a basic college education plus medical training in such fields as dentistry, pharmacology, nursing, and public health. It also has 11 master's and doctoral programs. The Tri-Service General Hospital is the main teaching hospital of the NDMC.

The Chung Cheng Institute of Technology conducts research and development of weapon systems, maintains arms and equipment, and educates technical military officers. It has one doctoral program, six master's degree programs, and 11 undergraduate departments.

The National Defense Management College is responsible for educating the planning, decision-making, and management personnel of the Armed Forces. It has a Graduate School of Information Management, a Graduate School of Law, and departments of accounting, statistics, business management, information management, and law.

The Chung Cheng Armed Forces Preparatory School, founded in 1976, provides senior high school education to students who wish to continue in one of the three service academies or FHKC following graduation. It combines a regular senior high school education with basic military training through innovative teaching methods.

The ROC Armed Forces also operate a number of branch schools, such as the Infantry, Armor, and Artillery branch schools of the Army, and specialized schools, such as the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Navy Technical School.