Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Creating an elite reserve forces with capabilities comparable to those of active duty

The MND is creating an elite reserve forces with capabilities comparable to those of active duty to ensure immediate and effective support for military operations in any contingency.

Establishing elite reserve forces by implementing systematic mobilization training

Organization and resource management

• Status of organization of reserve forces (2019) [Unit: No.of units]

  Status of organization of reserve forces (2019) [Unit: No.of units]

  Total	Local reserve companies	Task forces	Workplace reserve forces
  4,553	3,345	262	946

• Status of homeland reserve forces (2019) [Unit: Thousand persons]

  Status of homeland reserve forces (2019) [Unit: Thousand persons]

  Years of Inactive Duty			Task and Structure
  Total	Fewer than four years	More than five years	Total	Local	Workplace
  2,750	1,304	1,446	2,750	2,200	550

※ Reserve forces are drafted from the general population in the event of any contingency.

※ Reserve forces mobilized for contingencies are made up of discharged personnel who have served fewer than four years in the armed forces

Status of reserve forces training (2019)

• The training of reserve forces is conducted according to the reservists’ status and seniority.
  • Reserve forces are made up of former active duty service members who have been discharged for no more than eight years, and training is offered for volunteers who have been discharged for no more than six years. Training is divided into mobilization training and homeland defense training; the former aims to improve combat capabilities at the individual and team levels, while the latter aims to foster homeland defense capabilities.
• Officers and NCOs conduct the reserve forces training for those who have been discharged for no more than six years. The training is held on a military installation for three days and two nights per year.