People who want to serve others and their country. People who are confident in their physical strength and want to strengthen themselves.

The main job of the Ground Self-Defense Force is to protect Japan's land. Japan has three Self-Defense Forces: the Ground Self-Defense Force, Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Air Self-Defense Force, with the Ground Self-Defense Force having the largest number of personnel. The Ground SDF is divided into 16 departments: the Regular Department, which operates mainly on the ground; the Medical Department, which transports and treats patients to medical facilities and manages the health of its personnel; and the Facility Department, which builds roads, bridges, and other structures. Each of these departments has a role to play when earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, suspicious ships or planes approach Japan, or when rebuilding towns ravaged by wars overseas. Because of the dangers involved in such deployments, they train rigorously on a daily basis to strengthen their minds and bodies.

To become a Ground Self-Defense Force officer, one must take the Self-Defense Force Recruitment Examination. There are several courses of recruitment depending on one's educational background. There are 16 ranks in the Japan Self-Defense Forces, ranging from "samurai" to "general," and the starting rank and the speed at which you move up in rank vary depending on your educational background. Incidentally, the higher the academic background, the higher the rank to start from. The recruitment examination basically consists of a written and oral test, a physical examination, and an aptitude assessment.

After graduating from junior high school, there is a path to "JGSDF Technical High School," a school that trains students to become future Ground Self-Defense Force officers, along with three years of high school education (for boys only). (For boys only). If you want to become a senior Self-Defense Forces officer in the future, after graduating from high school, you can enter an educational institution of the Ministry of Defense, such as the National Defense Academy, where you will learn practical skills for the Self-Defense Forces, or the National Defense Medical College, where you will work as a doctor in the activities of the Self-Defense Forces. Both offer free tuition and enrollment fees, and while in school, students receive a student allowance (income) as special national public servants.

A wide range of discussions are currently taking place from various perspectives on the future defense capabilities of the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF). This is because the fear of terrorism and other terrorist attacks, as well as relations with nearby countries, are becoming increasingly tense. In addition, the Ground SDF is indispensable to Japan today, as it prepares for the occurrence of large-scale natural disasters due to global climate change and other factors. We must consider the possibility of an ever-expanding range of activities for the SDF. It is likely that the Ground SDF will have to review its role and organizational structure to ensure that it is prepared for all possible situations to which it must respond, and that it can play an active role adequately.

Starting salaries for JSDF officers range from 179,200 yen per month for high school graduates to 198,100 yen for university graduates. For cadets, it starts at around 220,000 yen per month for college graduates and 240,000 yen for graduate students. The amount varies depending on the route taken to become a Japan Self-Defense Forces officer. In addition, students at the National Defense Academy and other schools receive a monthly student allowance of 117,000 yen, and students at the JGSDF Technical High School receive 103,700 yen.

As a general rule, two days off per week. For disaster dispatch or training, you may have to work on holidays, but you will receive a compensatory day off.

There are approximately 160 Self-Defense Forces garrisons and other locations throughout Japan.

It's a chart that shows at a glance the main routes to a job in the Ground Self-Defense Force!