By Jun Ji-hye
The Ministry of National Defense plans to establish a college-based officer training program at one more women’s university that will open the doors for more female students to become military officers.
The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program is being operated at two women’s universities ― Sookmyung and Sungshin.
The ministry said Wednesday that it will choose one more women’s university among five candidates ― Kwangju, Duksung, Seoul, Dongduk and Ewha.
Under the ROTC program, cadets undergo physical and military training for four semesters, or two years, and serve for two years and six months after being commissioned.
“The ministry will carry out document examinations, on-the-spot examinations and a final screening to choose one more women’s university by February next year,” said a ministry official.
The official said the decision came as the existing ROTC programs at women’s universities are serving as good channels to nurture great female officers.
The military first recruited female applicants for the college-based officer training program in 2010.
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