Iraqi Dispatch - “Pick Me, Pick Me”

The competition for army volunteers to be dispatched to Iraq early next year is expected to be greater than three to one.

As for the troops dispatched in April, the competition was 3.15 to 1 and 3 to 1 for construction and medical support groups one and two, respectively.

Despite the more dangerous situations in the Northern region of Iraq, it is the destination for the troops. The Army predicts many will apply to volunteer considering the advantages of high pay (2m~3.2m won/month) and local experience.

Meanwhile, high in the list of criteria for picking the troops are clear nationalism and operation abilities. Also, with the recommendation of their commanding officers, those who have special talents in related fields and are physically adept, and have the will or parents’ will to volunteer, will have priority under the condition that they have received and earned the appropriate training and experience that is matched for their positions. If two are qualified with the same prerequisites, the one affiliated to normal field army will be picked. Those whose army duty period ends during the term of dispatch will be eliminated from the applicants’ list.

Officers and deputy commanders will have to take TEPS (English exam) in order to prove their foreign language abilities.

It has been said that there have been a flood of dispatch-related inquiries within the army since the government announced the criteria of dispatch on October 18.

Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com