Korea Army Research Articles

Weighted support vector machine for extremely imbalanced data

Based on an asymptotically optimal weighted support vector machine (SVM) that introduces label shift, a systematic procedure is derived for applying oversampling and weighted SVM to extremely imbalanced datasets with a cluster-structured positive class. This method formalizes three intuitions: (i) oversampling should reflect the structure of the positive class; (ii) weights should account for both the imbalance and oversampling ratios; (iii) synthetic samples should carry less weight than the original samples. The proposed method generates synthetic samples from the estimated positive class distribution using a Gaussian mixture model. To prevent overfitting to excessive synthetic samples, different misclassification penalties are assigned to the original positive class, synthetic positive class, and negative class. The proposed method is numerically validated through simulations and an analysis of Republic of Korea Army artillery training data.

Molecular detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia theileri and Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in military working dogs and ticks collected from the Republic of Korea Army garrisons in Gangwon Province in 2021–2022

AbstractTick‐borne pathogens (TBPs) are an emerging concern to humans and animals in the Republic of Korea, especially within the military zones of Gangwon Province, a mountainous region abundant with wild fauna and ticks. This study aimed to detect six TBPs in military working dogs (MWDs) and ticks in this region using Nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) and sequencing. The targeted pathogens included Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella henselae, Borrelia spp., Orientia tsutsugamushi, Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) and tick‐borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). A total of 164 serum samples from MWDs were collected at the Korean Army Military working dog training center and 1418 ticks were collected at various training sites between June 2021 and August 2022. Haemaphysalis longicornis was identified as the predominant species (98.3%, n = 1394), followed by Haemaphysalis flava (1.6%, n = 22) and Ixodes nipponensis (0.1%, n = 2). This study detected A. phagocytophilum and Borrelia theileri in 1.4% (1/72) of the tick pools and detected SFTSV in 0.6% (1/164) of MWD serum samples. The MWD found to be infected with SFTS was a German Shepherd, but showed no significant clinical signs, with a normal complete blood count (CBC). In the phylogenetic analysis, three sequences were acquired. One sequence (OR865211) exhibited 100% homology with 16S rRNA of A. phagocytophilum identified from animals and human patients in the Republic of Korea. Another sequence (OR865152) displayed 99.34%–100% sequence similarity with 16S rRNA of B. theileri fragments. The third sequence (OR865115), which belongs to the SFTS B‐1 genotype, showed 94.7% sequence similarity to a strain identified in the Republic of Korea (KY789441).

부사관 전공 대학생들의 전공선택동기가 진로결정수준에 미치는 영향

College students majoring in non-commissioned officers are equipped with the military knowledge and skills necessary for the military, and are commissioned as non-commissioned officers or transferred to one of the Korea Army Academy at Yeongcheon to choose a career as an officer and grow into key talents who will lead the military of the future. In general, college students choose their major by collecting various information, taking into account their aptitude, interests, popularity, and social awareness of the major. However, in the case of students majoring in non-commissioned officer majors, they choose their major based on external factors, such as parental recommendation and job stability, rather than their own, and as a result, they are unable to adapt to college life or give up midway. Therefore, in order to solve these problems, students need to clearly set goals for their future career. It is most important to understand the direction of college education and major design that can provide military expertise, and to establish a career plan for the future. For the purpose of this research direction, we would like to conduct an empirical analysis of the impact of college students majoring in non-commissioned officer majors' motivation for choosing a major on their career decision level. For the purpose of this research direction, we would like to conduct an empirical analysis of the impact of college students majoring in non-commissioned officer majors' motivation for choosing a major on their career decision level.

Effects of instructor’s coaching behavior in the military educational environment on self-directedness in learning of cadets at Korea Army Academy at Yeong-cheon (KAAY)

The purpose of this study is to test the effects of instructor’s coaching behavior in the military education and training on self-directedness and learning outcome of cadets. To this end, the self-report questionnaires was used to collected data from 409 cadets in the 4th grade of the KAAY in the six-week military education and training from July to August 2022. The collected data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The result revealed that the instructor’s coaching behavior had a significant effect on the self-directed learning of cadets and the learning outcomes of cadets. We also found self-directedness in the learning of cadets mediated the instructor’s coaching behavior and learning outcomes. The findings could help to pay attention to the instructor’s coaching behavior as a strategy to foster self-direction in the learning of cadets.

