(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I would like to speak about the raising of the retirement age for Self-Defense Forces (SDF) personnel. At today’s Cabinet meeting, the Cabinet Order for Partial Revision of the Order for Enforcement of the SDF Act was approved by the Cabinet. Accordingly, the retirement ages for SDF personnel of the following ranks are to be raised by one year with effect from October 2024: Issa (Colonel [GSDF/ASDF]/Captain [MSDF]), Nisa (Lieutenant Colonel [GSDF/ASDF]/Commander [MSDF]), Sansa (Major [GSDF/ASDF]/Lieutenant Commander [MSDF]), Niso (Sergeant First Class [GSDF]/Petty Officer First Class [MSDF]/Technical Sergeant [ASDF]), and Sanso (Sergeant [GSDF]/Petty Officer Third Class [MSDF]/Staff Sergeant [ASDF]) . Raising the retirement age of SDF personnel is aligned with the Defense Buildup Program formulated the year before last, and it is aimed at making further effective use of human resources with a wealth of knowledge, skills, experience, and other qualities. Measures that contribute to reinforcing our human resource foundation are extremely important for SDF personnel, who form the core element of Japan’s defense capability, to demonstrate their abilities. Therefore, we intend to continue to further promote such measures.