New generation of soldiers become main strength

Private Wang Zenglei earned the reputation when he first came to the squad of being highly self-conscious, and "democratic" as he often queried squad leader Chen Diliang's remarks in public.

But Chen did not criticize Wang's frequent noncompliance as he suffered often as a recruit years before. Chen instead dealt with him through encouragement, offering opportunities to exert his talent in knowledge and eloquence, such as teaching soldiers, and taking part in speech contests and entrusting him with more tasks.

Wang, initially an unsocial man, has gradually adapted to life in the army. He has won the trust of his superiors and fellow soldiers.

A sergeant in a motorized infantry regiment in China's Xinjiang Military Area Command, the 26-year-old Chen has ample experience with guiding soldiers in his eight years of military service.

"I've met a lot of only-child soldiers of Wang's kind with different personalities, some outgoing, some introverted and some short-tempered," said Chen. "I'm also an 'only-child soldier,' so that I can contact with them in ways more acceptable to them."

After three decades of the "one child policy," only-child soldiers began to enter the camp over 10 years ago.

And now, those one-child soldiers born in the 1980s and 1990s, have become the main force of the army's grassroots units, some of them have been promoted to company commanders, or even battalion commanders.

Unlike 10 years ago when the camps were full of farmers-turned soldiers, the current new recruits consist of college students, senior-high-school graduates and people with working experience, according to Senior Col. Wang Zhouqi, vice political commissar of the infantry division that the regiment belongs to.

Having served for more than 30 years in the army, Wang has conducted annual surveys of the newly recruited in recent years and the results have shown soldiers nowadays are highly politically conscious, well-informed, educated and have a better understanding.

"They can master a new movement after only being showed it once. But in the past, we had to demonstrate it two or three times," said the vice political commissar.

Most of soldiers today know how to use a computer and some even know how to make web pages and computer programs. A number of them have learned how to drive before enlisting. They have constituted resources of talents for the army.

"We used to resort to workshops for solutions if we met some difficulties during training, but now these young soldiers immediately turn to the Internet," said Lt. Col. Luo Xingjin, head of the political section in a motorized infantry regiment stationed in Xinjiang.

"An improvement in soldiers' overall quality is necessary for integrative training and adaptation to the future information-based war," Wang Zhouqi said, adding sergeants have taken up many high-tech posts.

But new recruits also have their shortcomings, which have a negative impact on the management of the army, according to Wang.

Born in the most prosperous period in more than one century of China's history, those children, mostly the only beloved of their generation in their families, have for a long time been widely accused of being spoiled, egoistic and uncommunicative. Luo Xingjin has noticed a prevailing lack of self-reliance among new recruits. "There was once a new recruit who did not know how to wash socks," Luo said.

Capt. Pu Tao, a company commander in the regiment, remembered that once a soldier denied his order to stand guard at night, because the soldier thought he had already done enough tasks during the afternoon.

Changes in management

The increase of only-child soldiers have brought about changes in management of grassroots military units.

Such changes usually lie in the different ways of communication between officers and men, and their joint participation in management, according to Senior Col. Duan Gongsheng, political commissar of the division.

To facilitate direct communication between soldiers and senior military officers, "commanders' mail boxes" have been installed on the troops' intranet, through which a private can send e-mails to the political commissar of the Military Area Command, often a general, to offer his views on army building, cadres selection, awards for meritorious service or even confide their troubles.

"Some soldiers also talked about very sensitive issues in their e-mails, and we encourage them to tell the truth," said Luo Xingjin. "It's forbidden to trace addressers' IP addresses."

Duan said prompt and serious replies by commanders showed their respect for soldiers and helped establish mutual trust, so senior officers can respond to all e-mails even though it takes some time.

More soldiers have begun to use the e-mail boxes which see an average of 300 visitors daily. An anonymous soldier posted a message, saying this platform has removed their worries to speak out and smoothed the communication between soldiers and commanders.

According to the army's security rule, soldiers are not allowed to use mobile phones or surf the Internet outside the barracks.

Instead of forcing soldiers to abandon their daily habits, military officers have tried to tailor the rules to individual needs. Internet cafes are open in military camps, allowing troops to have video chats with their families, and telephones have been installed in every dormitory, said Wang Zhouqi.

"The young generation have their own topics and ways of communication, so the key is to find out the common interests," said Capt. Li Xingde, 25, a company commander who is also the only child in his family.

Li has been exploring a more effective way to establish close relationships with soldiers. Every night, he drops in at the company's dorms, talking with soldiers about all the interesting topics, from movies, sports, to their love affairs.

Rigorous training in the army has built up young soldiers' bodies, steeled their will, and improved their sense of obedience, said Wang Zhouqi.

"All generations are stamped with the brand of their times, what's important to the generation born after the eighties, most of whom are only children, is to carry on the army's tradition," said Zhang Qianli, director of the political department of the division.

As long as they have ideals and beliefs, they have the direction of forging ahead, which can drive them to complete routine work and accomplish missions, said Zhang.

The young soldiers have gone through the severe trials in some of the deadliest disasters, such as the 2008 8.0-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan, which left over 80,000 people dead or missing, and the 2010 mudslide in Zhouqu, Gansu Province, which killed thousands of people.