Page 97 - Conflitti Militari e Popolazioni Civili - Tomo II

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who were at or graduated from the secondary or higher educational institutes.
Students were expected to contribute to the country with their academic backgrounds.
Rapid modernization needed their knowledge. But that students did not have to take military
drills did not mean that they were privileged class.

estabLishment of one-year voLunteer system:
the beginning of taking maLes with higher educationaL

backgrounds into the miLitary
Amendment of the conscription law in 1889 was the first step to pave the way for the
wealthy and intellectual young people into the military. This move was initiated by a German
military advisor, Klemens W. J. Meckel (1842-1906).
Meckel insisted that medical doctors, government officials, and students should not be
exempted from the conscription; They should be invited to the military as reserve officers. As
the result, “one-year volunteer system,” after the German style training method for reserve
officers, was adopted.
This system was to offer one-year special training for volunteers who had certain aca-
demic backgrounds, and to appoint them reserve officers. Interestingly, the military did not
offer allowance: even uniforms were at volunteers’ own expenses. Except for this burden,
volunteers could enjoy the privileges. For example, they were not called to the actual service
before 28 years old. Only one year service was required to be enlisted as reserve officers.
This exclusive advantage indicates the government’s intention to recruit as many upper-class
young as possible into the military.
Official gazettes explained that the special favor of the one-year volunteer system was to
increase the number of reserve officers. But the true purpose was to attract the upper-class,
especially the educated and the rich into the military, as many with such backgrounds tended
to keep away from the military service by taking advantage of various exemption rules.
In addition to this, the military aimed to vanish a widely spread perception that military
service was shabby work. Taking the upper-class into the military and showing their presence
were a good solution to suppress such view. The military also intended to ease a complaint of
ordinary people that the upper-class did not serve the military. In sum, the one-year volunteer
system with full of privileges was a “lure” to entice the upper-class into the army and navy.

after the wwi: a further step to increase reserve officers
The military learned a lot from the First World War; Japan fully realized the importance
of preparing for a future total-war; Japan noticed the astonishing fact that those who had
received secondary and above education demonstrated competent performance in the war.
Furthermore, Japan was attracted to see a noticeable trend of military trainings for youth in
European countries. Scrutinizing of these new tide resulted in a series of Japanese military
reform.
These new findings prompted the military to become much eager than ever to invite
educated young students into the military. The government expanded the mandatory military
service. It took every effort to prevent escaping the draft, and the applied age was lowered.
This reform was also intended to reduce the complaint of the ordinary citizens who had been