The People's Army Will Always Follow the Party (On the Frontline of Strengthening the Military) — Exemplary Stories of Our Army Strengthening the Military Recognized as National "Two Excellence and One First"

Members of the Communist Party on the Navy Red River ship pledge allegiance to the Party flag. Photo provided by the interviewee

Soldiers from the 66th squad of the 95662 unit carry out their duties at the post. Photo by Yu Jianhao

Soldiers from the 42nd squad of the 75220 unit conduct armed assault training. Photo by Liu Xun

Heavy responsibilities set forth again

Li Longyi

Since the sound of a gunshot rang out on the city walls of Nanchang on August 1, 1927, the People's Army has traversed a magnificent journey of ninety-nine years. Under the strong leadership of the Party, the People's Army has written a heroic song that swallows mountains and rivers with blood and faith, establishing immortal achievements for national independence, people's liberation, and national prosperity.

The military flag always follows the Party flag, and the army will always follow the Party. Entering a new era, the People's Army deeply implements Xi Jinping's thought on strengthening the military, comprehensively enhances training and preparation for war, forges a politically steadfast and capable strong Party organization, and cultivates a high-quality cadre team that is loyal, clean, and responsible, providing a strong political guarantee for the cause of strengthening the military and gathering powerful forces for the struggle to build a strong army.

Party organizations at all levels in the military are strong fortresses for strengthening and revitalizing the military, and the vast number of Party members and Party workers are the vanguard models charging ahead. From the front lines of training to the heights of scientific research, from the snowy borders to the distant oceans, they integrate absolute loyalty to the Party into their blood, shoulder the responsibility of preparing for war, and write the strong military answer sheet of the new era with practical actions and achievements. On the eve of the August 1 Army Day, we approach the exemplary figures of our army who have been recognized as outstanding Communist Party members, excellent Party workers, and advanced grassroots Party organizations, showcasing their loyalty to their mission, determination to win, and dedication to their responsibilities in this era.

The journey of ten thousand miles is full of wind and strength, and heavy responsibilities set forth again. Standing at the historical juncture of the 99th anniversary of the army's founding, looking forward to the centenary goal of the army's founding, let us take examples as benchmarks, unite and strive forward, and welcome the 100th anniversary of the army's founding with a new political outlook and strong combat capabilities!

Party branch of the 42nd squad of the 75220 unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army —

Let the red gene live on in the blood

Reporter: Li Longyi

In the summer, at a training ground in western Guangdong, the heat wave wraps around the smoke of gunfire, and a confrontation between attack and defense is reaching a stalemate. "Blocked by 'enemy' firepower, the attack is hindered!" The message from the radio heightened the tension in the atmosphere.

The Party branch of the 42nd squad of the 75220 unit immediately formed a Party member assault team. First-class sergeant and squad leader Zhao Lei volunteered to lead the team into the "enemy" defense line, tearing open a gap and playing a key role in turning the battlefield situation around.

As the smoke cleared, the squad's Party branch secretary Wu Junjie said, "Whenever there are urgent and difficult tasks, the Party branch coordinates in advance, and the backbone Party members charge to the front; this is the 'code' for our squad's victory."

Time rewinds. In May 1935, the Red Army during the Long March was forced to the banks of the Dadu River. Ahead was a natural barrier, and behind were pursuing enemies; life and death hung by a thread. This unit selected 17 brave soldiers to form the "Crossing the River Courageous Team." Facing the enemy's claim that it was "impossible to fly over," the brave soldiers charged through gunfire and crossed the river.

That battle tore open the natural barrier and opened a path for survival. The brave soldiers charged forward, forging the "Dadu River Spirit" of "listening to the Party's command, advancing courageously, daring to win, and considering the overall situation," paving the way for the Central Red Army's northward advance.

Passing down the torch, entering the new era, the squad's Party branch deeply excavates the red roots, allowing the red gene to take root in the hearts of the officers and soldiers and integrate into training and preparation for war.

In the squad's honor room, the oil painting "Crossing the Dadu River" hangs prominently. When new cadres report and new soldiers join, the first lesson is to stand in front of this painting and receive a baptism; before major tasks are dispatched, the entire company calls out the names of the "Seventeen Heroes," and upon returning from the mission, they report to the battle flag. Recently, the squad used artificial intelligence technology to restore the portraits of the "Seventeen Heroes" and held a solemn ceremony to welcome these young faces "back to the team." On the day the portraits were hung, many people were moved to tears.

Soldier Cai Siqi, at the beginning of his enlistment, was not very interested in red history. However, over time, the stories in the honor room, the shouts on the training ground, and the heroic spirit passed down by predecessors gradually entered his heart. He began to delve into the Party's innovative theories and red historical materials, gradually growing into a theoretical backbone of the squad.

The Party flag flies high, giving rise to the confidence to win.

