"Postponing Discharge Earns 45 Million Won Bonus"…Australia Takes Drastic Measures Amid 'Military Service Shortage'

Goal of 100,000 Sanggeun Reserve Forces Personnel

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Australia, facing military service shortages, has decided to expand cash bonuses for soldiers who extend their service terms.

According to the '2024 Defence Workforce Plan' announced by the Australian Department of Defence on the 5th (local time), the government will increase the defence personnel budget by AUD 600 million (approximately KRW 550 billion) annually to expand the Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and extend the average service period. The increased amount will be used to provide a lump-sum bonus of AUD 50,000 (approximately KRW 45 million) to junior soldiers who extend their service by 3 years after completing the mandatory 4-year service period. A lump-sum bonus will also be paid to soldiers who have served 7 to 9 years and extend their service again.

This system was temporarily implemented for the first time last year. As a result, about 80% of eligible junior soldiers, totaling 3,100, chose to extend their service instead of discharge. This system will continue until June 2028. However, from July 2025, the bonus for extending the service term will be reduced to AUD 40,000 (approximately KRW 36 million).

The Australian government is increasing the defence personnel budget to raise the number of full-time defence personnel, currently at around 50,000, to 100,000. According to the Australian government, the expected full-time personnel as of the end of June next year is 58,600. The government aims to increase the expected full-time personnel of 58,600 by the end of June next year to 69,000 by early 2030 and reach 100,000 by 2040.

To achieve this, the annual enlistment, currently about 5,500, must be increased to around 9,000 per year over the next 10 years, and the average service period must be extended from 7 years to 12 years. Richard Marles, Australian Minister for Defence, said, "It is a difficult task, but I am confident that we can achieve this goal by improving service conditions through appropriate funding," adding, "We also plan to expand opportunities for reservists to work full-time or part-time."