Republic of China Army (ROCA)
Reserve Forces
Taiwan's defense ministry aims to boost the capabilities of its reserve forces based on the model of Ukrainian reservists fighting Russian troops. Starting in 2022, the ministry doubled the period of training for reservists to 14 days amid China's increasing military pressure.
The Armed Forces Reseve Command was created in March 2002. With the formation of this new command the organization of reserve units in the ROC military has experienced significant change. Previous Army, Divisional, and Regimental Administration Headquarters were replaced by Reserve Headquarters in all major cities and counties. In addition, new Reserve brigades and Home Defense Units have been formed to improve the utilization of the reserves.
Reserve Brigades
In past decades, the training of reservists was conducted by regular combat units. However, as the active-duty Army slowly transitions into a focused mobile strike force, regular units are being relieved of reservist handling. 21 reserve brigades have been established to provide training and accomodation to reservists during mobilization. In wartime, reserve brigades are expected to support regular combat units under the command of an operations district.
A Reserve brigade is described as a light Infantry brigade with an average 3 Infantry battalions under the command of a colonel. A small command staff consisting of active-duty officers and NCOs is responsible for daily administration, equipment maintenance, and training activities.
The ROCA classifies Reserve brigades into 2 categories: A and B. Within 21 Reserve brigades, 6 are known to be category A and 15 to be category B. It has been reported that a category A brigade has an active strength equivalent to one battalion. Active members in a category B brigade are most likely limited to the high-level command staff.
The Reserve brigades are distributed as follows:
- Northern Taiwan: 911 to 917 Reserve Brigades
- Central Taiwan: 921 to 927 Reserve Brigades
- Southern Taiwan: 931 to 937 Reserve Brigades
The Ministry of National Defense said 24 December 2020 it would add five coastal defense brigades by 2023. Other reports claimed the Army would add 6 brigades of reserve force (5 infantry and 1 artillery) totalling over 20,000 soldiers. But the Ministry denied reports that the change amounts to an expansion of the Armed Forces. Media reports had claimed the measure was the first expansion of Taiwan's military since 1997, but the ministry said the move to establish five more brigades, bringing the total to 12, would only involve basic cadres, not any new staff.
The Ministry of National Defense confirmed that starting from 01 January 2021 the Army will set up additional infantry brigades in the north and south to train recruits in peacetime, and to train instructors, Mobilizing reserve manpower to assist active-duty troops in defending beaches and shores, scholars believe that this will help increase the depth of the national army.
It is the established direction of the national army to teach soldiers to fire artillery, march long, and strengthen the reserve force. Since the training frequency and intensity are increasing, the size of the unit must also be expanded to fit.
The military confirmed that starting on New Year’s Day in 2021, the Army will set up an infantry brigade consisting of five infantry battalions and one artillery battalion in the 6th Army in the north and the 8th Army in the south. They will be responsible for recruiting training in peacetime, and will be responsible for the beachfront in wartime. In accordance with the existing defense concept, it is the reserve forces dispatched by the infantry brigade, through multi-point distribution, and the active army strike brigade, mutual support, implementation of anti-aircraft landing, or anti-landing.
The reorganization will significantly improve the country's ability to defend its coastlines, a military spokesman said. Over the past few months, China has repeatedly sent military planes and warships closer to Taiwan, underlining its resolve to use military force to realize its threats of unification.
The increase from seven to 12 coastal brigades will boost the nation’s defense capabilities on the front line, the ministry said. Starting Jan. 1, one brigade each will be added in the north and south, followed by additional brigades in the northern, central, and southern regions, with the new arrangement to be completed by 31 December 2023.
The Ministry of National Defense promoted the reorganization of 5 new training backbone brigades in order to digest the stagnant recruits and at the same time relieve the pressure of the current new training troops. The reorganization units include the Army's 101 brigade, 109 brigade, 117 brigade, 249 brigade and 137 brigade. The Ministry of National Defense stated in the morning that on January 1, 110, it planned to expand one infantry brigade in the northern and southern regions, including the 109 and 117 brigades; and continue to control the formation of three new infantry brigades in the northern, central, and southern regions according to schedule.
In response to the formation of the joint arms battalion, the Army actively promoted the establishment of a new training brigade in each of the Sixth, Eighth, and Tenth Corps to solve the problem of male detention. It is pointed out that in response to increasing the intensity of reserve training in the future, the Ministry of National Defense has discussed the integration of the reserve command into the army command, so that the new training, reserve education, and diligence of military training will be integrated.
