Currently, Korea has top suicide rate in the world, and the suicide rate of young adults in their twenties is very high. The sudden increase of the suicide rate has become a serious social issue. Statistics show that 960 people try to commit a suicide...
Currently, Korea has top suicide rate in the world, and the suicide rate of young adults in their twenties is very high. The sudden increase of the suicide rate has become a serious social issue. Statistics show that 960 people try to commit a suicide a day, and 30 lose their lives. According to National Human Rights Commission of Korea, 20% of the military personnel in service consider desertion or suicide. In light of the status quo, Defense Department has provided military counseling service by operating a counseling office at each unit since 2005 in recognition of the fundamental rights of soldiers and the severity of the suicide issue in military. As of 2011, although the number of military counselors has grown, there is still much room for improvement in the military consultation system. It is our common goal to contribute to the solidarity of the army and to the management of soldiers to help cultivate their emotional stability and physical capabilities by effectively organizing and running the military consultation system.
Therefore, along with discussions on military consultation theory, this paper has conducted a survey of soldiers who use the military consultation system, counselors who implement the system, and commanders who manage the system. to do research on the real condition of the system and ways to revitalize the consultation system. The survey data has been analyzed using SPSS and excel program.
First of all, the frequency and percentage of the general characteristics of each group were calculated. Next, to do research on the real condition of the military consultation system, the frequency and percentage of the data on recognition, satisfaction, and efficiency of the counseling service evaluated by each group were analyzed and the difference among the groups was explored using χ² and One-way Anova as well as Scheffé's method. Finally, with a view to vitalizing the military consultation system, the mean value and standard deviation of the quality of the counselors, counseling environment, and counseling system were calculated. Finally, with a view to vitalizing the military consultation system, the mean value and standard deviation of the data on the quality of the counselors, counseling environment, and counseling system were calculated. The differences among groups were explored and verified. The differences were analyzed with statistical significance level of less than 5% as in other studies in social science, and only those which had statistical significance were analyzed.
The study results presented in three categories of soldiers, counselors, and commanders are as follows:
Regarding the recognition of the military consultation system, commanders were well aware of the system while soldiers who should know the system better than commanders and counselors showed much lower level of recognition. The analysis based on a cross-tabulations of the soldiers' satisfaction level showed that the higher their ranks were, the more satisfied they were with the consultation system, and, continual management of the system is required for the army management and soldiers. The longer period they served, the higher their satisfaction was. To raise the level of satisfaction, continuing interests are required to refect the soldiers' need by analyzing the counseling data collected at each unit and to respond smoothly to any complaints or dissatisfactions regarding counseling request and counseling procedures.
The comparative analysis on the professionalism of the counselors among counselors and commanders and military leaders showed that commanders and military leaders evaluated counselors' expertise more positively. Although counselling officers were in general found to have more confidence in the professionalism of the service system, this research discovered that commanders thought that counsellors have sufficient expert knowledge for their job, receive the relevant education appropriately, and make efforts to further develop their expertise. To raise the general level of the counselors' professionalism, Defense Department are selecting qualified counselors who are well equipped with professional knowledge.
The analysis on the multiple responses regarding the three groups' needs for counseling services have showed that soldiers wanted career counseling most while counselors and commanders were most interested in resolving psychiatric problems. The soldiers' need for career counseling reflects the high interest in career development teenagers have while commanders and military leaders are adhering to the original intention of the system such as resolving maladjustment or psychiatric problems and treating complaints regarding army life. As for the support for the counseling service, this study has found that commanders and military leaders perceived that professional counselors were receiving adequate support for their activities while counselors did not. Commanders evaluated vehicle aid, counseling places, collaboration with the military positively whereas military counselors were overall little satisfied. It indicates that when counselors are assigned to units, more support for their activities should be provided and more attention and cooperation from the military is needed for their working conditions.
This research derived a direction for policy making aimed to facilitate the military consultation system in the groups of soldiers, military counselors, and commanders and military leaders. Through active advertisement and enlargement of the military counseling service, more soldiers should have the opportunity to receive help while their counselling records are kept entirely confidential.
Military counselors should have work security and their work performances should be fairly evaluated. Each unit should also adjust the military evaluation system which focuses on the output more than on the procedures and should select qualified counselors and provide professional supervision on the counseling system. Special attention should be drawn to the need for systematic education of the military counselors. In the army the counselors should be provided with operating expenses, the Internet, vehicle, and lodging, and should be permitted to have access to soldiers' personal information and utilize both military and non-military resources to boost their counseling services. The first step to carry out specific counseling services would be to help soldiers adjust to the army life through individual and group counseling services with professional counseling techniques.
This study shows that the development of the military consultation system will greatly affect the quality of the counseling service provided to the soldiers. Military counselors' interests and support for them will contribute to the establishment and revitalization of the military consultation system, prevention of negligent accidents in army, and reform of the military culture by improving soldiers' ability to adjust to military life as counseling helps prevent soldiers from committing suicide and enhance their emotional stability, which will ultimately play a pivotal role in revolutionizing our society.