The filling rate for Army non-commissioned officers has significantly decreased over the past five years, identified as a result of poor conditions for the military’s junior officers.
According to data submitted by the military to Representative Hwang Hee of the Democratic Party, who is a member of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, the filling rate for Army non-commissioned officers dropped sharply from 95% in 2020 to 42% last year, reaching the lowest level across all military branches.
Last year, the selection quota for Army non-commissioned officers was 8,100, but only 3,400 were actually filled, falling short of even half the selection quota. During the same period, the filling rate for Navy non-commissioned officers fell from 90% to 55%, Air Force non-commissioned officers from 100% to 69%, and Marine Corps non-commissioned officers from 98% to 76%.
The departure of experienced officers is also increasing. Over the past five years, the number of long-term service veterans discharged increased from 6,877 in 2020 to 9,523 last year, a 38.5% rise. The number of ‘voluntary discharge’ applicants, excluding reasons such as retirement or honorable discharge, steadily climbed from 3,154 in 2020 to 5,506 last year.
In particular, the number of Army non-commissioned officers applying for voluntary discharge increased more than twofold from 1,147 in 2020 to 2,480 last year, and Navy non-commissioned officers from 228 to 615.
Representative Hwang emphasized, “If the military leadership structure wavers in a situation where it is already difficult to replenish troops due to force reduction, there could be serious gaps in maintaining the military’s combat power and command structure. The officer personnel management system needs to be completely redesigned, including improvements in treatment and service environment, and rationalization of the promotion structure.”