Marines participating in the 2026 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise conduct an MV-22 Osprey air assault drill at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) in Kaneohe, Hawaii, on July 9 (local time). [Yonhap]
Marines participating in the 2026 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise conduct an MV-22 Osprey air assault drill at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) in Kaneohe, Hawaii, on July 9 (local time). [Yonhap]

Military units that have installed security cameras in their barracks may be allowed to eliminate overnight watch duty for troops, at the discretion of their commanding officers.

The Ministry of National Defense recently put a proposed revision to its unit management directive out for public comment, military officials said Thursday. The public comment period runs through Aug. 10.

Under the proposed revision, battalion commanders and above would have the discretion to suspend overnight watch duty if its purpose can be achieved through alternative means — such as security or operational CCTV systems and patrol-based checks — depending on unit conditions.

Current regulations require overnight watch duty to be staffed in pairs as a general rule. Soldiers take turns standing watch in one- to two-hour shifts at designated locations — including barracks living quarters and corridors — from immediately after evening roll call until the next morning's wake-up.

The primary purpose of the duty is to verify the number of sleeping personnel so that units can respond immediately to incidents such as accidents or desertions. The military said the need for such watch duty has diminished significantly as troop living facilities have been modernized, including through the installation of CCTV.

Observers say the revision could effectively eliminate overnight watch duty across much of the military.

The proposed revision also tightens the criteria for displaying portraits of former commanding officers inside units. Existing regulations barred the display of portraits of commanders or department heads whose convictions for insurrection, foreign instigation or similar offenses had been finalized, or who had been dismissed for embezzling public funds. The revision adds further grounds for removal: disciplinary removal from office, a finalized sentence of imprisonment or heavier punishment for conduct during service, and cases where the individual seriously damaged the military's reputation.


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