BOOST MILITARY TRAINING UNDER COMBAT CONDITIONS

BOOST MILITARY TRAINING UNDER COMBAT CONDITIONS*

November 25, 2020

Military training is the regular core work of the armed forces, the basic route to greater combat effectiveness, and the most direct means of achieving military readiness. It is of utmost significance in providing forces ready to fight and win and in building up comprehensive military strength.

During the period before the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, some problems that were affecting training for military preparedness became apparent. They stemmed from complacency following a long period of peace, and an unhealthy political atmosphere in some parts of our military. After 2012, the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission adopted a holistic approach to tackling the problems, shifting the priority of the military to improving combat readiness. Accordingly, our armed forces have strengthened training under combat conditions and achieved fresh progress in this field.

– We have highlighted the strategic importance of military training. We have raised the awareness of the services that the military is first and foremost a fighting force, and that combat readiness is the focus of the entire military. We have made combat effectiveness the sole yardstick. Military units at all levels have strengthened training with a greater sense of political responsibility and reinforced their awareness of the importance of military readiness and proactive action, giving more weight to combat readiness as their major responsibility. Commanders at all levels have led by example on the training ground, focusing their minds and energy more on building command and combat capabilities.

— We have prioritized real war drills. We have addressed peacetime ills affecting training through rectification initiatives, worked to correct an undesirable tendency towards “showmanship”, and notably improved the way training is conducted. To raise combat readiness through real war drills, we have increased intensity and difficulty in training, and made considerable progress. 

— We have pressed ahead with joint operations and exercises. We have organized a range of exercises across the armed forces, designed to resolve major strategic issues and achieve full military preparedness in every theater command. We have increased the intensity of joint training among theater commands, in order to increase effectiveness at all levels and in all fields. We have also increased exchanges between Chinese and foreign armed forces by strengthening joint operations, exercises, and competitive activities. 

— We have pushed for reform and innovation in training. We have adapted our training mechanism to reformed military systems and structures, and adopted a holistic approach to optimizing the courses, regulations, standards and logistics for military training. We have explored a new approach to developing military personnel by integrating academic study, field training, and ongoing in service education. As a result, our military training has become more effective and better organized.

— We have carried out extensive military training and competitions, and function-specific training activities to raise the performance bar. Military forces of all branches at all levels have launched a full range of vigorous drills, and have developed a number of effective programs for real-war training. They have integrated training in skills and tactics with the cultivation of patriotism and discipline, leading to a visible increase in combat effectiveness and producing officers and soldiers of a much higher caliber. 

After these years of hard work, our military training has made great strides in real-war training and combat readiness. Many long-standing and salient problems have been resolved, which has helped to elevate war preparedness and enabled our forces to complete major missions. At the same time, we should note that there is still room for improvement in our military training across areas such as guiding philosophy, courses, methods, approaches, and logistics. In addition, deep-seated problems in conduct and discipline are yet to be fully resolved, and the quality and effectiveness of training can still be improved. To meet future challenges head-on, all our armed forces must brave hardships, build on existing progress, and strengthen training under combat conditions.

* Part of the speech at the Central Military Commission Conference on Military Training.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)