Han Kuang Exercise Mobilizes Unprecedented 5,000 Reserve Troops, Aiming to Achieve Combat Readiness in 14 Days

The 2025 Han Kuang 41 exercise marked the first full-brigade mobilization by the Army's 206th Infantry Brigade, calling up over 3,000 reservists and breaking past battalion- or company-level norms. The 2026 Han Kuang 42 exercise, scheduled from August 5 to August 14, will further expand reserve mobilization to one brigade each in northern and southern Taiwan (Taipei Reserve Brigade and 137th Brigade), totaling 5,000 troops—an unprecedented scale. A Ministry of National Defense official stated that mobilizing two brigades simultaneously is unprecedented.

The official explained, "Assuming there are 30 reserve brigades nationwide, each with battalions and companies, mobilization has typically been conducted at the battalion level. Last year, we mobilized one complete brigade; this year, mobilizing two brigades is a significant challenge and something we have never done before."

Reserve brigades normally maintain only a 'core cadre' structure, including headquarters, infantry and artillery battalions, and specialized units for logistics and combat support. They must be fully staffed to wartime strength within a strict timeframe—a complex process where any delay directly impacts overall combat effectiveness. The official emphasized, "We must precisely calculate how quickly we can recall such a large number of personnel and how long it will take to train them into an effective fighting force. This directly affects when mobilization orders must be issued in the event of war."

The Ministry of National Defense official added, "Whether mobilization lasts 7 or 14 days, there is academic rationale behind it, along with strategic thinking on combat readiness formation. In 2025, the target was 21 days to achieve combat capability; in 2026, it is shortened to 14 days. Ideally, Taiwan's combat capability could be formed in just one or two days, but we must progressively improve. This year's goal is for reserve forces to achieve combat readiness within 14 days."

Additional exclusive reports from Storm Media: · Interview: Will Ku Li-hsiung be recalled as a transportation platoon leader? The defense minister struggles with precise force mobilization · Interview: Can Ku Li-hsiung control the military? Initially relying on Mei Chia-shu for support—two years of civilian-led defense strategy · Interview: The military no longer rigidly purchases weapons—effective negotiation in arms procurement with Ku Li-hsiung