The First Married Couple Squadron Commander in the Air Force Emerges

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu] The Air Force has seen its first-ever couple both serving as flight squadron commanders. The protagonists are Lieutenant Colonel Kim Min-ji (39), commander of the 251st Airborne Flight Squadron of the 5th Air Mobility Wing, and Lieutenant Colonel Kim Ik-gyu (39), commander of the 271st Air Control Flight Squadron of the 51st Air Control Wing.

According to the Air Force on the 13th, Lieutenant Colonel Kim Min-ji assumed command of the 251st Airborne Flight Squadron of the 5th Air Mobility Wing on that day, while her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Kim Ik-gyu, became the first couple to both serve as flight squadron commanders last month when he took command of the 271st Air Control Flight Squadron of the 51st Air Control Wing. Both are responsible for leading their squadrons' air operations and training, as well as overseeing pilot education and training.

Lieutenant Colonels Kim Ik-gyu and Kim Min-ji, the first couple to serve as squadron commanders in the Air Force, are posing with their twin daughters, Young-seol and Eun-seol, making a heart shape in front of the E-737 Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft (left) and the C-130 transport aircraft (right), which they respectively command. From left in the photo: Lieutenant Colonel Kim Ik-gyu, Eun-seol, Young-seol, Lieutenant Colonel Kim Min-ji. Photo by the Air Force.

Lieutenant Colonel Kim Ik-gyu expressed, “As a fellow soldier wearing the same uniform and an air commander wearing the same flight suit, having my wife by my side in similar circumstances gives me great reassurance.” He added, “We will share each other’s difficulties and advice, and each lead our respective squadrons well to maintain a solid state of readiness.”

Lieutenant Colonel Kim Min-ji said, “Just being able to be with my family both in the sky and on the ground provides psychological stability, allowing me to focus more on my duties.” She also vowed, “I will faithfully fulfill both work and family responsibilities and do my best to protect the airspace of the Republic of Korea through stable squadron management.”

Graduates of Air Force Academy Class 53, Husband Kim Ik-gyu and Wife Kim Min-ji Serve Side by Side

Lieutenant Colonel Kim Ik-gyu currently serves as the commander of the E-737 Air Control Squadron, one of the four airborne command and control centers held by our Air Force. Previously, he was a tactical weapons instructor specializing in tactics and weapon systems at the 29th Tactical Development Training Flight Squadron, primarily flying the F-4E Phantom fighter. His total accumulated flight time amounts to 1,408 hours.

Lieutenant Colonel Kim Min-ji is a veteran pilot with an impressive 2,000 hours of flight time. She has served as a C-130 transport aircraft pilot. Notably, she participated in the 2018 emergency relief airlift operation for the Indonesian earthquake disaster and the 2019 Red Flag Alaska training exercises.

The two are classmates from the 53rd class of the Air Force Academy. Their affection blossomed during flight training after graduating from the academy. They shared concerns and relied on each other amid the rigorous flight training, nurturing their love. After completing training, they were assigned as pilots to different bases in Cheongju and Busan, requiring them to live apart. After three years of a long-distance relationship, they married in 2009.

During their 14 years of marriage, they spent 10 years living apart as a weekend couple due to different postings. Lieutenant Colonel Kim Ik-gyu experienced the regret of missing the birth of their twin daughters because of overlapping flight duties. When Lieutenant Colonel Kim Min-ji was deployed overseas for extended missions, they sometimes had to be apart for up to a month. With the support and understanding of their colleagues, the couple overcame these difficulties through family love and mutual understanding. Fortunately, from 2020, they served together for two years at the Air Mobility Reconnaissance Command, which helped alleviate the hardships of being a weekend couple.

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