<< Candidates of guerrilla warfare selection program train infiltration capabilities during the second week of the program at the Korea Army Infantry School. By Kim Tae-hyeong
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In an attempt to foster advanced officer infantrymen, the Korean Army has adopted a guerrilla warfare selection program.
In an attempt to foster advanced officer infantrymen, the Korean Army has adopted a guerrilla warfare selection program.
Korea Army Infantry School in South Jeolla said on July 26 that the school had implemented an open guerrilla warfare screening program from July 11 to July 22 for 58 Army officers. The school said 23 candidates passed all tests and received certificates on advanced guerrilla warfare combatants.
According to the infantry school, the open guerrilla warfare selection program, which had been run for the first time by the Korean Army, is a new type of training program that is open to only volunteers among officers who were admitted to the school.
However, not all volunteers cannot challenge for the screening despite their hope to join, the school said. Most of all, potential candidates must have high-grade physical fitness in order to be qualified to compete in the program. Also those who fail in more than three events during the first week of the screening, they are out of the program.
A total of 58 candidates, including four captains and 36 first lieutenants, competed in the program but only 40 percent of them successfully passed all the tests. They all were selected in each military units across the nation.
The screening process is so strict that the ratio of successful applicants is low. This is because the screening style is very different from other ordinary guerrilla warfare training.
During the first week of the competition applicants are examined on 17 basic guerrilla training events, such as running over basic obstacles, mountain climbing and helicopter rappel. One must score more than an average of 90 points and pass at least 15 events to move on to the second week competition.
The second round of the program is organized with comprehensive guerrilla warfare program. Each candidate must complete a total of 104 hours of training programs, ranging from survival to escape training. Those who accidentally expose hideouts and demonstrate poor capabilities in simulated battles against potential enemies receive a cut in marks.
Also either making smoke during cooking in the field or failing to make formation during infiltration training are elements that make cut in marks.
The school said the only main goal of such strict training program is to foster advanced infantrymen so that they can take a lead in making robust army.
The school is considering enlarge the scope of potential applicants to noncommissioned officers.