[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Seven Female Submarine Non-Commissioned Officers Selected

Completion of Submarine Training by Female Officers This Year
Boarding Dosan An Changho and Anmu Ships Separately Starting Next Year

After 31 years since the Navy's first submarine was commissioned, the 'barrier of exclusion' on submarines has been broken. This is because female non-commissioned officers were selected to board a 3000-ton class submarine designed and built with Korea's independent technology.

According to the military on the 26th, the Navy Headquarters recruited female non-commissioned officer crew members to board submarines from January to March this year, and 22 applied. Initially, the Navy planned to select about four female non-commissioned officer crew members, but as the number of applicants exceeded expectations, seven were finally selected.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the Navy recruited female officers to board submarines last month and selected one from three applicants. All female officers are graduates of the Korea Naval Academy, currently holding the rank of 'Captain.' Among them, one was selected for a commissioned education program at the U.S. Naval Academy during her sophomore year and completed her cadet life in the United States.

The selected female officers and non-commissioned officers will enter the 909th Education and Training Squadron under the Navy Submarine Command and receive related training until early next year. Officers and non-commissioned officers have different duties and thus receive separate training. Once they complete the final submarine training, they will officially become submarine crew members starting next year.

Currently, the Navy possesses two 3000-ton class submarines (Jangbogo-III class Batch-I): the first ship Dosan Ahn Changho and the second ship Anmu. Once the selected female officers and non-commissioned officers complete all training, they are expected to be assigned to these two submarines.

Starting next year, when female personnel begin working on submarines, it will be the first time in 31 years since the Navy commissioned its first submarine, the Jangbogo (1200-ton class), in 1993, that women will board submarines. With this, Korea will become the 14th country in the world to 'open' submarines to female personnel.

The Navy has been considering female personnel boarding submarines since 2014. However, it was judged difficult due to the working conditions inside submarines. The existing 1200- and 1800-ton class submarines are small in hull size, causing many inconveniences even for male personnel. However, with the commissioning of the 3000-ton class submarine Dosan Ahn Changho in August 2021, the Navy decided in the '2022-3rd Policy Meeting' last July to allow female personnel to board submarines. The Dosan Ahn Changho was the first Korean Navy submarine to divide crew living quarters into compartments in preparation for female personnel boarding.

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