The First Sentinel of the South China Sea: 4 Outstanding University Student Soldiers Promoted!

Recently

on the "First Sentinel of the South China Sea," Huayang Reef, more than 1,000 kilometers away from the mainland of the motherland,

four outstanding university student soldiers, Li Zhiming, Wang Pengyuan, Chen Linliang, and Zhan Kaibin,

successfully achieved officer promotion

and are about to make the leap from soldier to officer.

Let’s unlock their stories of struggle together.

Coming from a military family, he finally fulfilled his childhood dream.

"On one side is the duty I must uphold,

on the other is the military academy dream I long for day and night.

I found my answer in balancing both."

Li Zhiming grew up in a military family,

with many relatives rooted in grassroots troops for years,

staying committed to frontline combat positions.

The stories of the military often lingered in his ears,

and the seed of serving the country quietly took root in his heart.

As a forward outpost in the South China Sea,

Huayang Reef has a complex maritime and aerial situation, with heavy tasks.

Faced with the dual pressure of duty and officer promotion exams,

Li Zhiming managed his time wisely,

waking up 30 minutes early each day to study,

carving out an hour during lunch for review,

and persisting in studying for 2 hours after lights out.

He not only achieved zero errors in duty performance

but also successfully opened the door to the military academy.

He who took up arms with a pen transformed from a master's student to a soldier.

As early as his high school graduation,

Wang Pengyuan was determined to apply to a military academy.

Unfortunately, he was unable to fulfill that wish at the time.

Throughout his undergraduate and graduate studies,

the spark of joining the military never extinguished.

Upon graduating with his master's degree,

he made a firm decision

to chase the military dream ignited six years ago.

Facing a new environment and unfamiliar professional track,

Wang Pengyuan dared not slack off for a moment.

He devoted himself fully to training,

honing military skills and refining combat style.

He quickly stood out,

becoming the "leader" among his peers.

In addition to duty and training,

he actively sought advice from comrades,

reviewing and preparing for exams, continuously solidifying his foundation.

Day after day of diligent effort finally bore fruit.

He who never gives up bravely secured first place in the exam.

"This time I achieved good results;

persevering in study and never giving up is my greatest confidence."

Chen Linliang is somewhat introverted in daily life,

but beneath his silent exterior

lies a persistent tenacity.

During his university years,

his parents encouraged him to join the military after graduation for tempering and training.

The expectations of his family, combined with his inner longing,

solidified his belief in enlisting to serve and protect the country.

In the 2025 professional competition,

Chen Linliang earned first place through hard work,

which also sparked the idea of officer promotion.

On the road to preparation, challenges came one after another.

Being strong in science, he faced multiple setbacks in theoretical memorization.

A caring instructor noticed his change in state

and proactively approached him for a heart-to-heart talk.

While answering questions, he also encouraged him.

With the instructor's help,

Chen Linliang gradually mastered scientific methods,

organizing frameworks with mind maps,

and breaking down key points for understanding and memorization.

He achieved excellent results, ranking first in the defending unit during the exam.

Dreaming of Nanchang, he gradually found a new goal.

Zhan Kaibin attended university in Nanchang,

the heroic city where the People's Army was born,

which ignited his dream of enlisting.

After graduating from university,

he resolutely decided to join the military.

During new recruit allocation, he thought that since he chose to be a soldier,

he should choose the toughest place for training,

and proactively went to Nansha to guard the border.

Under the leadership of his classmates Wang Pengyuan and Chen Linliang,

Zhan Kaibin also began to study hard, burning the midnight oil.

Comrades preparing for the same exam

often invited him to study together,

discussing and exchanging ideas on key difficulties.

The strong support from his comrades

provided him with powerful motivation to learn.

Ultimately, he achieved his goal.

Realizing dreams is not the end of struggle,

but the starting point of a new journey.

They will carry the resilience forged at the "First Sentinel of the South China Sea"

and continue to strive on the path of strengthening the military,

written the youth answer sheet belonging to the officers and soldiers of the new era.

Wishing them a bright and promising future!

Authors: Li Wanli, Tan Hefeng, Wang Tao, Liu Qi, Chen Fuseng, Chen Yuexi