This "Soldier King" is remarkable for participating in the parade support work twice and being awarded first-class merit!

First Class Sergeant Zhang Jun Kai of a certain unit of the Joint Logistics Support Force

First Class Sergeant Zhang Jun Kai of a certain unit of the Joint Logistics Support Force has been dealing with automotive repairs for nearly 30 years. His skin is dark, his hands are covered with calluses, and when he walks, there is often a sound coming from his pockets, which are filled with the repair tools he considers "treasures."

Zhang Jun Kai: These are all the repair tools I carry with me, for electrical repairs, air repairs, unscrewing bolts, clamping things, and so on. When I encounter an urgent malfunction, I can quickly pull them out for repairs. Having these tools in my pocket gives me peace of mind.

The Renowned "Repair Expert"

The Initial Dream Was to Be a Driver

In his 30 years of military service, Zhang Jun Kai has innovated and invented more than 10 equipment tools, won the third prize in the military science and technology progress award, and enjoys a special government allowance from the State Council; with his superb skills, he has successfully completed more than 20 major support tasks, cumulatively repaired tens of thousands of vehicles, received first-class merit, and has been honored as "The Most Beautiful New Era Revolutionary Soldier," an outstanding Communist Party member of the entire military, a model individual practicing the goal of strengthening the military, and has won the first prize in the military's outstanding talent award for non-commissioned officers, among other honors.

In an interview, this renowned "repair expert" told reporters that his initial dream was to be a driver. However, after the unfortunate death of his brother, he made a different choice.

Zhang Jun Kai: It was in 1997 when I returned home for a visit and found my brother was not at home. I was puzzled and asked my parents where he had gone. My mother suddenly ran to the kitchen and started crying. Later, my father told me that my brother had died in a traffic accident a few months earlier, and the family had kept it from me to avoid making me sad. After returning to the army, I applied to my superiors to transfer from being a driver to an automotive repairman. I felt that if I could repair the vehicles, it would reduce the probability of traffic accidents and prevent some tragedies.

In August 1998, a major flood swept through much of China, and Zhang Jun Kai was responsible for the emergency repair of vehicle equipment on the front lines of flood relief. During the intense repair process, due to his inadequate repair skills, he almost "dropped the ball" at times, which caused him to feel a strong sense of skill anxiety. After the flood relief mission, Zhang Jun Kai focused on reviewing and preparing diligently, ultimately achieving excellent results and being admitted to the former Beijing Mechanical Non-Commissioned Officer School for further study.

Zhang Jun Kai: I was particularly proactive in learning repair techniques, often pestering my teachers for repair tips after class. The teaching aids in the classroom were "treasures" in my eyes, and I often took the opportunity to disassemble and study them while others were resting.

Both a Standalone Repair Backbone

And an Innovative "Inventor"

After returning to the unit, Zhang Jun Kai quickly grew into a key repair technician in the army. With a strong personality, he did not stop at routine maintenance support.

To improve work efficiency, Zhang Jun Kai actively attempted technological innovations, embarking on his path as a "military expert."

Zhang Jun Kai is debugging the diesel engine timer starter he developed for high-altitude conditions (Photo by Zhao Jiaqing)

Modifying power generation vehicles, assembling drilling vehicles... Time and again, through technical challenges and innovative results, Zhang Jun Kai has delivered impressive achievements with focus and wisdom.

Reflecting on his experiences and feelings from years of working in automotive repair, Zhang Jun Kai remarked that as long as one is willing to think carefully and work diligently, there is no vehicle that cannot be repaired.

Zhang Jun Kai: Even if it’s just a small screw that is missing, if I can’t find a ready-made one, I will find a way to process and make it myself, doing my best to solve the problem. I love this job very much; every day, I think about how to repair the vehicles well.

Participating in Two Military Parades

He is the "Ironclad Healer" of the Reviewed Equipment

In 2019, due to his outstanding work performance, Zhang Jun Kai was selected to participate in the support task for the military parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

During the parade training, to minimize the failure rate of the vehicles, he conducted a "butcher-style" inspection of the reviewed equipment, which has hundreds of thousands of components, creating a vivid and intuitive "health check map" for the key parts of the entire vehicle with labels and marking lines, forming a comprehensive quantitative inspection system that allows ordinary technicians to perform high-precision repair tasks, doubling work efficiency.

From the white mountains and black waters to the shores of the Yellow Sea, from the northern border to the grasslands beyond the Great Wall, from routine inspections to joint support and exercises, over the years, Zhang Jun Kai has participated in the support work for many major tasks; wherever there is a malfunction, there he is, busy at work.

In the summer of 2021, Zhang Jun Kai went with his unit to Russia to participate in the "International Military Games-2021" in the "Military Rally" project. Just a day before the competition, a transport vehicle provided for our army suddenly experienced a power drop, and the backup vehicle also had many aging components.

Faced with this urgent situation, Zhang Jun Kai decisively proposed to combine the two faulty vehicles into one operational vehicle and quickly put it into the competition.

Zhang Jun Kai: Including me, there were a total of 7 repairmen. We started disassembling and assembling at 3 PM and worked non-stop until 5 AM the next morning, without sleeping all night. I felt that it was my duty to ensure that the equipment entered the competition in the best condition.

The Chinese team that Zhang Jun Kai is part of successfully secured second place in the "International Military Games-2021" in the "Military Rally" project

Through the training from numerous major tasks, Zhang Jun Kai has increasingly realized that emergency repairs are not a one-man battle; teaching his comrades around him will provide more confidence in winning at critical moments.

After returning to the unit from the competition, he fully utilized the training opportunities organized for repairmen to share all his years of repair experience and insights with the young trainees.

Under Zhang Jun Kai's guidance, batches of young trainees from his unit are active on the long transportation lines, diligently ensuring the smoothness and safety of the steel transport lines.

Zhang Jun Kai: I want to impart all the repair experience and skills I have accumulated over the years to my comrades without reservation. My goal is to hope that my apprentices will be spread throughout the army. Automotive repair, although a small position, we must also strive for excellence and achieve extraordinary results.

Zhang Jun Kai (fourth from the left) teaches repair techniques to young comrades

As a repair technician in the logistics support team, Zhang Jun Kai participated again in the equipment support work for the military parade in 2025. He admitted that compared to 2019, this time, his responsibilities are heavier, and the pressure is greater.

Zhang Jun Kai: During the 2019 National Day parade, I was only responsible for the maintenance support of 5 reviewed vehicles. In the 2025 September 3 parade, I am responsible for the maintenance of 23 vehicles in the entire team. No matter how hard or tiring it is, I will do my utmost to ensure that the reviewed equipment passes through Tiananmen without any issues.

Although the repair position is full of hardships, Zhang Jun Kai has never regretted his choice.

Now, this veteran, who spares no effort in his work and always pursues excellence, continues to move forward, learning new technologies and researching new equipment whenever he has the chance.

Zhang Jun Kai emotionally stated that as long as the army still needs him, he will continue to devote himself wholeheartedly to the equipment repair work, shining and contributing his efforts.