Political Warfare Bureau,M.N.D.PostDate: 2019/05/01

News Reference Materials for the 2019 National Defense Education Summer Combat Camp Event Conducted by Ministry of National Defense

1. Press Conference Topic:

Planning and Explanation of the 2019 National Defense Education “Summer Combat Camp” Event

2. Press Conference Attendees:

1. Section Chief of the Cultural and Psychological Warfare Section of Political Warfare Bureau – Major General Lou Wei-Jie

2. Chief of the Joint Combat Training Department of Secondary Training Room – Major General Tsai Lian-Hui

3. Chief Counselor of 206 Brigade of the 6th Army Command – Second Lieutenant Huang Guan-Lun

4. Vice Leader of Air Training Center of the R.O.C. Army Aviation and Special Forces Command – Sergeant Zou Yi-Mei

5. Vice Captain of First Cannon Company of the Marine Corps Landing Chariot Battalion – Sergeant Chen Ke-Yuan

6. Student of the R.O.C. Air Force Academy – Qiu Wen-Yi

7. Student of the Chung Cheng Institute of Technology, National Defense University – Li Yi


3. News Reference Materials:

Ministry of National Defense plans to conduct the “Summer Combat Camp” event from 1st July to 27th July this year (2019), and has convened a promotion press conference today, where Major General Lou Wei- Jie, Section Chief of the Cultural and Psychological Warfare Section of Political Warfare Bureau, explained the content of the event. The Summer Combat Camp this year will consist a total of 20 camps, 36 batches, and 3,360 individuals, which has an increase of 190 individuals when compared to the “Yilan Qingxi National Defense Experience Camp” newly added last year (2018) and the re-run “Cheng Kung Ling Shooting Experience Camp”.

Lou Wei-Jie has stated that the Summer Combat Camp has been well received by nationwide young students and their parents ever since its grand opening in 2006, and for that reason the Ministry of National Defense has filmed a series of lively and humorous promotional videos to promote how popular and scarce the combat camp quota is, hence young students who are interested are recommended to apply as soon as possible.

This press conference has arranged 5 officers, soldiers, and students, who are currently serving or studying, and have participated the combat camp, to come and share their thoughts and experience: Huang Guan-Lun, second lieutenant of Army 206 Brigade, who has been highly passionate in “becoming a soldier” since little, has successfully applied for the Cheng Kung Ling Combat Camp in 2013, and deepened his yearning towards military troops after fully experiencing various military courses; he was then successfully admitted to Fu Hsing Kang College subsequently, where he graduated last year, and became a chief counselor who takes care of the soldiers and officers. Zou Yi-Mei, sergeant of Air Training Center of the R.O.C. Army Aviation and Special Forces Command, has participated the Armor Combat Camp in 2011, where she experienced first-hand of the professionalism and enthusiasm from the instructor “Black Lady”, and also witnessed soldiers who are beyond her imagination; her attraction of the shiny paratrooper badge made her decide to join the paratroopers, and eventually she acquired her own paratrooper badge, then became a member of the R.O.C. Army Aviation and Special Forces Command. Chen Ke-Yuan, sergeant of marine corps, who already applied to become a voluntary soldier, and participated the Amphibious Challenge Camp with his classmates, has become even more determined in his decision of joining the marine corps after undergoing the refine training of the troop. Coincidentally, the Landing Chariot Battalion where he serves happens to be the same troop where his father served when he was young, which made him believe that joining the army was the correct decision. Qiu Wen-Yi, a junior of the R.O.C. Air Force Academy, applied for the Air Combat Camp in 2014, where he was fascinated by the heroic posture of the pilots, and the introduction on the magnificent troop courses and units made him realized that the army provides an excellent study and career environment, hence he applied for the R.O.C Air Force Academy and strives to become a pilot who guards the aerial space of our country. Li Yi, a freshman of the Chung Cheng Institute of Technology, National Defense University, participated the Kinmen Combat Camp in 2017, where he not only witnessed the battlefield scenery of Kinmen, but also experienced the warm hospitality from the troop cadres, which allowed him to gain a better understanding in the military environment. Under the encouragement from his parents as well as personal interest, he was accepted into the Chung Cheng Institute of Technology, National Defense University when he applied for it during senior year of high school, and he hopes to exert his ability in the mechanical aerospace engineering field in the future. Their experiences have verified that the combat camps are indeed able to embed the idea of national defense as well as elevate and benefit patriotic awareness, while also provided a summer activity option for nationwide young students as well as a direction for future study and career path.

The online application this year will begin from 12:00 on 1st May and end at 17:00 on 15th May at “National Defense Education Summer Combat Camp Application Website” (https://camp.gpwb.gov.tw), where troops and batches will be opened for selection, and applicants are able to participate for raffle eligibility. Furthermore, in order to implement the government’s policy of caring for vulnerable families, each unit will also invite students from middle and low-income households to participate combat camps for free (will not be incorporated into the total quota), where children of vulnerable families can also experience camp activities, and the required budget will be handled by the Ministry of National Defense. Lou Wei-Jie pointed out that national defense education is a continuous and prolonged work that required the support and participation of all citizens. The summer combat camps this year are consisted of more diversified and rich courses, and all young students are welcome to apply and participate, where not only are they able to experience military affairs first hand, but also grant themselves with an incomparable summer life.