Japan's SDF Shortfall Puts Defense Capacity at Risk

The Self-Defense Forces had 217,701 members at the end of March, 29,453 below the authorized total of 247,154. As Japan’s government and ruling Liberal Democratic Party move to improve pay and benefits, the outlook for recruitment is worsening. The Defense Ministry said the force was filled to 88.1% of required positions. Officials have warned that the shortage could make it harder for Japan to strengthen its defense capabilities.

If the trend continues, the ministry estimates the number of SDF personnel will fall to 180,000 in fiscal 2035 and 130,000 in fiscal 2045. A senior Ground Self-Defense Force officer said the shortage was increasing each member’s workload and could weaken the organization.

Japan’s birth rate continues to fall. That makes it increasingly difficult for the SDF to recruit enough personnel. The government and LDP are considering changes to pay, support for personnel after retirement, and a clearer commitment to improved working conditions in revisions to the country’s three key national security and defense policy documents planned for the end of this year.

Pay and service conditions

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a news conference on Friday that recruiting SDF personnel had become more difficult. The government must improve conditions for those serving and create an environment in which retired personnel and their families can take pride in their lives, he said. Kihara said the government would work on specific measures to meet those goals.

The government plans to review the pay system so it better reflects the special duties and working conditions of SDF personnel. Officials are also discussing the retirement system. Many personnel leave in their mid-50s, and the need for many to retire relatively young to maintain a strong and effective force is considered one reason recruitment has become difficult.

Plans for retirees and the force

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is promoting a plan to establish a new government agency in fiscal 2027. Its name isn’t finalized. The proposed agency would support retired SDF personnel and their families, including by helping them find jobs after retirement. Koizumi has said the issue requires action by the entire government.

On Oct. 13, LDP lawmakers held the first meeting of a new parliamentary group focused on strengthening the SDF workforce. Former Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, the group’s chairman, said, “the most important asset of the SDF is its people.” The group plans to make proposals to the government, including raising the retirement age, and hopes its ideas will appear in the revised policy documents.

Whether the measures will be enough to resolve the shortage in the near future remains unclear. A senior Defense Ministry official said the ministry would need to make better use of technology, including uncrewed aircraft, to reduce personnel needs and improve efficiency while maintaining defense capabilities. Ground Self-Defense Force personnel took part in an annual military drill at the Narashino exercise field in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, in January.