Your blog is really interesting. I moved to US when I was 15 and could not waive my conscription like other did. Your description make the military service sounds not too bad after all. Please continue once you have time!
Thanks for the comment. Basic training isn't bad, although the really hard part comes later. And believe me, although I don't regret doing my time, there is plenty of bullshit to go around that I haven't even begun to get into yet...
I've been following your blog for awhile and I've especially appreciated your posts regarding military service, it's been fascinating.
I'm an ABC who wants to stay in Taiwan long-term and I'm in the process of applying for citizenship, though it seems like a pretty confusing situation. Were you born in Taiwan, and if not, would you mind sharing with me the process you went through? I've gone to the immigration agency multiple times but each time I leave more confused. (ex: it was only on my most recent trip that I heard I had to apply for a TW passport and then enter the country with it)
I'm no immigration lawyer, so take everything I say with a grain of salt. For me, my folks had be naturalized (入籍) when I was 10 years old. Since my household registration (戶口) is in Taiwan, I automatically received my draft orders when I was 18, and had to apply for education deferments afterwards to postpone my induction till after I graduated. There's an age cap for such deferments, IIRC, 25 for a bachelor's degree, 28 for an MS, and 30 for a PhD. Most of my fellow draftees range in age from 18 - 25, although age is less of a factor in the military than induction date.
There is also an ex-pat status (僑居) you can apply for, which renders you exempt from the draft. the kicker is though that you will not be able to reside continuously in Taiwan for longer than a few months. Staying longer than that amount of time changes your household registration status to domestic, and thus makes you eligible for the draft.
The draft itself is due to be phased out by 2014, though a few months basic training will still be mandatory. I do not know whether that will be better or worse as far as the quality of training is involved - currently 1 month is rather rushed, and there is a great deal of on the job learning after basic.
4 comments:
Hey,
Your blog is really interesting. I moved to US when I was 15 and could not waive my conscription like other did.
Your description make the military service sounds not too bad after all.
Please continue once you have time!
Thanks for the comment. Basic training isn't bad, although the really hard part comes later. And believe me, although I don't regret doing my time, there is plenty of bullshit to go around that I haven't even begun to get into yet...
Heya,
I've been following your blog for awhile and I've especially appreciated your posts regarding military service, it's been fascinating.
I'm an ABC who wants to stay in Taiwan long-term and I'm in the process of applying for citizenship, though it seems like a pretty confusing situation. Were you born in Taiwan, and if not, would you mind sharing with me the process you went through? I've gone to the immigration agency multiple times but each time I leave more confused. (ex: it was only on my most recent trip that I heard I had to apply for a TW passport and then enter the country with it)
Thanks in advance! (stechen@umich.edu)
Hey Steven,
I'm no immigration lawyer, so take everything I say with a grain of salt. For me, my folks had be naturalized (入籍) when I was 10 years old. Since my household registration (戶口) is in Taiwan, I automatically received my draft orders when I was 18, and had to apply for education deferments afterwards to postpone my induction till after I graduated. There's an age cap for such deferments, IIRC, 25 for a bachelor's degree, 28 for an MS, and 30 for a PhD. Most of my fellow draftees range in age from 18 - 25, although age is less of a factor in the military than induction date.
There is also an ex-pat status (僑居) you can apply for, which renders you exempt from the draft. the kicker is though that you will not be able to reside continuously in Taiwan for longer than a few months. Staying longer than that amount of time changes your household registration status to domestic, and thus makes you eligible for the draft.
The draft itself is due to be phased out by 2014, though a few months basic training will still be mandatory. I do not know whether that will be better or worse as far as the quality of training is involved - currently 1 month is rather rushed, and there is a great deal of on the job learning after basic.
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