Korea Army’s Value as a Way to Character Education for Military Personnel

Purpose: This paper intends to identify the core values of the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) and the foundation for character education. The ROKA aims to win the ground war as the central force of national defense.
 Method: In order to accomplish the research purpose, the researcher critically reviewed the literature related to the Korea Army value and character education including policy reports, army papers, and academic articles.
 Results: The ROKA is trying to establish a new military culture and value system to responds to changes from the internal and external environment and to educate the so-called MZ generation soldiers who are majority of the military personnel. Value refers to a resource that satisfies an individual's needs in a subjective sense, and a hierarchy occurs according to an individual's tendency or desire. If these values persist for a long time, they will also have a hierarchy at the social level, too. In addition, an organizational culture is formed in the direction of pursuing the values even in the military organizations.
 Conclusion: In this respect, this paper presents the values that the ROKA pursues, the organizational culture formed around these values, and the directions of character education system to imbue the core values.

Descriptive analysis of the incidence rate of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome in the Republic of Korea Army

Background: This study aimed to identify the incidence rate of post-coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) conditions in the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army and to investigate the trend of the incidence rate according to changes in dominant variants.Methods: We used the results of a 19-item, self-completed survey of those who had recovered from COVID-19 in the ROK Army between March 24, 2020, and April 30, 2022. We used both descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with the incidence rate of post-COVID-19 conditions.Results: Among the total of 48,623 COVID-19 episodes in the ROK Army, the overall incidence rate of post-COVID-19 conditions was 32.9%. Based on the survey, the incidence of cough was the highest at 15.4%, followed by fatigue (15.1%) and sputum (13.8%). The delta variant had the highest incidence rate of post-COVID-19 conditions at 50.7%, whereas the omicron variant had the lowest at 19.7%. Concerning the type of post-COVID-19 condition, the neuropsychiatric symptoms had the highest incidence at 27.4% when the delta variant was dominant, and the respiratory symptoms were highest at 37.3% when the omicron variant was dominant. In the case of smell and taste symptoms, the incidence rate was high at 21.1% only when the delta variant was predominant.Conclusion: The overall incidence rate of post-COVID-19 conditions in the ROK Army was 32.9%. When the delta variant was dominant, the overall incidence as well as the proportion of neuropsychiatric symptoms were high. However, as the omicron variant became dominant, the overall incidence decreased, but the proportion of respiratory symptoms increased.

Demand Forecasting of Spare Parts Using Artificial Intelligence: A Case Study of K-X Tanks

The proportion of the inventory range associated with spare parts is often considered in the industrial context. Therefore, even minor improvements in forecasting the demand for spare parts can lead to substantial cost savings. Despite notable research efforts, demand forecasting remains challenging, especially in areas with irregular demand patterns, such as military logistics. Thus, an advanced model for accurately forecasting this demand was developed in this study. The K-X tank is one of the Republic of Korea Army’s third generation main battle tanks. Data about the spare part consumption of 1,053,422 transactional data points stored in a military logistics management system were obtained. Demand forecasting classification models were developed to exploit machine learning, stacked generalization, and time series as baseline methods. Additionally, various stacked generalizations were established in spare part demand forecasting. The results demonstrated that a suitable selection of methods could help enhance the performance of the forecasting models in this domain.

Social Exchange Relationships with Peer Leaders and Ethical Leadership: A Study among Male Military Team Leaders

AbstractThe present research explores the role of lateral exchange relationships among peer leaders (i.e., leader–leader exchange relationships; PLLX) as drivers of ethical leadership. Across two studies involving male subordinates and leaders pertaining to 150 teams (Study 1) and 158 leader–follower dyads (Study 2) in the Republic of Korea Army, PLLX was found to mediate a positive relation between peer leaders' ethical leadership and focal team leaders' ethical leadership, while controlling for upper leaders' ethical behaviours. Moreover, this relation was moderated by focal leaders' organizational tenure but in opposite directions in the two studies: the relation between peer leaders' ethical leadership and focal leaders' ethical leadership through PLLX was stronger in Study 1 (vs. weaker in Study 2) when tenure was high.

