Second Lieutenant Jeong Dae-gwon, Top Graduate of the Air Force Academy

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Air Force Second Lieutenant Jeong Dae-gwon graduated from the Air Force Academy as the top of his class and was honored with the Presidential Award.

According to the Air Force on the 2nd, the academy held the 70th graduation and commissioning ceremony for 178 cadets at the Seongmu Parade Ground in Cheongju, Chungbuk. A total of 183 cadets, including five foreign military exchange cadets, completed the cadet course and received their diplomas.

Second Lieutenant Jeong, who received the Presidential Award (photo), expressed his aspiration, saying, "I want to become a pilot who steadily pursues self-development and fulfills missions to become a key figure in the Space Air Force."

Three pairs of 'Boramae Brothers' attracted attention as they wore silver second lieutenant rank insignias side by side. Second Lieutenants Moon Ryeong, Lee Chan-hee, and Park Chan-jeong are all 'Boramae Brothers' who followed their older brothers, who graduated from the academy earlier, on the path of becoming Air Force officers.

Second Lieutenant Moon, the younger brother of Captain Moon Seong, who serves as an instructor at the 29th Tactical Development Training Flight Squadron, had dreamed of becoming an Air Force officer with his brother since childhood. He decided to become a cadet after seeing his brother in uniform at the 2014 academy entrance ceremony.

Second Lieutenant Moon said, "I am grateful to and love my parents who raised my two sons to become strong young men protecting the nation's airspace. I will dedicate the rest of my life to defending the homeland's airspace, walking behind and alongside my older brother who is already on the path ahead."

Second Lieutenant Lee is the younger brother of Captain Lee Geon-hee, who works as a fighter pilot at the 19th Fighter Wing. Aspiring to be as strong and cool as his brother, he said, "My goal is to become a cool pilot like my brother. I want to complete the planned flight training well and become a Boramae Brother who contributes to defending the nation's airspace together with him."

Second Lieutenant Park is the younger brother of Captain Park Ki-jung, a fighter pilot in the 157th Squadron of the 20th Fighter Wing. He said, "I want to express my gratitude to my brother, who is three years my senior at the academy and has always paved the way ahead. Now, as officers dedicated to the country, I want us to be fighter pilot brothers who can rely on each other."

Also attracting attention was Second Lieutenant Yang Won-gyu, who achieved a four-year consecutive victory in the Seongmu Triathlon, in which academy cadets participate. The triathlon consists of a 1km swim, a 5km run in full military gear, and a 10km marathon. Yang not only won the competition for four consecutive years but also excelled academically, receiving the Academic Excellence Award and an Encouragement Award at the Korea Airports Corporation University Student Thesis Competition.

The academy also produced its first foreign exchange cadet graduate from Paraguay. Cadet Aquino Mongellos Federico Javier entered the academy in 2018 under the Korea-Paraguay Defense Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2016 and graduated from the Department of Aerospace Engineering on this day. At the graduation ceremony, a total of five foreign cadets received diplomas, including Ratcharat Phumpong (Thailand), Uratcha Jamyangsenke (Mongolia), Villiapando John Christian (Philippines), and Do Dinh Phat (Vietnam). Among the foreign cadets, the 'Outstanding Exchange Cadet Award,' given to the best student in school life, was awarded to Phumpong.

Defense Minister Seo Wook, in his congratulatory speech, said, "The Air Force has completed difficult missions worldwide, including the 'Miracle Operation,' protecting the lives and safety of the people and enhancing South Korea's global status. I urge you to become elite airmen who will lead future battlefields."