Discharged from Military Service for Research and Development... 2nd Class of Science and Technology Specialist Officers

Army Training Center. Archive photo. Not related to the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The 'Science and Technology Specialist Officer' system, which allows military service members to work as officers at the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) while continuing their studies and research, has produced its second group of discharged personnel.

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 30th, 20 members of the 2nd Science and Technology Specialist Officer group will be discharged as lieutenants on the 31st (16 from the Army, 1 from the Navy, and 3 from the Air Force). These individuals are science and engineering students enrolled in four-year universities nationwide who have served as R&D officers at ADD for three years in lieu of military service, continuing their academic and research work. Based on this experience, they plan to further their studies at major domestic and international universities, or to work at research institutes, companies, or start technology ventures, demonstrating their capabilities as defense R&D professionals. Previously, they underwent candidate training courses including defense science and technology education, entrepreneurship education, and ADD field training.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of National Defense are implementing this system with the goal of resolving career interruptions for outstanding science and engineering talents caused by military service and contributing to the enhancement of military power based on advanced science and technology.

Lieutenant Ga Dong-won, who is being discharged this time, said, "I feel a sense of accomplishment in contributing to the advancement of our country's defense science and technology by conducting defense research and development (R&D) at ADD," and added, "After discharge, I want to enter a graduate program overseas and become someone who contributes again to defense science and technology in the future."

Meanwhile, on the 28th, 20 candidates of the 5th Science and Technology Specialist Officer group held a commissioning ceremony at the Army Cadet Military School in Goesan, Chungbuk, and were appointed as second lieutenants. They will be assigned to ADD starting from the 1st of next month.

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