At a certain naval training ground, the sea breeze blows, and the waves roll. The officers and soldiers of the "Dadu River Company" have been fighting here for many days, focusing on practicing new joint combat tactics. Braving the wind and sand, trudging through the mud, in the unpredictable coastal environment, they have taken root and practiced their skills diligently. In previous training, there were issues of professional barriers and coordination disconnect, but the squad's officers and soldiers did not take a detour; instead, they broke out of the limitations of single posts and layers, identified shortcomings from the perspective of joint operations, and determined multiple practical combat research topics, delivering results through practical achievements.

The waters of the Dadu River flow endlessly. The spirit of the "Seventeen Heroes" has surged through the smoke and rain of time, continuously flowing in the blood of this unit, never ceasing.

(Contributions by Zheng Ye and Zhang Huhu)

Party branch of the 66th squad of the 95662 unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army —

Lack of oxygen cannot mean a lack of faith

Reporter: Jin Zhengbo

In the summer, at a radar station positioned nearly 5,000 meters above sea level, the biting wind blows fiercely. Four soldiers from the 66th squad of the 95662 unit hold the four corners of the Party flag, and all Party members of the squad, under the witness of the snow-capped mountains, face the Party flag to reaffirm their Party membership oath.

"In tomorrow's battle, the committee members will lead the charge, and the Party members will stand at the front. The harsher the conditions, the more we must charge to the front. Does everyone have confidence?" After the oath, the gaze of the squad's Party branch secretary swept over each resolute face.

As the wind and snow change, the officers and soldiers have changed one after another, but this cloud-top combat fortress remains as solid as a rock. In the past five years, this station has been recognized by the Central Military Commission as a "model unit for military preparedness" and has been awarded as an advanced unit by the Air Force for its "Four Iron" standards...

The old photos on the honor wall tell the story of over 60 years of struggle. When they first arrived at the ice peak position, they faced a lack of water and oxygen, scarce supplies, and tents that leaked wind, with many officers and soldiers suffering from severe altitude sickness.

"Lack of oxygen cannot mean a lack of faith." The Party branch remains true to its original intention, promoting the spirit of "shouldering the radar, digging ice, and boiling snow to guard the air defense," organizing officers and soldiers to build positions, transport supplies, set up antennas, and assess air conditions, firmly establishing their footing under extreme conditions.

"The times are changing, the environment is changing, but the foundation of faith has never wavered." The unit's leadership told reporters that they are simultaneously focusing on learning excellent traditions and arming themselves with the Party's innovative theories, transforming the commander’s earnest expectations into ideal pursuits rooted in the plateau.

Loyalty is embedded in the soul and translates into action. The Party branch takes the lead in promoting training and preparation for war from being task-driven to demand-driven, from working in isolation to system collaboration, innovating and practicing more than ten tactical methods; exploring the establishment of an information data sharing mechanism, and constructing a new model of flat command, autonomous collaboration, and intelligent control.

"Standing high means also daring to climb higher." At this radar station, the Party member vanguard post, Party member demonstration class, and Party member assault team have always been the charging force for urgent and difficult tasks. Last winter, a sudden snowstorm struck, snow accumulated on the radar, and the system alarmed, threatening to interrupt air condition monitoring. Third-class sergeant and Party member Zeng Honglin led his comrades to quickly assemble and rush to the position.

The raging wind and snow on the plateau hit their faces like knives. But they climbed the nearly 10-meter-high antenna frame without hesitation, grabbed the ropes, quickly removed the ice, and checked the lines. After more than two hours of fierce battle, the equipment finally returned to normal.

In critical moments, they stand at the forefront, demonstrating first in difficult tasks, and taking on the heaviest daily work... The squad's Party branch regularly carries out the practice activity of "one post, one responsibility; one Party member, one flag," ensuring that every officer and soldier is proficient in multiple posts, achieving excellent results in post competitions, weaving a winning net with solid strength.

(Contributions by Deng Dongzhi)

Party Committee of the Navy Red River Ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army —

The Party organization is the guiding star of the Tiger Boat

Reporter: Ren Tongtong

The Navy Red River ship is the fifth generation of the "Sea Tiger Boat." After four upgrades and five generations of relay, this modern domestically produced missile frigate has emerged from the historical smoke of war, carrying forward the iron-blooded courage of the older generation who "fought with knives at sea," continuing its grand trajectory in the new era, allowing the heroic battle flag of the "Sea Tiger Boat" to stand tall across the vast maritime territory.

With equipment updates and expanded mission domains, the ship has upgraded from a 75-ton close combat boat to a 4,000-ton main battle ship, becoming a spiritual source for generations of officers and soldiers to root themselves in their posts and charge into battle.

Years ago, when preparing to receive the Red River ship, the officers waiting for the ship faced a "hard battle": compressed task cycles, frequent personnel changes, and insufficient professional experience... Under heavy tests, in the face of new equipment, some crew members went from being excited and hopeful at the beginning to gradually developing a sense of difficulty.

"The combat fortress role of grassroots Party organizations is not sufficiently played, and the root cause is that 'the branch is established at the company level but not strengthened at the company level'!" The political commissar of the frigate brigade to which the Red River ship belongs said at a research meeting.

