This was a sharp decline from the earlier ratio of 14.8 soldiers applying for every vacancy that characterized the selection process of the current deployment of 3,600 men conducting peace and reconstruction duties in Irbil, northern Iraq.

The ratio for military civilians was 9.8:1, while 7.5 warrant officers volunteered for each post. For officers, it was 6.7: 1, for privates 4.6:1 and noncommissioned officers 4.4:1.

The Army explained that the competition ratio was lower because the recruitment period for the second rotation was shortened to 10 days from the first rotation's 27 days, owing to the delay in the National Assembly's passing of the Zaytun Division deployment extension bill. The Army also only used its Intranet operation to receive applications.

Officials explained that, unlike the first batch of selections for rotation, the Army requested specific ranks, branches and special skills this time, allowing only those who fulfilled certain criteria to apply.

There are many, however, who believe that the incessant flow of intelligence which warns of terrorist attacks aimed at the Zaytun Division also influenced the fall in numbers.

To support various ceremonies and civil affairs operations while raising the morale of the troops, a military band composed of one officer, one noncommissioned officer and 23 men will be included in the scheduled rotation, the first time a Korean military band has been deployed overseas since the Vietnam War.

The selected troops will undergo three to five weeks of training starting in late January, during which time they will learn the base-defense and convoy-operation skills necessary to carry out their mission as well as being enlightened on local culture and customs. After that, the men will gradually begin leaving for Irbil from late February.

(Yu Yong-won, bemil@chosun.com )