The 5 Minute Introduction To The 4-week Basic Military Training Course
Some info of what we know about the 4-week basic military training that the boys will have to go through
1. For starters…this is what they feed the recruits in camp – a standard meal consists of a soup, a vegetable dish, a meat dish and either seaweed or kimchi – they don’t look very appetizing, and don’t really look enough for guys who train the whole day…
2. Here’s a day in the life of a Korean army recruit…..
3. And just so we know what kind of environment they are/will be living in for 4 weeks during basic military training.. IF they’re posted to Nonsan like Eric was…
(L-R) Parade Ground / Laundry Area
(L-R) Lecture Hall 2 / Lecture Hall 1
(L-R) Recruits having their meals / Army Canteen
(L-R) Medical Room / X-Ray Testing
(L-R) Shower stalls / Bathing Hall
Living Quarters
Now let’s look at the activities available…
1. Individual Combat
2. NBC (Nuclear, biological and chemical) Warfare
1. Grenades
2. Emergency Treatment Methods
3. Individual Platoon Marching (15km)
1. Drills
2. Rifle Drills
3. Shooting Techniques
1. Shooting Practice
2. Target Practice
1. Military Training Completion March (20km)
2. Military Training Completion Ceremony
4. Just an idea of what Eric went through for 4 weeks at Nonsan – it should apply to Wannie at the Gongju camp too…
This is a summary off a Korean guy’s blog (who seems to be somewhat partial to Eric 
) – he enlisted to Nonsan on 18 Sept and he did see Eric in his last week too.
Week 1
- First day in camp, dispatched to a squad. Received the army supplies and proceeded to the living quarters, one day passed like that.
- The first 3 days were mostly orientation training, and to allow us to get used to life in the training center.
- Was on night duty on the first day, which lasted for about an hour.
- Got our rifles and uniforms, underwent training, and it was already Sunday.
- We also learnt about sentry duty, studied and practiced shooting etc.
In summary: Week 1 is more of a period to settle into the environment
Week 2
- This week we learnt about building base camps, guerilla warfare and shooting etc.
- Base camp training was conducted at night, and we had to pitch tents.
Soldiers on active duty had to pitch tents and sleep in them, not for the public service officers.
- For guerilla warfare, the public service officers who sent in applications could participate. The rest of them did drills in the meantime, which involved training with ropes. It wasn’t very high so even those with a fear of heights could still make it across.
- Battle combat training involved wrestling in the trenches.
- For shooting, there was zero-point shooting which was more of learning to aim. The actual range practice required us to fire 10 rounds while standing, 10 rounds while in prone position, and we needed 10 shots on target to pass. We used live rounds, so we couldn’t lose the shells. During night range shooting, we would fire into the air.
- Over the weekend, we received the additional supplies that we applied for.
- There were religious activities over the weekend too, for Won Buddhists, Buddhists, Christians and Catholics. It seems that there was a lot of food served at the Catholic service.
Week 3
- Other training such as individual combat skills and nBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) warfare
- For individual combat, just like what we see on TV, crawling below barbed wire, and balancing on logs. We had our faces covered with camouflage paint and hid in trenches for cover. Then we had to scale a slope. It was interesting but the shoulders and back were bruised because we crawled over rocks.
- NBC warfare training for public service officers was simple: just putting on the equipment, taking it off, and putting it on again.
Week 4
- It was the last week. Eric enlisted during this week.
- We were trained to use grenades, and we had rifle drills and daytime marching as well as night marching.
- Public service officers needed only to practice the right way to throw grenades, which actually took the longest time.
- For daytime marches, we started in the morning and carried only our rifles along. Biscuits were issued as army rations. The march took about 3 hours.
- For night marches, we had to carry a 20kg backpack. Biscuits were issued too. Marches were really tiring. Soldiers on active duty had to carried 30kg backpacks.
- By the time we learnt about rifle drills, we were already preparing to return home. Nothing special, just some simple techniques.
- I think Eric went for the Christian service. I saw him, he is really handsome.
6. The measly monthly allowance for enlisted soldiers…. oh well….. they’re supposed to be serving national duty anyway…
Private (i.e. Eric) – KRW73,500 approx 53USD
Private First Class – KRW79,500
Corporal – KRW88,000 approx 63USD
Sergeant – KRW97,500 approx 70USD
Source: DC
Chi trans: 韩小国@bestshinhwa+丢丢@love-ric
Eng trans: midnightgirl13@absolutshinhwa
… and here I am.
*sigh*
*reads on*
This is all very helpful, SuMi! Thanks a rot
Even with the food I think it still looks better than what Jinnie probably eats on a normal basis -_-
Hey guys! If possible, can I get the exact address of the base in Nonsan?
hey I was hoping someone could tell me if all the bases have the same rules and regulations? because I read somewhere else that they do NOT get leave after the training and I was hoping someone could set me straight. plus is it 4 weeks or 5 weeks or 8 weeks?? according to my boyfriend who called me after orientation, there would be 8..
plz let me know!
thank you
Unfortunately being a fanblog, most of us here are fangirls who aren’t Korean and/or don’t know anything about Korean military service, which means what we know is based on very general info that we can find off the Internet.
From a common sense point of view, I suppose each base would differ in terms of rules, regulations and entitlements since each base serves a different purpose. Most online sources say the basic orientation training lasts 4-5 weeks, so maybe rules have changed, or maybe your boyfriend got allocated to a special base, I won’t be able to tell.
Would suggest you speak to someone who has been through military service, or perhaps check with your boyfriend when he calls you again.
aww thanks for the reply anyways, I appreciate the effort. when he does call (SOON I hope..) I’ll let you know all the info!!
-Nina
Ok, so a friend went to this website for ROK military
and under the military service section found out that
after this 5 weeks of training they are to be sent back
home for a day or 2 to get prepared for their assigned
bases?
Does anyone know if this is true as of April 2009? _ _)
What I remember in the cases of Eric and Dongwan – yes they did have 2-3 days of leave before they moved on to their assigned bases/offices.
Thank you midnight girl~
Do you remember when Eric n Dongwan were enlisted? Was it in 2009?
So they did have this 2-3 days leave back HOME then right?
N what kind of things did they buy before proceeding to their
assigned bases?
One more thing.. so I`ve said that my boyfriend was enlisted
on April 21st, 09. Can you give me a guess to when in May he
will be going back home after his training course?
What happened to week 5??;;
After the military training course when they are assigned to their bases, can they start using the internet right away??
My boyfriend enlisted on the 21st of April, 09.. how many weeks do I have to wait until he contacts me??
Hi JuJu
I wish I could have an answer for you… but unfortunately everything I’ve posted here is what I found from various sources on the Net, and I honestly have no idea when and if they can have Internet access.
I do think they can call home, but not as and when they like – probably limited to one or two phonecalls per day during the basic training period? (That’s how it works in Singapore at least)… But don’t take my word for it, S. Korea might be much stricter with their rules.
I’m sure your boyfriend will get in touch with you as soon as he can though. =)
Thanks midnight girl^^
Haven`t heard from him in 3 weeks already… *sigh*