Under the guidance of the brigade's Party committee, the Red River ship gradually strengthened its grassroots Party organization, deeply binding ideological theory with practical combat, regularly opening "Tiger Lecture Halls" and "Tiger Story Meetings," establishing theoretical night schools, organizing study exchanges, and transforming the Party's theoretical learning into an internal driving force for training and preparation for war.

At a special study meeting on "Inheriting Family Faith and Understanding the Original Intention," the Party committee of the Red River ship organized a video connection between new and old sailors, where veteran Yang Jinxing solemnly reminded the young soldiers: "The Party organization is the guiding star of the Tiger Boat; if you lose the root of loyalty, the warship will lose its direction."

Crew member Du Xiangyu listened to the veteran's account and gradually understood the political commissar's frequent saying: "When everyone comes, we are a piece of iron; when we leave, we are a piece of steel." The "Sea Tiger Spirit" is not just a slogan on the wall, but a spiritual force embedded in the blood.

With everyone striving to be the first and charging into battle, the Red River ship achieved the highest score in the acceptance test and passed the full training assessment three months ahead of schedule, successively receiving collective third-class merit and being recognized as an advanced unit by the Navy for its "Four Iron" standards and by the combat zone for its preparedness and combat capabilities.

During a complex multi-dimensional confrontation drill in challenging sea conditions, the officers and soldiers needed to complete live-fire assessments in foggy weather, with waves obscuring the targets, leaving the soldiers uncertain. Han Qiang, the main gun team leader of the third generation of the "Sea Tiger Boat," encouraged everyone: "Our predecessors practiced hard under even harsher conditions, so our current difficulties are nothing." He led his comrades to repeatedly refine the shooting process, ultimately achieving an excellent result of 10 hits out of 12 shots.

When the Red River ship first went to the Gulf of Aden for cross-continental escort missions, it innovated a training model that integrated "escort, training, and preparation," safely escorting over a hundred ships from various countries. Party member backbone Deng Changming took the lead in organizing over 100,000 words of technical data and refining practical combat tactics, using innovative breakthroughs to accelerate the generation of new combat capabilities.

The battle flag flutters, and the original intention remains unchanged. Generations of officers and soldiers continue to charge forward, and the Red River ship bravely sails in the deep blue sea, daring to win.

(Contributions by Liu Lipeng and Ding Feiyu)

■ Reflections

Always remember "I operate the missile, I listen to the Party's command"

The rapid development of the strategic missile forces has provided me with a stage for growth. Being part of the "Missile Launch Vanguard Battalion," a heroic collective, under the guidance of numerous exemplary figures, I strive to practice and enhance my combat capabilities, maximizing the performance of the weapons and equipment in my hands.

As a Party member soldier operating a major national weapon, I am acutely aware that a small launch button concerns the peace of the nation and must always remember "I operate the missile, I listen to the Party's command," ensuring absolute loyalty, absolute purity, and absolute reliability. I will continue to be a leading example, motivating my comrades to train and prepare for war, contributing my strength to achieve the centenary goal of building the army.

—— National Outstanding Communist Party Member, Squad Leader and Launch Technician He Xianda of the 58th squad of the 96714 unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army

We will always guard the lights of thousands of homes

We have long been responsible for armed patrols in important areas such as the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China and Nanjing Road in Shanghai, embedding the glorious tradition of "the good eighth company on Nanjing Road" into our bones, measuring loyalty with our tireless steps.

On the 20th of each month, our service point for the people on Nanjing Road pedestrian street always opens as scheduled — haircuts, shoe repairs, blood pressure checks. A new generation of young soldiers takes over the clippers and needles from the older generation, also inheriting an unchanging promise. An elderly lady held the soldier's hand and repeatedly said, "Thank you, young soldiers," and in that moment, I felt that all the sweat was worth it.

The August 1 military flag guides us to forge ahead, and the sentinels under the neon lights report to the Party and the people with even more spirited postures: Rest assured, we will always guard the lights of thousands of homes!

—— National Outstanding Party Worker, Instructor Yang Zenan of the Second Company of the Second Battalion of the Fourth Detachment of the Armed Police Shanghai Corps

Building a strong combat fortress on the vast maritime territory

On July 1, I was honored to represent national outstanding Party workers and was invited to Beijing to participate in the celebration of the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and to receive recognition. I personally felt the magnificent atmosphere of our Party in its prime, and the firm confidence and historical responsibility of our Party in uniting and leading the people of all ethnic groups to embark on a new journey and achieve success in the new era.

In recent years, the People's Navy has achieved leapfrog development, with aircraft carriers cutting through waves, carrier-based aircraft soaring in the sky, and ships traversing the vast oceans, marching forward with strong military steps. As a frontline Party worker in the Navy, I will always remember the commander's expectations, firmly uphold my ideals and beliefs, and build a strong combat fortress on the vast maritime territory, fulfilling the historical mission of strengthening the military with practical actions.

—— National Outstanding Party Worker, Deputy Director of the Political Work Department of the 91278 unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Jiang Tao

(Reported by Li Longyi and Ren Tongtong)