First Female Military Pilot Becomes 'No.1 Tactical Weapons Instructor' After 19 Years

Major Kim Seon-ok (Jin) (Air Force Academy Class 60), assigned to the 159th Combat Reconnaissance Squadron of the 39th Reconnaissance Wing, who became the first female military officer to obtain the 'Tactical Weapons Instructor' qualification, is posing in front of her primary aircraft, the F-16 fighter jet. (Photo by the Air Force)

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu]For the first time since female military pilots were produced domestically, a 'female tactical weapons instructor' has emerged.

According to the Air Force on the 14th, Major Kim Sun-ok (32 years old, Air Force Academy Class 60, promotion expected), belonging to the 159th Combat Reconnaissance Squadron of the 39th Reconnaissance Wing, completed the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course (FWIC) and obtained the qualification.

The Fighter Weapons Instructor Course is a specialized program that selects combat pilots with flight qualifications to command more than four types of fighter aircraft, mainly F-15K, F-16, FA-50, and F-5, from each wing, and trains them as instructors well-versed in tactics and weapon systems. Due to the various high-difficulty flight training and extensive academic workload, it is called the 'doctoral-level course' among pilot training. The Air Force explained that this is the first case of a female military pilot obtaining the tactical weapons instructor qualification since the first female military pilot was produced in 2002.

Major Kim has over 1,030 flight hours mainly on the F-16, and she completed the difficult training without difficulty due to her excellent flying skills and diligence. The Air Force also evaluated that she was recognized for her qualifications as a tactical weapons instructor by successfully fulfilling the role of Mission Commander in large-scale formation training.

Furthermore, with this qualification, she and her husband, Major Joo Hyun-chul (32 years old, Air Force Academy Class 60, promotion expected), an F-16 combat pilot who completed the same course in 2019, earned the title of the first 'tactical weapons instructor couple.'

Major Kim said, "I will continue to do my best to improve the combat skills of junior pilots and fulfill the mission of airspace defense."