The Army held a commissioning ceremony for class 26-1 of noncommissioned officers on the 26th at the Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy in Iksan, North Jeolla, presided over by Army Chief of Staff Kim Gyu-ha. Among commissioning ceremonies held over the past five years, the "class 26-1 commissioning ceremony" produced the largest number of new noncommissioned officers.
According to the Army, a total of 788 new noncommissioned officers were commissioned that day. Specifically, 579 were from the civilian track, which appoints civilians as noncommissioned officers (including 232 women), and 209 were from the active-duty track, which appoints active-duty soldiers as noncommissioned officers.
The Army typically holds four commissioning ceremonies a year. This year's ceremony produced the most noncommissioned officers in the past five years, and the Army explained that the higher application rate for noncommissioned officers was due to proactive talent acquisition policies such as improved service conditions.
In congratulatory remarks, Kim said, "Noncommissioned officers are the Army's strength, pride, and future," adding, "We will continue to push policies to strengthen NCO capabilities and improve service conditions, and will provide full support so that Army noncommissioned officers become solid and spirited."
Army Sergeant Major Kwon Gi-baek said, "The times and the aspect of the battlefield are changing rapidly, but people are ultimately at the center of combat power," and urged, "Grow into leaders trusted by your troops while keeping your original resolve."
At the ceremony, Sergeant Yun Seung-hwan (air defense) received the Minister of National Defense award, and Sergeants Lee Sang-min (infantry), An Taek-hyeon (ordnance), and Park Eun-bi (ordnance) received the Army Chief of Staff award. The new noncommissioned officers will be assigned to units across the front and rear after completing branch-specific follow-on training courses.