Fuxinggang Metro Station - Soldier with a Military Backpack Patiently Waits | Guandu Metro Station “Carnival of the Animals” × Fuxinggang Metro Station “Big Contributions from Small Soldiers”

Soldier with a Military Backpack Patiently Waits

The army’s specialized multifunctional backpack is a daily necessity of military life. It is very spacious, made of light material, and resistant to wear. When troops are being transferred or on the move, a soldier can use his or her backpack to carry various equipment, such as a helmet, an S-shaped belt, a camouflage uniform, a water bottle or a raincoat. This soldier shown has just finished some R&R. He is waiting for an MRT train on a platform to return to his platoon.

Infantry

The infantry is the lifeblood of the army. As one of the most versatile and adaptable branches of the military, its troops are adept at fighting in any weather, terrain, time, or circumstance. The infantry’s four units are the foot soldier infantry, the mechanized infantry, the anti-tank infantry, and the special operations infantry.

Extended Reading

The Story of a Bowl of Noodles

“We can’t choose where we come from, but we can choose to act with integrity.”

Enlisting in the military is a path forward for many youths from lower-income families. Although they do not make a big fortune, the stable work and steady income provided by the army can help with the family finances and lighten the burden on their parents.

You might remember the story about the five siblings of the Wei family sharing one bowl of noodles in Nantou’s Chushan Township.

In 2016, the mother of five was struggling with cancer and had high medical expenses. Hoping to ease the burden on their parents, all the siblings shared one bowl of soup noodle and left half to take home for Mom and Dad. The story gained widespread media attention and touched the hearts of people all over Taiwan.

So, how are the Wei siblings doing now?

With love and support from the public, the children are now grown up. The two eldest siblings, Wei Guan-yu and Wei Xue-ting, both chose to enlist in the army. Pledging their service to protect the nation is their way of giving back to society and living out their dreams.

The oldest brother, Wei Guan-yu and his younger sister, Wei Xue-ting, took the examinations to become army officers when they graduated from National Chushan Senior High School. While their military duties take them away from home, they send money back each month to provide for their family. Their biggest wish is to “buy a home and a car, so we can travel together and resolve the regret of never being able to go on family trips.”

As Guan-yu said, “We can’t choose where we come from, but we can choose to act with integrity.” The siblings may come from underprivileged circumstances, but they worked hard to become self-reliant. This is to let their mom in heaven know: “Not to worry. We are all doing well.”

Serving in the military paves a way for them to become economically independent and fulfill their dreams. What’s more, it gives them strength and courage to face the future, challenge themselves, and give back to their home and country.