My Experience as a Cybersecurity Soldier

I remember how hard it was to find information when I was applying for the cybersecurity soldier program, so I wanted to put together a short write-up!

If you're looking for tips on the written test or interview, you've come to the wrong place — I honestly can't remember a thing. That said, brushing up on 정보보안처리기사 or 정보보안기사 exam problems should help!

Before Enlisting 👼#

I was relatively old when I enlisted (23), so I really didn't want to just be a regular rifleman — and I didn't want to fall behind in my studies either.
So I looked into various military occupational specialties, and the two that stood out most were software development soldier and cybersecurity soldier.

There weren't even any software development soldier slots open during the period I wanted to enlist, and I kept hearing it was a role only the top-tier candidates landed.

So I shifted my focus and applied for the cybersecurity soldier program.

My stats at the time

• University: Hanyang University ERICA
• Primary major: French Studies
• Double major: Software Engineering
• Year: Completed 4th year (2 extra semesters remaining)
• Certifications: None 🤦

The selection process for cybersecurity soldiers is almost as rigorous as a corporate hiring process — resume screening → written test → interview → physical examination, and so on.
I submitted my application half-expecting to get rejected, but somehow I passed the screening. Then I figured I'd try the test and interview just to see what would happen, and I passed those too;

From what I've seen, some cohorts are packed with highly skilled candidates, while others are mostly typical underclassmen — I think I just got lucky with my cohort.
Either way, I'd encourage everyone to give it a shot!

(For context, I saw people from top domestic universities, well-known overseas universities, and even working professionals in the field.)

After Enlisting 🧑‍#

I think this is pretty standard, but after you enlist you go through 7–8 weeks of basic military training, and then — if you're assigned to a specialty role — you either head to an advanced training center for additional coursework or get posted directly to your unit.
That's exactly how it went for me.

Cybersecurity soldiers receive their advanced training at the Army Signal School, which handles all computer and communications-related education across the Army.
Officers and NCOs come there for training as well.

Life at an advanced training center is noticeably more comfortable than at the basic training camp.
Some people say it's a cushy posting — like being a sergeant before your time — but honestly it didn't feel that way to me. At the end of the day, we were still privates and military discipline still applied.

And in the rare case that your specialty's instructor sergeant rotates out while you're still in training, they'll select a replacement from among the trainees. I was lucky enough to be in the cohort when the senior cybersecurity instructor was discharged, and they accepted volunteers from our group — so I became a cybersecurity instructor.

Not to brag, but the Army Signal School is located in Daejeon, which has excellent infrastructure and amenities.
Advanced training centers typically select their personnel through interviews, so the quality of people around you — seniors, juniors, and fellow trainees — tends to be high. I met a lot of genuinely talented and fun people there. We entered military competitions together, studied together, and I think I had a fairly productive service experience overall.

After being selected as an instructor, I spent the next year and four months training new soldiers, supporting classes, and taking care of various duties — and before I knew it, it was time to be discharged. The military isn't as terrifying or suffocating as people make it out to be. If you put in the effort, you can rack up leave days, participate in competitions, keep up with your studies, and have a genuinely enjoyable and productive service.

While I was there I was restless and just wanted to go home — but looking back now, I've romanticized it quite a bit.

After Discharge 👴#

I was discharged on February 28th, moved on March 1st, returned to school on March 2nd, joined a research lab, and now I'm juggling a lot of things at once — but life is good. If you're thinking about graduate school, it might also be worth looking into the supplementary research personnel (전문연구요원) program!

Don't let age pressure rush you into enlisting before you're ready, like I did — take your time to explore all your options before sorting out your military service. And that's a wrap on my cybersecurity soldier story!

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P.S. Make sure to open at least two savings accounts after you enlist.

P.P.S. If anything I wrote here seems like a security concern, please don't hesitate to leave a comment.