Improvement of combat readiness for Republic of Korea Army

The Russian invasion of Ukraine highlights the importance of strengthening combat readiness in the military. The purpose of this study was to devise a policy implementation that can ensure the appropriateness of the evaluation using the improvement elements of the current combat readiness evaluation in the Korean Army. To do so, the acts and regulations of combat readiness assessment and application cases in field units were analyzed, and the necessary improvements of elements were derived by collecting expert opinions using a Delphi survey. The analysis revealed that the weights for each evaluation element through the analytic hierarchy process survey were presented to assess the quantitative elements (troops, equipment, supplies, and competency) at the C-level, and the use of a judgment process was suggested to assist the commander in reasonably determining the level of qualitative evaluation factors when evaluating the grade (final decision of the level of combat readiness of the unit) at the mission assessment (MA-level). The results of this study can be applied to the assessment of combat readiness level to identify the poor elements of the field units objectively and report them accurately to the upper unit. Future, research must study topics related to the elaboration of assessment elements that can ensure the accuracy and reliability of the evaluation of combat readiness in terms of organizational competency development.

Interpreting Empire: English, U.S. Advisors, and Interpreters in the Korean War

Abstract The Korean Military Advisory Group (kmag) – a relatively small unit of U.S. Army officers – developed, advised, and exerted influence over the Republic of Korea (rok) Army from its inception in 1946 through the signing of the Korean War armistice in July 1953. kmag advisors served down to the battalion level, working alongside South Korean counterparts in rok Army units, causing language to be a crucial battlefield that animated American anxieties and negative racial assumptions. In a moment when few, if any, American military officers had Korean language proficiency, South Koreans with English-language capability became essential to the U.S. foreign policy project in South Korea. South Korean interpreters, too, amplified racialized concerns about the trustworthiness of rok soldiers. This article places American understandings of language in kmag affairs into critical focus, highlighting the cultural assumptions that came to effect material change in U.S. Army policy towards the rok Army before and during the Korean War. It shows how language was a means of U.S. penetration into the fabric of Korean state and society, but also a target of imaginations that disturbed the U.S. military because of its consistent reminder of how language could resist American suggestion.

1950년대 한국군 탈영의 동태와 그 양상

본 논문은 한국전쟁 직후부터 5·16 군정기까지의 시기를 대상으로 한국군 탈영병의 발생 추세와 그에 대한 한국 정부의 대응, 그리고 그들의 구체적인 양상을 밝히는 것을 목적으로 한다. 한국전쟁 후 한국군에서는 많은 탈영병이 발생했는데, 그들은 탈영한 이후에도 한국 사회 안에서 불안정하게나마 사회생활을 영위할 수 있었다. 본고에서는 그러한 사회적 영역을 ‘도주권(逃走圈)’이라는 말로 파악했다. 한편, 1950년대 말 일부 탈영병들의 범죄행위로 인해 치안 악화가 심해지자 한국 정부는 탈영병에 대한 강력한 대책을 내세웠지만 큰 성과를 얻지 못했고 그 과제는 4·19를 거쳐 박정희 정권까지 이어졌다. 5·16 쿠데타 세력은 본격적으로 탈영병 대책에 나섰는데, 그중에서도 특징적인 정책은 5·16 쿠데타 이전 시기에 탈영한 사람들에게 사면을 준 것이었다. 이로 인해 많은 탈영병이 더 이상 처벌받을 가능성이 없어졌지만, 이러한 관대한 조치는 탈영병 문제를 억제하기는커녕 또다시 탈영자가 다수 발생하는 결과를 낳았다. 결국 탈영병 문제의 해결은 지연된 것이다.

