Stream K-Dramas at OnDemandKorea

[article] ROK Army Primer: Possible training for Rain and new recruits?

- Written by: Stephe Thornton, Managing Editor ^@@^

Advertisement

 align=[Cloud USA 10/18/2011] Here we are, exactly one week from the day that South Korean singer, dancer, actor, honorary ambassador and mega-entertainer Rain (real name, Jeong Ji-hoon) passed through the Uijeongbu 306 Reserve Troop Battalion gate and officially became a recruit in the Republic of Korea military, like many of his celebrity colleagues before him.

Tears and cheers of pride were released by his family, close friends, and fans there and in many countries, including the U.S., as he waved farewell on October 11 for 21 months. As we understand it, his military discharge date will be July 10, 2013.

Since then, Jeong Ji-hoon has been assigned to Unit KEY of the 6th Corps' Division No. 5 for basic training, and relocated to his eight-week boot camp this past Friday in Yeoncheon-gun (Yeoncheon County), GyeongGi-do (GyeongGi Province). Incidentally, the State of Mexico, and the U.S. states of Virginia, Utah, and Florida are a few of GyeongGi's sister provinces. The city of Incheon is located on the coast of GyeongGi, and capital city Seoul lies in its very heart.

Basic training officially began Monday the 17th. On or around December 12, after basic is done, Jeong Ji-hoon and his recruit-mates will be given their proper duty assignments and locations and will begin their military service in earnest.

This, from the official Republic of Korea Army website, is a schedule that tentatively outlines the training regimen of ROKA recruits. This general information is listed on a public page on their Korean site, which is why I am comfortable sharing it here, and may differ from camp to camp. The half-hour difference in the two time periods may be due to the season (summer or winter).

ROKA Training Period, Recruits

6:00 to 8:30 am Wake up, Roll Call, Breakfast

8:30 to 11:40 am Training

Lunch 11:40 to 13:00 (1:00 pm)

13:00 to 16:10 (4:10 pm) Education

16:10 to 20:00 (8 pm) Fitness, dinner, free time

20:00 to 21:50 (9:50 pm) Home Affairs education, creating discipline record (writing), roll call

22:00 to 6:00 (10 pm to 6 am) sleeping

***

6:30 to 9:00 am Wake up, Roll Call, Breakfast

9:00 to 12:10 Training

Lunch 12:10 to 13:20 (1:20 pm)

13:20 to 16:30 (4:30 pm) Training

16:30 to 20:00 (8 pm) Fitness, dinner, free time

20:00 to 21:50 (9:50 pm) Home Affairs education, creating discipline record (writing), roll call.

22:00 to 06:30 (10 pm to 6:30 am) sleeping

Also mentioned were subjects of study such as military courtesy, gymnastics, Taekwondo, shooting, marching, guerrilla weaponry, chemical weaponry, first aid and physical fitness tests.  It's not clear if these additional subjects are covered in boot camp or if they come along for the recruits after basic is finished up. But either way, Jeong Ji-hoon/Rain's Taekwondo studies from his early 20s, his leading role as a K-1 fighter in drama "A Love to Kill", his training as a stunt man for his leading role in the Warner Bros. movie "Ninja Assassin" (2009), and his seven months training as a fighter pilot for his lead role in upcoming Korean blockbuster "R2B: Return to Base" (비상 [飛上]: 태양가까이) should serve him very well.

Alcohol, tobacco, telephones, and visitations are not allowed, of course. Giving up smoking seems to be strongly recommended.

On the ROKA English site, I "met" Hogugy, who is the main character in the ROK Army's cast of emblems. Hogugy symbolizes the Korean peninsula, patriotism, and Korea's sacred animal, the tiger. His gesture expresses how the ROKA is headed toward the future.

No one but the ROKA and the recruits themselves truly know their schedules and training. But we on the outside can have somewhat of an idea of what's in store for them, send up prayers for their safety, and cheer them on.

- Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com / www.cloudusa.org

Source: www.army.mil.kr

Tip: Kongsao, himechandayo

❎ Try Ad-free