Procedure for 'Dismissal from Post Before Post Dismissal Review Committee Resolution'
Pilots Also to Undergo Air Duty Qualification Review After Next Week
The Air Force has preemptively dismissed the commanders of the unit involved in the KF-16 fighter jet friendly fire accident.
On the 11th, the Air Force announced that the wing commander (colonel) and the battalion commander (lieutenant colonel) of the unit involved in the fighter jet friendly fire accident were dismissed from their posts for violating legal compliance obligations (serious dereliction of duty and inadequate command management and supervision).
During the joint US-ROK military exercises held at Pocheon Promotion Training Center, a shell landed in a residential area causing casualties. On March 7, 2025, the joint investigation team conducted an on-site inspection at a residence in Nogok-ri, Idong-myeon, Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
According to the current Military Personnel Act, when dismissing officers, warrant officers, or non-commissioned officers from their posts, the resolution of the Post Dismissal Review Committee must be obtained. However, if there is an unavoidable reason recognized by a presidential decree, dismissal from the post can be made first, and the resolution of the Post Dismissal Review Committee must be obtained within seven days from the date of dismissal.
Reasons for 'dismissal from post before the resolution of the Post Dismissal Review Committee' include ▲being detained for misconduct related to duties and unable to perform duties ▲discovery of serious dereliction of duty or misconduct in audit results requiring immediate dismissal from the post ▲serious military discipline violations, moral defects, etc., requiring immediate dismissal from the post.
Through the announcement of the interim investigation results the previous day, the Air Force analyzed the responsibility of commanders such as the wing commander and battalion commander, stating, "The wing commander should have performed overall command management duties such as issuing safety instructions, but the review of training plans and the practical shooting plan was insufficient, and safety matters were delegated to the battalion commander," and "The battalion commander should have actively checked and supervised the pilots' flight readiness, but only emphasized general safety matters, and detailed command and supervision of this practical shooting mission were insufficient."
The Air Force also plans to conduct an air duty qualification review next week for the two pilots involved in the accident. An Air Force official stated, "The dismissal from posts before the resolution of the Post Dismissal Review Committee for the commanders was made based on the judgment of the personnel authority (Chief of Staff of the Air Force), and the posts were replaced through occasional personnel changes," adding, "Regarding the pilots, according to related regulations that require the review to be conducted 10 days after referral to the qualification review, the decision (on disposition) is expected to be made after next week."
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