Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Tuesday stood by the government’s push to unify military academies into one single institution, calling it a “fundamental reform” that will help pool future cadets amid a demographic cliff and other changing trends. Ahn made the call in a command letter to the leaderships of the armed forces, amid growing backlash over the Lee Jae Myung government’s drive to consolidate the academies of the Army, the Air Force and the Navy. Debate is heating up as retired top brass and alumni associations of the armed forces have joined forces to issue formal statements calling on the government to reconsider the campaign. “I believe everyone from the superintendents to the cadets is working harder than anyone else,” the letter obtained by Yonhap News Agency showed. “However, fundamental reform is essential across the board, including for the visions and goals of the academies, their faculties, facilities and infrastructure, as well as the educational curriculum,” he said. Ahn highlighted the need to bolster “jointness” among the military branches to hone the cadets’ abili
