Veterans Affairs Council

The Veterans Affairs Council (VAC; 國軍退除役官兵輔導委員會) is a branch of the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan) with "responsibilities to assist in education assistance, employment assistance, medical care, home care and other general services" for retired servicemen and women from the Republic of China Armed Forces. VAC is a National Member of World Veterans Federation.^[1][2]

The incumbent minister is Feng Shih-kuan, a retired Republic of China Air Force general who took office on 5 August 2019.

History

VAC was founded as cabinet-level organization on 1 November 1954 as Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen (VACRS; traditional Chinese: 國軍退除役官兵就業輔導委員會; pinyin: Guójūn Tuìchúyì Guānbīng Jiùyè Fǔdǎo Wěiyuánhuì). It changed name to Veterans Affairs Commission in 1966 and to Veterans Affairs Council on 1 November 2013.^[3][4]

Missions and functions

• Ensuring the Vitality of the Armed Forces
• Securing Social Stability and Prosperity
• Maximizing Human Resources
• Supporting National Reconstruction
• Developing Substantive Diplomacy

Organizational structures

• Department of Planning
• Department of Veterans Service and Assistance
• Department of Homecare and Nursing Care
• Department of Education and Employment Assistance
• Department of Healthcare and Medical Care
• Department of Business Management
• Department of Retirement Payment
• Department of Administrative Management
• Department of Personnel
• Department of Civil Service Ethics
• Department of Accounting
• Department of Statistics and Information
• Legal Affairs Committee

Hospitals and Veterans Homes

VAC operates hospitals and retirement homes, including:

• Taipei Veterans General Hospital
• Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital

Associated Enterprises

Under its charter to provide employment assistance to Taiwan (ROC) military veterans, the Veterans Affairs Commission operates a number of for profit enterprises in Taiwan that employ veterans. Some of the related businesses include:^{[needs update]}

• Shin-Shin Bus Company (欣欣客運)
• Danan Bus Company (大南汽車)
• Wuling Farm
• Fushoushan Farm
• Cingjing Farm
• RSEA Engineering (榮民工程公司) – As on 1 July 1998 no longer associated with the Veterans Affairs Commission.

List of VAC Ministers

Political parties:

For ministers who retired from the Armed Forces to serve, the Service column denotes their military branch before retirement.

See also

• Republic of China Armed Forces

References

1. ^ "Veterans Affairs Council ROC – World Veterans Federation"
2. ^ "各國退伍軍人組織". 15 July 2016.
3. ^ "Our History, Missions and Functions". Veterans Affairs Commission.
4. ^ "Veterans Affairs Council, R.O.C.: Our History, Missions and Functions". vac.gov.tw. 2014-05-07. Retrieved 2014-05-07.