Association of Dietary Behaviors with Poor Sleep Quality and Increased Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Korean Military Service Members.

PurposeSleep quality among military service members is important for enhancing their capabilities and preventing psychiatric problems. We aimed to explore the association of dietary behaviors with poor sleep quality and increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in military men on active duty.Patients and MethodsA large-scale multi-site cross-sectional survey was conducted in five units of the Republic of Korea’s army. Poor sleep quality and increased risk of OSA were defined using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Berlin Questionnaire, respectively. Information on dietary behaviors, including the frequency of skipping breakfast, eating snacks, consuming a night meal, and overeating, were collected.ResultsFrom August 2021 to September 2021, 4389 male respondents, mean age (20.8 ± 1.3 years), completed the survey; 2579 (58.8%) were assessed as having poor sleep quality, and 614 (14.0%) increased risk of OSA. After adjusting for lifestyle and occupational covariates, skipping breakfast 1–2 times weekly was associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing poor sleep quality, compared with not skipping breakfast (odds ratio: 1.23 [95% CI 1.02–1.47]). Eating night meals 5–6 times weekly was also associated with poor sleep quality (odds ratio: 5.54 [95% CI 2.49–14.18]). In addition, skipping breakfast daily (odds ratio: 2.28 [95% CI 1.27–4.03]) and eating night meals daily (odds ratio: 2.30 [95% CI 1.21–4.22]) were related to an increased risk of OSA.ConclusionDietary behaviors appear to be related to poor sleep quality and a high risk of OSA. To improve sleep quality, dietary factors could be considered when promoting health programs for military personnel in further research.

Development of standard loss analysis model using big data

The Republic of Korea Army conducts simulations during peacetime using ground operation resource requirements analysis model (GORRAM) to determine potential losses when at war based on the latest operation plan. Although war-game simulation can yield reliable results, it takes considerable amount of time and effort to build a database and generate scenarios. Therefore, a study is required to supplement the detailed war-game simulation method to quickly determine expected losses. Using data built-in GORRAM, we tested the significance of four factors using beta regression analysis. While multiple regression is most commonly used to model the causality, beta regression is a powerful method for modeling response variables in the (0,1) range, such as the loss ratio. We verified that three factors, namely ‘topography’, ‘operational posture’, and ‘friend/foe power ratio’ were related to loss. This study proposes a new method for calculating the expected loss in real-time, overcoming a limitation of existing war-game simulation methods.

The first step toward the success of the Korean risk management framework (KRMF)

The risk management framework (RMF) applied by the United States combines the concepts of information security and risk management in the product development process. This includes the systematic structure of equipment, parts, other construction systems, facilities, and personnel, as well as the related security of cyberspace. This concept has been a concept that has been systematically applied for the completion of information security from the requirement planning stage to the destruction of the weapon system. The RMF, which should be reflected in the project of power enhancement to ensure the perfect performance of the weapons system that our military will use in the future, is unfamiliar to Republic of Korea Army (ROK). RMF is a step-level field that has not yet been based on detailed research and measures in any ROK military, such as the Army, Navy, and Air Force. However, the USFK, which is stationed in the Republic of Korea during peacetime, and the United States’ wartime reinforcement forces [Flexible Deterrence Option (FDO), Force Module Package (FMP), Time Phased Forces Deployment Data (TPFDD)], which are deployed at the request of the CFC Commander in the event of a crisis situation on the Korean peninsula and under the direction of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are thoroughly prepared for cyber threats by applying the RMF procedure. Therefore, the military should also create and apply the corresponding procedures during combined and joint operations as soon as possible. This study aims to provide a direction for the development of a categorization system, which is the most basic and important step 1 system in the RMF process, and I hope that it will help in the implementation of the Korean Risk Management Framework (KRMF) that should be applied in the future.

Deep autoencoder-powered pattern identification of sleep disturbance using multi-site cross-sectional survey data.

