(사)국제융복합연구원

키워드

초록

As declining birth rates and population aging increasingly challenge the sustainability of military manpower, many countries have begun exploring strategies to leverage senior soldiers as a viable supplement or extension to traditional recruitment. This study conducts a comparative analysis of the policies and practices involving senior personnel in Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany, focusing on recruitment, placement, welfare, and training. The findings illustrate that these nations have adopted multiple measures—such as raising upper age limits for enlistment, extending mandatory retirement ages, and differentiating operational roles between frontline and technical or support tasks—to address the constraints associated with an aging workforce. In specialized fields, mid-career or older professionals contribute significantly due to their expertise and long-standing experience. Yet, challenges persist in terms of managing the physical limitations of older personnel, ensuring organizational cohesion across age groups, and covering increased healthcare costs. The policy implications drawn from this analysis may be particularly relevant for countries like South Korea, where demographic shifts are prompting a re-evaluation of military manpower strategies and the incorporation of senior soldiers as a potential resource.

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