Build a strong army and stay true to the mission: Tradition and innovation of the 'Red Third Company'
Officers and men of the Third Company always volunteer during crisis. The No 28 regiment of the Red Fourth Army ran into a crisis in the Dadu River, Chu chen region in 1935 during the Long March, and the Third Company soldiers volunteered to fight the battle and achieved the final victory, and the tradition continues to this day.
Women commandos exercise in a forest. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] |
A couple of women commandos were unable to swim during the training in June 2014, which meant the 10,000-meter-long swimming mission impossible for them. Yi Qiang, then-commander of the men's squad suggested the women to follow the men commandos and regard the swimming as a trial. Cao Shuangguo, then-commander of the women's squad, delivered a written request to the party branch later that night with 10 red finger prints on a paper. "We women commandos will all participate in the competition except two soldiers who are sick," said Cao. None of the women commandos quit the competition and won the first place together with their men counterparts.