Extension of Military Training Period Again... Ministry of National Defense Only Adds to Confusion

Naval Academy prospective cadets undergoing guerrilla training.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The Navy has decided to extend the recruit training period from 4 weeks to 5 weeks. This comes 1 year and 7 months after the implementation of a 1-week reduction in recruit training duration.

According to the military on the 29th, the Ministry of National Defense announced last January that it had completed the reorganization of the recruit training system in connection with the reduction of military service periods. It stated that the Air Force and Navy, which previously maintained a 5-week training course, would reduce the recruit training period to 4 weeks. The plan involved shortening the training period significantly by reducing upper-level subjects controlled by the Ministry of National Defense, such as sexual violence prevention education and security education, and minimizing overlapping parts between basic military training and refresher training.

After the reduction of the recruit training period, side effects appeared in each branch. The Navy saw a decline in soldiers' physical fitness compared to the 5-week training period. The percentage of soldiers verified to have level 3 or higher physical fitness dropped from 56% to 54%, and the number of soldiers capable of 25 km combat swimming also decreased. Although the Navy implemented a customized physical training program from July last year, soldiers' fitness did not improve. Consequently, the Navy plans to extend the recruit training period back to 5 weeks starting this August. In particular, amid recent issues of security failures and lax military discipline, the Navy intends to increase the training hours for subjects such as mental strength, human rights, and military law, which had been reduced.

The Marine Corps, which had shortened its training period from 7 weeks to 6 weeks, increased it by one week again starting this February. The Ministry of National Defense's directive to reduce the training period by one week was deemed unsuitable for active-duty soldiers' mission performance. With the reduction in training time last year, the Marine Corps decided to increase training hours for bayonet techniques, conquering Cheonjabong Peak training, and individual weapon shooting.

The Army conducted a pilot program applying a 4-week training period from March to June last year for trainees at the Army Training Center and the 9th Division but judged it insufficient for training soldiers. The Army maintains that, as an infantry-centered force, it must conduct shooting skills, combat fitness, and individual combat techniques.

The Army will maintain the 5-week training period and conduct comprehensive training in the latter part to enhance training outcomes. The comprehensive training involves recruits staying at an outdoor training ground for 3 nights and 4 days. The training includes a 20 km overnight march, individual weapon shooting, and combat fitness training. The initially considered abolition of the 20 km overnight march will not proceed, and the march will be conducted as planned. On the last day of the comprehensive training, the Army plans to hold an 'Army Warrior Certification Ceremony,' where recruits will receive dog tags engraved with their military service numbers upon returning from the 20 km overnight march.

The Army will expand individual weapon shooting training from the existing 42 hours to 50 hours. Additionally, the 'live-fire shooting' session, previously conducted once, will be held twice. Physical training for recruits will also be strengthened through 'battlefield circuit exercises,' such as 60 m shuttle runs.

Inside and outside the military, opinions have emerged that the policy was hastily established in line with 'Defense Reform 2.0,' causing only confusion. The Ministry of National Defense has stated that as part of 'Defense Reform 2.0,' it would gradually reduce service periods starting with those discharged on October 1, 2018, and complete the reduction for those enlisted from June 15, 2020. Due to the shortened service period, there was an increased need to deploy recruits early, making it inevitable to shorten the recruit training period. However, criticism has arisen that the policy did not consider the characteristics of each unit and the capabilities required for soldiers to perform their duties.

A military official said, "Physical fitness must be supported first for soldiers to perform their duties," adding, "It is important to develop the basic abilities to perform missions during the recruit training period rather than rushing deployment to field units."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.