On February 12, the Kure Regional Headquarters of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force announced disciplinary actions against two members involved in the leakage of internal examination content. The individuals, a 50-year-old chief petty officer and a 50-year-old second-class petty officer from the submarine training unit, received suspensions of six and five days, respectively, due to their roles in the incident. Reports indicate that the chief petty officer requested exam materials from the second-class petty officer in August and October 2023, which were subsequently leaked to several other candidates.

The situation came to light following an anonymous tip about irregularities during the exams, leading to an investigation by the Kure Regional Headquarters. During the inquiry, the chief petty officer expressed regret, stating, 'I didn't want to fail,' while the second-class petty officer mentioned feeling pressured by the chief petty officer's persistent behavior, indicating that he felt compelled to participate in the wrongdoing.

This incident raises serious concerns about integrity and ethical standards within Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force. The leakage of examination content not only undermines the fairness of the testing process but potentially compromises the operational readiness and professionalism expected of military personnel. As such actions may lead to calls for stricter oversight and accountability measures within the armed forces, the implications of this case could extend beyond immediate disciplinary actions to broader organizational reforms.