As the government pushes for the integration of the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies, Defense Minister An Gyu-baek visited the Air Force Academy on June 15 to gather opinions on the merger. He previously visited the Army Academy on May 27 and the Naval Academy on June 10 to discuss the same topic.
During his visit, An held a communication meeting with faculty, instructors, and cadets to discuss future plans for training Air Force officers and the establishment of the National Military Academy.
Faculty and cadets emphasized the need for an educational system that develops the necessary skills for stable pilot training. They also highlighted the importance of creating an environment where the Air Force's identity and expertise can be fully realized.
In response, An expressed agreement with their views, stating, "We will explore various ways to ensure the stable training of excellent pilots within the future National Military Academy system."
He further stressed that strengthening the competitiveness of military academies for future elite officer training is not an option but a necessity in light of unprecedented changes in the security environment, such as population decline and advancements in AI and unmanned systems.
An outlined his vision for creating a world-class military academy that cultivates defense talent capable of leading a modern, smart military. This includes significant investments in advanced educational facilities and securing top-notch faculty, as well as developing a training environment based on new technologies like AI and drones that integrate the strengths of each military branch.
The integration of military academies is part of President Lee Jae-myung's campaign promise and a key national agenda. In an April press conference, An explained plans to select cadets from the Army, Navy, and Air Force together, providing common education in the first two years and specialized training in the last two years based on their chosen service branch. The Ministry of National Defense plans to finalize the establishment of the National Military Academy and initiate legislative amendments soon.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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