In October 2020, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed in the Legislative Yuan that, in order to strengthen the reserve force, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it would increase the current 7 reserve brigades to 12. The plan has been drawn up. The 5 additional reserve brigades will be added to two of them. The "North Standing Military Service Military Training Specialty Training Center" has been organized, and the North, Central and South will each add a reserve brigade, each with a "five steps and one artillery" organization.
The ranks and posts of the five backbone brigades expanded, part of which is the reduction of the posts of 5 machine infantry battalions and 1 tank battalion after the establishment of the joint military battalion; the other part is the establishment saved by the integration of the reserve into the army. Among them, the 109 and 117 brigades were adapted from the existing Beixun and Nanxun centers, so there are only three new brigades that have been established and reorganized, namely, the 101, 109, 249, and 137 brigades.
The Ministry of National Defense stated that the five new brigades were organized into backbone manpower and adjusted from the establishment of posts, but the army has not been expanded. In response to the threat of the enemy, and in accordance with the planning period of the National Army’s "Enhanced Reserve Force" project, the National Army now has 7 infantry brigades. It is planned to form 5 infantry brigades, totaling 12 first-type beachside garrison brigades, with line beach and shore defensive combat capability.
Beginning on New Year’s Day in 2021, the two reserve infantry brigades of the newly formed army were expanded and reorganized from the existing Southern and Northern Standing Military Training Specialty Training Centers into the 117th and 109th Infantry Brigades, and will control the north, middle, and south in accordance with the schedule. In the region, three new reserve infantry brigades (101st, 137th, and 249th infantry brigades) were newly formed, and a total of 5 reserve infantry brigades were newly formed (the reserve infantry brigades were increased from the original 7 [17] to 12), all of which were organized as "five brigades ". The 101st Reserve Infantry Brigade is the third infantry brigade to be reorganized. It is scheduled to be organized in July 2022. The Ministry of National Defense expects to reorganize into an army by December 31, 2023.
Home Defense Units
Beginning in June 2002 Home Defense Units have been formed to protect local military and civilian establishments in wartime. These units are comprised entirely of reservists drawn from local areas. Commanders are selected from retired officers with relevant command experience while in active service.
A total of 32 brigade teams (there are also battalion and company teams) plus 1 independent battalion team were formed. The units are distributed as follows:
- Northern Taiwan: 11 Brigade Teams comprised of 52 Battalion Teams
- Central Taiwan: 11 Brigade Teams comprised of 55 Battalion Teams
- Southern Taiwan: 10 Brigade Teams
- Penghu Islands: 1 Battalion Team comprised of 5 Company Teams
Reserve battalions were first formed in 1980 at 20 Regimental Reserve Management HQs in Taiwan. Reservist training started in 1982. In 1984, the ORBAT of all reserve battalions was reduced in accordance to the ORBAT of regular army infantry battalions. Currently, the theoretical strength of a reserve battalion is 40 officers and 571 NCOs and enlisted ranks distributed over the following units: 1 Battalion HQ and HQ Company, 1 Weapons Company, and 3 Infantry Companies. Reserve battalions are equipped mostly with weapons retired from front-line Army units, such as T57 7.56 mm rifles, 30- and 50-cal machine guns, 60, 81, and 120 mmm mortars, and 75 mm recoiless guns. An air cavalry brigade is organized for vertical warfare, with very high degree of mobility and rapid response time free from terrain restrictions. It is formed with assets from the former aviation groups and land combat units from independent airborne brigades with organic logistics and maintenance support.
In peacetime, an air cavalry brigade serves as an area reserve and response unit under the control of an operations district. In wartime, it serves as strategic reserve of the MND or ROCA GHQ and may be used to reinforce various operations districts. Three air cavalry brigades, the 601, 602, and 603, are currently deployed in Norther, Central, and Southern Taiwan, respectively.
A full air cavalry brigade has approximately 2,000 officers and soldiers.
Reserve Battalions
Reserve battalions were formed first in 1980 at 20 Regimental Reserve Management HQs on Taiwan proper. Reservist recall and refresher training started in 1982. In 1984, the ORBAT of all reserve battalions were reduced in accordance to the ORBAT of regular army infantry battalions. Currently, the theoretical strength of a reserve battalion is 40 officers and 571 NCOs and enlisted ranks distributed over the following units:
- 1 Battalion HQ and HQ Company
- 1 Weapons Company
- 3 Infantry Companies
Reserve battalions are equipped mostly with weapons retired from front-line Army units, such as T57 7.56 mm rifles, 30- and 50-cal machine guns, 60, 81, and 120 mmm mortars, and 75 mm recoiless guns.
