Military to improve conditions for troops

The number of barracks shared only by soldiers with the same date of enlistment will be increased as part of plans to improve the conditions for those serving the mandatory military service, the Ministry of National Defense announced Monday.

Under the plans, barracks equipped with beds will house only those with the same enlistment date, while facilities with sleeping platforms will house soldiers of the same rank or those who enlisted on the same day. Since 2003, the military has been fitting barracks with beds and modifying them to house eight to 10 soldiers instead of the platoon-sized facilities that have sleeping platforms shared by up to 50 individuals.

At present, only 24 percent of army battalions have barracks shared among those with the same enlistment date.

According to the Defense Ministry, housing those who enlisted on the same day or those of the same rank prevents soldiers from being harassed by those of a higher rank.

The ministry also plans to reduce the duration for the rank of private within the year.

The ministry said that enlisted soldiers will spend only three months in the lowest rank.

At present enlisted men spend five months as a private before going on to serve six months as a private first class. Following the change, the durations for the rank of private first class and sergeant will each be increased by one month to seven and four months, respectively.

“As enlisted soldiers’ educational standard has risen, and the recruit training program has been expanded to eight weeks from five weeks, (the soldiers) will be able to adapt more quickly,” Vice Defense Minister Lee Yong-geol said.

The Defense Ministry also plans to give soldiers in the Army 31 days of day- and overnight leave during the 21-month service, vaccinate soldiers against influenza and encephalomeningitis, and offer privates the chance to consult medical officers at least once.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)