International Comparison of Military Welfare Service in the U.S., U.K. and Germany and Its Implications for Korean Military Welfare Service

In this paper, an international comparison of the military welfare service in the U.S., U.K. and Germany is made, with a particular focus on vocational education, dwelling for military personnel, and military medical service. The findings from the international comparison of these three countries are as follows. First, vocational programs are run as a preparation for retiring military personnel, while various formal and informal programs are provided to increase retiring military personnel’s talents and abilities for use in a civilian society. Second, the U.S., U.K. and German armies support the construction of dwellings for military personnel to have stable living quarters. They provide military accommodation and shoulder the expenses of civilian rental housing, moving, and provide food and daily necessities at a reduced price. Third, military personnel in the U.S., U.K. and Germany have access to military medical hospitals free of charge, while the use of civilian medical hospitals is financially supported by their armies. Based on the insights gained from this international comparison, the study suggests increasing job opportunities for retiring military personnel, modernizing the military facilities, and improving the military medical system as key implementation tasks to help improve Korean military welfare service and service members’ quality of life.