Pattern identification (PI) is a diagnostic method used in Traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM) to select appropriate and personalized acupuncture points and herbal medicines for individual patients. Developing a reproducible PI model using clinical information is important as it would reflect the actual clinical setting and improve the effectiveness of TEAM treatment. In this paper, we suggest a novel deep learning-based PI model with feature extraction using a deep autoencoder and k-means clustering through a cross-sectional study of sleep disturbance patient data. The data were obtained from an anonymous electronic survey in the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) members from August 16, 2021, to September 20, 2021. The survey instrument consisted of six sections: demographics, medical history, military duty, sleep-related assessments (Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Berlin questionnaire, and sleeping environment), diet/nutrition-related assessments [dietary habit survey questionnaire and nutrition quotient (NQ)], and gastrointestinal-related assessments [gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) and Bristol stool scale]. Principal component analysis (PCA) and a deep autoencoder were used to extract features, which were then clustered using the k-means clustering method. The Calinski-Harabasz index, silhouette coefficient, and within-cluster sum of squares were used for internal cluster validation and the final PSQI, Berlin questionnaire, GSRS, and NQ scores were used for external cluster validation. One-way analysis of variance followed by the Tukey test and chi-squared test were used for between-cluster comparisons. Among 4,869 survey responders, 2,579 patients with sleep disturbances were obtained after filtering using a PSQI score of >5. When comparing clustering performance using raw data and extracted features by PCA and the deep autoencoder, the best feature extraction method for clustering was the deep autoencoder (16 nodes for the first and third hidden layers, and two nodes for the second hidden layer). Our model could cluster three different PI types because the optimal number of clusters was determined to be three via the elbow method. After external cluster validation, three PI types were differentiated by changes in sleep quality, dietary habits, and concomitant gastrointestinal symptoms. This model may be applied to the development of artificial intelligence-based clinical decision support systems through electronic medical records and clinical trial protocols for evaluating the effectiveness of TEAM treatment.

미취학 자녀를 둔 여군의 양육 스트레스, 사회적지지 및 정신건강

Purpose: The study aimed to identify the relationship among the parenting stress, social support, and mental health of female soldiers with preschool children. Methods: This is a descriptive correlation study utilizing a self-report questionnaire. An online survey was conducted from June 16 to August 16, 2021 to collect data on women serving in the Republic of Korea army, navy, and air force with preschool children. Results: A total of 170 female soldiers completed the survey. The mean depression and anxiety scores were 51.72±9.84 and 51.82±11.95, respectively. The mental health, parenting stress and social support of female soldiers with preschool children were found to be significantly correlated (.16≤r≤.79, .05<p<.001). The mental health and parenting stress showed significantly positive correlation while mental health and social support showed significantly negative correlation. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that it is important to promote social support, such as military support and private support, and reduce depression and anxiety experienced by female soldiers with preschool children.

Influence of Cadet Ceremony on the Korean Military Cadets' IDENTITY

Purpose: The purposes of this study are, first, to investigate the effect of ceremonial events and honor systems conducted by the Korea Army Academy at Yeongcheon (KAAY) on the internalization of the values of cadets and cadet identity. Second, the researcher aims to derive improvement directions from the phenomenological perception and critical perspective of cadets through qualitative research.&#x0D; Method: In order to accomplish the research purposes, a common theme was derived by first examining the literature related to the cadet ceremonies and honor system of the military academies in Korea. In addition, focus group interviews were conducted with 12 cadets attending the KAAY to collect awareness of the internalization of their values and the impact of the honorary system on their identity formation. In addition, the meaning of the collected data was interpreted through content analysis, and the cadets' perception of the importance, influence, and improvement direction of ceremonial events and honor systems were analyzed.&#x0D; Results: As a result of literature review, the military academies are expected to operate similar ceremonies and honor systems, internalize honor as a core value, and form the identity of cadets who practice the honor procedures. The military academies provide various education programs to facilitate cadets to internalize the values, including honor pledge and loyalty ceremony, and those educations have a positive effect on the internalization of values and identity formation of cadets. However, there was an opinion that cadet uniforms and various ceremonies are currently maintaining the past traditions, so some improvements are needed.&#x0D; Conclusion: The ceremonies and honor systems have a positive effect on the internalization of the values of cadets and the development of the cadet identity. However, efforts to secure the uniqueness and tradition of each individual academy, as well as to share the value of human universality are also required.

