Air Force Soldier Service Period Shortened from 22 to 21 Months

On the 8th, when the military leave that had been restricted to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) was resumed normally, soldiers heading on leave were making their way to the train at Seoul Station. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The service period for Air Force soldiers discharged after December next year will be reduced to 21 months.

The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 2nd, "The plan to shorten the Air Force soldiers' service period from 22 months to 21 months has passed the Cabinet meeting," and added, "It will be implemented after the President's approval."

The 21-month service period decided on this day will apply to those discharged after December 2021. Air Force soldiers who enlisted in March this year will be the first to serve 21 months. The Air Force decided in 2018 to reduce the soldiers' service period from 24 months to 22 months and has been gradually shortening the period. Those discharged in November 2020 served 22 months, shortened by 2 months.

The reason only the Air Force soldiers' service period reduction was approved at this Cabinet meeting is that when the active duty soldiers' service period was shortened in 2018, the Army and Marines and Navy were reduced by 3 months, but only the Air Force was reduced by 2 months.

According to the 2018 defense reform, the government shortened the service periods of Army and Marines (21 months), Navy (23 months), and Air Force (24 months) soldiers to 18 months, 20 months, and 22 months, respectively.

In the case of the Air Force, the legally prescribed service period under the Military Service Act was 28 months, so the maximum reducible service period was 22 months. The service period for active duty soldiers can only be adjusted within 6 months of the legally prescribed service period under the Military Service Act.

In March this year, the National Assembly passed an amendment to the Military Service Act that shortened the Air Force service period from 28 months to 27 months, allowing the Air Force to further reduce soldiers' service by one month. With the passage of the amendment, the government can reduce the Air Force soldiers' service period by 3 months, just like the Army and Navy. The 3-month reduction (compared to 2018) will also apply to the Army, Marines, and Navy discharged after December 2021, with service periods of 18 months for Army and Marines, 20 months for Navy, and 21 months for Air Force.

A Ministry of National Defense official said, "We will proceed with the reduction of active duty soldiers' service periods without any setbacks," and added, "We will strive to improve combat power through enhanced proficiency via scientific training and deployment of military personnel focused on combat missions."

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