[2024 National Audit] Navy Promotes 'Officerization' to Minimize Soldiers on Ships

Navy National Audit: Small Vessels Operated by Officers Only, No Enlisted Personnel Onboard

The measure to minimize the boarding of enlisted soldiers on naval vessels, known as 'officerization,' will be expanded to all vessels by 2030.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 18th, during the National Assembly Defense Committee's audit of the Naval Headquarters held at Gyeryongdae, the Navy explained that it is promoting this plan and that once the officerization of vessels is completed, it will be able to reduce approximately 700 enlisted personnel.

Officerization of vessels is intended to respond to the sharp decline in military manpower and to enhance the professionalism of personnel serving on ships. Small vessels such as minesweepers and harbor patrol boats will have only officers on board without enlisted soldiers, while large vessels such as destroyers and frigates will carry only a limited number of enlisted soldiers with specialized skills, such as cooks.

Currently, the Navy has designated a total of 12 vessels as 'officerization pilot ships,' operating them by reducing 2.5 enlisted soldiers for every one officer added, to assess the effectiveness of this approach.

A Navy official stated, "We significantly reduced the number of enlisted soldiers on board and slightly increased the number of officers, and there was no problem with combat readiness." He added, "Although the burden on officers increased somewhat due to tasks like transporting supplies and washing dishes, this can be overcome through work-sharing systems."

The Navy has established the Electromagnetic Warfare Division and Multi-Domain Systems Power Division within the Naval Headquarters, and the Space Operations Division within the Naval Operations Command, to expand multi-domain operational capabilities beyond the maritime domain. Based on this, it plans to strengthen capabilities in areas such as space and cyber domains.

Admiral Yang Yong-mo, Chief of Naval Operations, said, "We are striving to improve multi-domain operational capabilities including space, cyber, and electromagnetic spectrum, and are optimizing manpower and unit structures in preparation for changes in the personnel environment."