Military application study of BCI technology using brain waves in Republic of Korea Army

The importance of reserve forces is increasing owing to changes in the security environment, such as the promotion of Defense Reform 2.0 and a sharp decrease in military service resources. Under these changes, we focus on combining EEG (ElectroEncephaloGraphy) with Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) for improving combat power and contributing to the future development of defense science and technology in 2050. In the study of EEG measurement technology, the alpha wave of calmness and beta wave representing the improvement of the concentration on individualized shooting skills, were measured with high accuracy in the theta wave-related research, and the value of their use was recognized. Using in the combat situations of personal firearms shooting, it can be applied in a small budget and a short period of time. Through our findings, when shooting the K-1 and K-2 rifles (the basic personal weapons in Korean military), it can contribute to improving the accuracy of existing individual’s shooting by increasing both concentration and calmness between breathing and firing control. Hence, our study show in the future warfare, the new direction of current defense science and technology and new concept of personal weapon usages in artificial intelligence based on hyper-intelligence, hyper-connectivity, and human-unmanned combat systems.

A Study on the NCO Basic Trainings to Improve Immediate Field Task Performance

Purpose: This research aims to analyze the current status of the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Basic trainings at the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) NCO Academy and to suggest improvement options for immediate field task performance. Method: This study is to identify the capabilities of smart NCOs required in the era of the 4th industrial revolution. It also reviews previous research on NCO Comprehensive Development Plan 2.0 and NCO Strategy 2030 for the future of the military in connection with Defense Reform 2.0 . Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, surveys are mainly conducted through online surveys and non-contact interviews with the NCO experts. Results: This research would propose a training course development plan based on the internal efforts of the NCO Academy and a survey of 678 soldiers including junior and senior NCOs and company commanders. It is necessary to realistically adjust the goals of the courses to achieve the basic combat skills and capabilities as a junior NCO. The current NCO basic course period needs to reduce from 18 weeks to 12 weeks and also the junior NCO leader course period needs to extend from 20 weeks to 25 weeks depending on the each refined training goal. Conclusion: The future of the army may depend on the smart NCO’s immediate field performance which is the core of the combat capabilities of tactical units. Therefore, the NCO basic training environments and programs of the ROKA NCO Academy should be substantially improved.

Predictors of critical illness among young males with chest pain, abdominal pain, or headaches in the Republic of Korea Army.

Chest pain, abdominal pain, and headache are common symptoms associated with critical illness. Here, we aimed to evaluate predictors associated with critical illness in young males of the Republic of Korea Army. We retrospectively reviewed previously healthy young males with chest pain, abdominal pain, or headaches who visited Armed Forces Seoul District Hospital between January 2019 and December 2020. Critical illness was defined as a condition that required hospitalization, a procedure or surgery, or referral to a tertiary hospital. The symptoms and signs of critical illness were evaluated. Of the 762 enrolled patients, a critical illness was diagnosed in 45 patients (5.9%). Among chest pain signs, palpitation (odds ratio [OR], 22.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.08-102.4; p < 0.001), exertional dyspnea (OR, 16.3; 95% CI, 3.38-78.8; p = 0.001), duration (> 5 minutes) (OR, 7.54; 95% CI, 1.93-29.49; p = 0.004), and squeezing type (OR, 5.28; 95% CI, 1.11-25.11; p = 0.037) were significantly associated with critical illness. Among abdominal pain signs, right-lower-quadrant tenderness (OR, 11.87; 95% CI, 4.671-31.87; p < 0.001) was an alarming sign. For headaches, criticality was low (1.5%), and half of patients with critical illness were diagnosed incidentally regardless of headache. We identified symptoms and signs significantly associated with critical illness in young male patients. This study might serve as a reference for deciding when to transfer soldiers in the field to a rear hospital, thereby contributing to the welfare and combat power of soldiers.