what job would I get in military service

[hokxj]

I'm currently studying, 1st yr uni in australia, but im thinking of going back to tw jst for military service.
i actually WANT to be conscripted. I mean there are heaps of benefits for me:
i can visit in the future without having to leave by a certain date
improve my mando/taiwanese
and of course, who doesnt want to look ripped?

so, im an abc, im fluent in english, semi fluent in Mandarin,taiwanese and japanese, i can read a few characters, but cant write very well, but i can listen and speak well. so what I want to know is, if i were to be conscripted, what kind of job would I get? I would definitely prefer to be in a more physical area (i heard you get worked the hardest in the navy, so I want navy) as opposed to something like a translator.

and also, is military service fun? i heard it's been getting easier these years as well.

[sandman]

is military service fun? i heard it's been getting easier these years as well.

I've never heard of anyone describing it as "fun." Usually the expression used is "counting mantou," i.e. utter boredom. Don't know if its easier or not but its certainly shorter than it used to be.
As for what you would be doing, I wouldn't hold out much hope of getting what you want. You'll obviously be doing what THEY want, and if they know you're multilingual there's probably a good chance they'll use that.
In any case, the really cool jobs 'aint for the conscripts, as a rule. Training for those jobs is expensive and time consuming, so they're unlikely to be wasting money training a non-career guy who'll be gone in a few months.

[Icon]

Maybe you could volunteer for ICDF or other agency that does work here and abroad. That would be very helpful and constructive, plus you get a feel good acomplishment vibe. Might get buffed if you are also sent abroad.

[Satellite TV]

I'm currently studying, 1st yr uni in australia, but im thinking of going back to tw jst for military service.
i actually WANT to be conscripted. I mean there are heaps of benefits for me: i can visit in the future without having to leave by a certain date improve my mando/taiwanese and of course, who doesnt want to look ripped?

so, im an abc, im fluent in english, semi fluent in Mandarin,taiwanese and japanese, i can read a few characters, but cant write very well, but i can listen and speak well. so what I want to know is, if i were to be conscripted, what kind of job would I get? I would definitely prefer to be in a more physical area (i heard you get worked the hardest in the navy, so I want navy) as opposed to something like a translator. and also, is military service fun? i heard it's been getting easier these years as well.

Well you would probably get guard duty, standing at gates 12 hour shifts. You would not be doing any translating as firstly you arent fluent in the local language either written or spoken. You don't get to choose your job, you get told what to do.

Just finish your Uni first then run back to do your civic duty if you must.

[Icon]

...which is why I recommend the volunteering, as you might get something interesting -and in the process, yes, that time counts as your military conscription.

[Poagao]

Well you would get guard duty, standing at gates 12 hour shifts. You would not be doing any translating as firstly you arent fluent in the local language either written or spoken. You don't get to choose your job, you get told what to do.

Just finish your Uni first then run back to do your civic duty if you must.

Wow, are you sure? Those seem like some long shifts.

[Edgar Allen]

wow the navy huh? All those boys, small bunks and months away at sea - sounds "fun"

Does your dad know?

[bismarck]

I agree that you should finish university first, then come back and do military service.

[Deuce Dropper]

I know of people who have gotten desk jobs in the army during their conscription, working at a computer and the like, but they were CS grads with plans of graduate school.
That is about as interesting as it gets and probably demands a fair amount of guanxi to score such a gig.
If I were you, I'd finish school, but if that is something you really aren't keen on doing, see if you can use your English skills or overseas experience to land a post that is a little more interesting than standing at the doorway of a base all day.

[bismarck]

I know of people who have gotten desk jobs in the army during their conscription, working at a computer and the like, but they were CS grads with plans of graduate school.
That is about as interesting as it gets and probably demands a fair amount of guanxi to score such a gig.
If I were you, I'd finish school, but if that is something you really aren't keen on doing, see if you can use your English skills or overseas experience to land a post that is a little more interesting than standing at the doorway of a base all day.

One of my mates is a Taiwanese South African and he came back to Taiwan when his father got sick. He hadn't been to college and doesn't have any guanxi that I know of. But he can speak Chinese and English fluently (although, at the time he couldn't write or write Chinese). After basics he was put in an office where he had to do translation work. When he told his Lt he can't read Chinese the Lt. apparently said, "Well, you'd better learn quickly." He spent his year doing that basically. Translation and related work.
Not sure where he was stationed, but it was either near Taipei or Kaohsiung. Perhaps he just go lucky, though.