Mobilizing to embrace the future

By Li Xiaokun (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-07 13:45

"Low targets previously set for military recruitment have restricted the combat-readiness of the PLA," it said.

A survey conducted by the military last year showed that the PLA requires most new recruits to have an educational level of senior high school or above, but many soldiers recruited in recent years did not meet the standard, the senior official from the MND conscription office said.

The latest reform of military recruitment also impacts society at large, the senior official from the MND conscription office said.

"Many people asked me, 'why do you recruit so many soldiers with higher education? Some of them will just serve as guards during their military service,'" he said.

"But I tell these people that, with a low educational background, our soldiers won't be competitive after leaving the barracks," he said.

Local governments have been facing mounting difficulties over arranging jobs for demobilized soldiers, while many favorable policies such as duty-free items for enterprises started by demobilized soldiers are seldom utilized because of the limited capabilities of the soldiers, he said.

"What if we recruit well-educated people and train them to be brave, hardy and self-disciplined in our barracks? They will become the backbone of society. They will be a valuable asset for modern China," the official said.

The new army recruitment policies are already working, he said. A number of enterprises this winter have held recruitment fairs at the military recruitment sites to "book" the soldiers, he said.

Some cities have also launched favorable policies for demobilized soldiers taking the entrance examination for public servants.

"I'm sure we are on a promising path," the officer said.

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