The Naval Education and Training Command held a graduation ceremony for the Republic of Korea Navy's 723rd recruit class at 10 a.m. April 17. Vice Adm. Kang Jeong-ho presided over the event at the Basic Military Training Unit parade ground, where roughly 3,100 people — including commanding officers, staff and family members — attended.
The 1,035 recruits in the 723rd class enlisted March 16 and completed a five-week basic training cycle. Their curriculum included physical conditioning, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) training, survival and evasion, marksmanship, combat swimming and small inflatable boat (IBS) operations.
Private Eom Yeong-gwang served as the formation commander during the ceremony. Before the formal program, families took part in a service-cap presentation, personally placing caps on their sailors.
The service cap marks the recruits' perseverance through five weeks of training and symbolizes their resolve to defend the Republic of Korea's waters. Vice Adm. Kang presented the cap to a representative sailor, and family members presented caps to the remaining recruits.
The ceremony proceeded with the flag and national observances, a rallying cry and graduation report, award presentations, the commander's address, reading of graduates' remarks, the Navy pledge, the Navy song, the formal graduation proclamation and the cap-ceremony finale.
Fifty-eight recruits in this class are direct descendants of veterans who fought in the Korean War and the Vietnam War, continuing a family tradition of service. Privates Jang Ji-ho, Kim Sang-uk, Yoon Joo-seong, Jeong Hyeong-min and Seo Yun-hyeok led the graduates in the national anthem as representatives of those families.
Eleven recruits — Kwak Hyo-won, Choi Young-jin, Kang Chan-seo, Hwang Ji-won, Park Tae-wan, Jeong Seung-ju, Shin Ji-ho, Bae Ji-hoon, Lee Chang-heon, Kim Hyun-gyu and Jeong Hae-song — hold multiple citizenships but enlisted in the Republic of Korea Navy to fulfill their obligations as Korean citizens.
Several recruits come from long lines of naval service. Private Moon Ji-woong becomes a third-generation navy family member as a deck sailor, following his grandfather who served as an information-and-communications NCO, his maternal grandfather who was a deck NCO, and his father, an information-and-communications officer.
Twins Private Park Si-woo and Private Park Si-wan enlisted together. Assigned to deck and weapons specialties, the brothers said they joined side-by-side so they can serve as shipmates and support one another on duty.
At the ceremony, Privates Bae Jae-min and Oh Min-gyu received the Chief of Naval Operations Award. Privates Lee Joo-young, Seong Gyeong-jun and Kim Tae-min received the Naval Education Commander's Award. Privates Park Sang-hyun, Go Yoo-jun and Yuk Ye-seong received the Basic Military Training Unit Commander's Award.
Staff Sgt. Park Hyun-seo earned the Outstanding Training Instructor Award, recognizing exceptional leadership and dedication in developing these recruits over the past five weeks.
Vice Adm. Kang urged the public to foster a culture of respect and gratitude. \"Our proud sons and daughters are giving their all right now to protect the Republic of Korea's seas,\" he said. \"A simple phrase — 'Thank you for your NAVY service! We appreciate your naval service and dedication' — can give our sailors the strength to weather the toughest seas.\" He asked the public to join in spreading that appreciation.
The Naval Education Command also released five commercial-style songs in March to promote respect and gratitude among families. The package includes two versions of the \"Naval Education Command RESPECT\" song and three versions of \"Thank you for your NAVY service\"; the tracks are broadcast three times daily over the service network to boost morale.
Following graduation, the 723rd class will move to specialty schools under the Naval Education Command for advanced training in their assigned ratings. After completing follow-on instruction, they will be posted to operational units and begin their service as sailors across the East, West and South seas of the Korean Peninsula.
