Officer Training School ROKAF
Encyclopedia
The Officer Training School is a Republic of Korea Air Force
commissioning
program held at the Republic of Korea Air Force Education and Training Command
, Jinju
. It is a part of Basic Military Training Wing. The current Commander, Air Force Education and Training Command is Maj Gen Jaewon Yoon.
The OTS is the largest commissioning source in the ROKAF for junior officers, Korea Air Force Academy
being second and ROTC third.
Interested applicants sit for the Air Force Officer Selection Test which covers college level topics related to the specific major areas one is applying. The undergraduate GPA and the Korean college entrance exam score are usually not considered. There are different admission quota for women, pilot candidates, academy lecturers, judge advocates and language specialists (also known as interpreter officers).
, OT Squadron
s (usually three)),and OT Flights (one or more per squadron depending on class size). BOT classes are designated by numerical sequence of their graduation (e.g., Class 108 means 108th Class). Trainees are given ranks of officer candidate.
Typically, personnel applying to BOT have baccalaureate level degrees
in either technical or non-technical fields. Technical fields may include Computer Science
, Electrical Engineering
, and other fields in high demand by the Air Force. Non-technical degrees are more common, and therefore applying with a degree in such a field is very competitive. Applicants can apply for rated or non-rated positions. Rated positions are flying related -- Pilot
, Navigator
, or Air Battle Manager. Non-rated fall into 2 categories: non-rated ops, such as Intelligence or Weather, and non-rated support, such as Maintenance, Logistics, or Communications.
Areas of instruction include military customs and courtesies, military history
, leadership, officership, field exercises, drill and ceremonies, and small arms training.
The first eight weeks of training are geared toward indoctrination. The focus is on physical training, drill and ceremonies, and standardization. OTs will be expected to work with their fellow flight and squadron members to accomplish specific tasks as required by their Flight Commander. There are constant bullying by the drill instructors.
To graduate, OTs must exceed physical standards (OTs track and train to these standards), academic standards, and military bearing standards. Military bearing includes the ability to write and brief, lead the flight, and perform duties within the OT Wing.
Upon graduation, graduates become Second Lieutenant
s (O-1) in the Republic of Korea Air Force.
, Reserve Officer Training Corps, or Officer Training School.
Officer Training School is the most expedient way to become an officer in the Air Force. It is challenging, physically and mentally demanding, and is typically the route that many Korean males who did not serve his military obligation earlier takes. Graduates are nicknamed "short term" officer or "sa-hoo".
The Korea Air Force Academy
is this most intense and in-depth training officer candidates can pursue. While at the academy, cadets are immersed into the Air Force way of life: field training exercises, flight training, and sports keep the cadets occupied. Graduates earn a Bachelor of Science degree in their chosen major. They are nicknamed "gongsa".
The Reserve Officer Training Corps is active at a few colleges in Korea. Upon completion of the program and receipt of their Bachelor's degree, they are commissioned.
Each commissioning source produces a 2nd Lieutenant.
Republic of Korea Air Force
The Republic of Korea Air Force is the air force of South Korea...
commissioning
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
program held at the Republic of Korea Air Force Education and Training Command
Republic of Korea Air Force Education and Training Command
Republic of Korea Air Force Education and Training Command , located in Jinju, was established 1973. The command is one of the major commands of the Republic of Korea Air Force. The total area of the base is about 1.1 million square meters.-History:The Command traces its origin to the Air Education...
, Jinju
Jinju
Jinju is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It was the location of the first and second Sieges of Jinju by Japanese forces during the Imjin War...
. It is a part of Basic Military Training Wing. The current Commander, Air Force Education and Training Command is Maj Gen Jaewon Yoon.
The OTS is the largest commissioning source in the ROKAF for junior officers, Korea Air Force Academy
Korea Air Force Academy
Korea Air Force Academy is a Republic of Korea Air Force institution for the undergraduate education and military training of officers. It is located at Cheongju, Chungbuk, South Korea...
being second and ROTC third.
Interested applicants sit for the Air Force Officer Selection Test which covers college level topics related to the specific major areas one is applying. The undergraduate GPA and the Korean college entrance exam score are usually not considered. There are different admission quota for women, pilot candidates, academy lecturers, judge advocates and language specialists (also known as interpreter officers).
Basic Officer Training
Excluding the first week of orientation, BOT is a 15-week course for college graduates pursuing a commission in the ROKAF. The platoon and flight leaders who are usually lieutenants and captains are responsible for much of the in-processing and administration for the orientation week. The class is organized into the OT WingWing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
, OT Squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
s (usually three)),and OT Flights (one or more per squadron depending on class size). BOT classes are designated by numerical sequence of their graduation (e.g., Class 108 means 108th Class). Trainees are given ranks of officer candidate.
Typically, personnel applying to BOT have baccalaureate level degrees
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in either technical or non-technical fields. Technical fields may include Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
, Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
, and other fields in high demand by the Air Force. Non-technical degrees are more common, and therefore applying with a degree in such a field is very competitive. Applicants can apply for rated or non-rated positions. Rated positions are flying related -- Pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, Navigator
Flight officer
The title flight officer was a military rank used by the United States Armed Forces where it was an air force warrant officer rank. It was also an air force rank in several Commonwealth nations where it was used for female officers and was equivalent to the rank of flight lieutenant...
, or Air Battle Manager. Non-rated fall into 2 categories: non-rated ops, such as Intelligence or Weather, and non-rated support, such as Maintenance, Logistics, or Communications.
Areas of instruction include military customs and courtesies, military history
Military history
Military history is a humanities discipline within the scope of general historical recording of armed conflict in the history of humanity, and its impact on the societies, their cultures, economies and changing intra and international relationships....
, leadership, officership, field exercises, drill and ceremonies, and small arms training.
The first eight weeks of training are geared toward indoctrination. The focus is on physical training, drill and ceremonies, and standardization. OTs will be expected to work with their fellow flight and squadron members to accomplish specific tasks as required by their Flight Commander. There are constant bullying by the drill instructors.
To graduate, OTs must exceed physical standards (OTs track and train to these standards), academic standards, and military bearing standards. Military bearing includes the ability to write and brief, lead the flight, and perform duties within the OT Wing.
Upon graduation, graduates become Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
s (O-1) in the Republic of Korea Air Force.
OTS as compared to the Academy and ROTC
There are three ways to become an officer in the Republic of Korea Air Force which are the Korea Air Force AcademyKorea Air Force Academy
Korea Air Force Academy is a Republic of Korea Air Force institution for the undergraduate education and military training of officers. It is located at Cheongju, Chungbuk, South Korea...
, Reserve Officer Training Corps, or Officer Training School.
Officer Training School is the most expedient way to become an officer in the Air Force. It is challenging, physically and mentally demanding, and is typically the route that many Korean males who did not serve his military obligation earlier takes. Graduates are nicknamed "short term" officer or "sa-hoo".
The Korea Air Force Academy
Korea Air Force Academy
Korea Air Force Academy is a Republic of Korea Air Force institution for the undergraduate education and military training of officers. It is located at Cheongju, Chungbuk, South Korea...
is this most intense and in-depth training officer candidates can pursue. While at the academy, cadets are immersed into the Air Force way of life: field training exercises, flight training, and sports keep the cadets occupied. Graduates earn a Bachelor of Science degree in their chosen major. They are nicknamed "gongsa".
The Reserve Officer Training Corps is active at a few colleges in Korea. Upon completion of the program and receipt of their Bachelor's degree, they are commissioned.
Each commissioning source produces a 2nd Lieutenant.