Advances in PLA training, readiness-level, jointness across various service branches

tamsen_ikard

Junior Member
Registered Member
This board focuses a lot on technical advances China makes in terms of new equipment. However, there is a lack of information here about reforms, advances in PLA training in various services.

For example, how good is the PLA fighter pilot training compared to US and other western countries? How many flight hours do pilots get?

Regarding the ground forces, how realistic are the exercises compared to US. How does PLA tactics differ from US? Education level of PLA recruits and changes and advances made in recruiting more educated soldiers.

Then there is the concept of jointness which is heavily emphasized in US. How much advancement has been in this field compared to US and other advanced countries?

There is a gap in knowledge about PLA's training and tactical reforms. As we know, having good hardware is nothing if training and organizational strength is lacking. So, we need to know more about these advances in order to truly understand PLA capabilities.

I hope knowledgeable people can inform us about this topic.
 

zszczhyx

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I have an interesting report from PLA Daily to share.
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Translation:
"The worst record" forces out "The best performance" of equipment
"First shot Missed", "Second shot Missed", "Third shot Missed"...... in a strange and complex area of Gobi desert, a new vehicle mounted artillery of a brigade of the 74th group army ushered in the live ammunition test. No one thought that the assessment result was beyond everyone's expectation: only two rounds of 20 shells hit the target, which not only far lower than the data given by the manufacturer, but also set the worst record since the establishment of the brigade.

Some officers and soldiers questioned on the spot: "is it too fast to organize shooting under extreme conditions in less than a month after the new artillery was equipped?" Some officers and soldiers, for safety reasons, suggested that the assessment should be suspended until the reasons were found out. Along with the support of the manufacturer's technical personnel remind: "this shooting, the shooting is the limit distance and extreme weather conditions, the target size is only a quarter of that of the fixed test firing, if the difficulty is reduced, it should be able to play a good data."

In the face of the voices of all parties, the brigade's command leading group held a meeting at the scene of the artillery position. Everyone agreed that it was impossible to improve the core combat capability of the brigade. Although the manufacturer's data is authoritative, the army needs operational data close to the actual combat rather than shooting data.

"The next day! With the same shooting distance, weather conditions and target size, everything is still set according to the actual combat requirements. " In the face of the command post's the final decision, battalion commander Zhou Jianhai issued a military order: "If we cannot meet the assessment criteria tomorrow, I'm willing to accept disciplinary action."

According to years of experience in artillery command, Zhou Jianhai took two bullets on target as a breakthrough. On the Gobi desert, he led the technical backbone and battalion company commanders to find problems one by one. In the evening, Zhou Jianhai finally locked in the Crux: there was a mistake in the manual re aiming link.

Zhou Jianhai boldly proposed to cancel the manual re aiming. The brigade leader asked him how certain he was. He replied, "although there is no absolute certainty, how can we know whether it is right or wrong if we don't try it?" Manual re aiming is not only a means to ensure accurate gun adjustment and accurate strike, but also an insurance measure to prevent gun firing from deviation from the maximum firing range. Zhou Jianhai knows that canceling manual re aiming needs to bear certain risks. In the face of the risk, the brigade command leading group made a final decision: "try boldly, and command leading group to take responsibility if there is any problem!"

The data are the best proof. In the next day's live fire, the hit rate of the gun after canceling the manual re aiming increased to more than 86%. The analysis shows that the new gun has high degree of automation, strong ability of automatic adjustment and correction, but manual re aiming is easy to lead to error.

"Do a good job in the corresponding security precautions, then try boldly." With this successful experience, the brigade's command leading group encouraged officers and soldiers to be bold in innovation and bold in trial and error. On the same day, the brigade specially took out two guns and multiple rounds of ammunition to verify more than 10 conjectures. It not only obtained the data not available in the equipment manual and textbook, but also mastered the optimal performance of the new gun.

The discipline and tactics of new equipment also need bold innovation and bold trial and error. As soon as a long-range fire weapon system of the brigade has completed upgrading and transformation, it has participated in cross regional maneuvering exercise and a major live ammunition exercise. During the exercise, more than half of the training methods and tactics were put into practice for the first time.

"Although some training methods and tactics have exposed many problems in live ammunition exercises, and even have not been fully integrated into the new weapon system, it is because of constant attempts and improvements that we have made considerable progress." Far fire camp commander Fu Wenxuan said.

It is understood that during the months long resident training exercises, the brigade carried out research and training on three new types of main combat equipment, carried out research and training on more than 20 key and difficult subjects, and more than 10 new training methods and tactics passed the actual combat test and were widely promoted.
 

Brainsuker

Junior Member
Registered Member
This board focuses a lot on technical advances China makes in terms of new equipment. However, there is a lack of information here about reforms, advances in PLA training in various services.

For example, how good is the PLA fighter pilot training compared to US and other western countries? How many flight hours do pilots get?

Regarding the ground forces, how realistic are the exercises compared to US. How does PLA tactics differ from US? Education level of PLA recruits and changes and advances made in recruiting more educated soldiers.

Then there is the concept of jointness which is heavily emphasized in US. How much advancement has been in this field compared to US and other advanced countries?

There is a gap in knowledge about PLA's training and tactical reforms. As we know, having good hardware is nothing if training and organizational strength is lacking. So, we need to know more about these advances in order to truly understand PLA capabilities.

I hope knowledgeable people can inform us about this topic.

I think the last Indian-Chinese standoff in 2020 can be considered as a show case on how PLA has been developed so far.
 

AZaz09dude

Junior Member
Registered Member
I think the last Indian-Chinese standoff in 2020 can be considered as a show case on how PLA has been developed so far.
i.e despite coming out ahead in most direct engagements, there's still a lot of room for improvement. IIRC, an example is they found inefficiencies with the way the chain of command for ad-hoc formations worked (common for the border were ones that combined personnel from SOF bdes and motorized/mechanized formations with local border guards)

Though tbf for the PLA, the local Xinjiang MD was lagging behind in terms of the reform and reorganization in the first place.
 

Brainsuker

Junior Member
Registered Member
i.e despite coming out ahead in most direct engagements, there's still a lot of room for improvement. IIRC, an example is they found inefficiencies with the way the chain of command for ad-hoc formations worked (common for the border were ones that combined personnel from SOF bdes and motorized/mechanized formations with local border guards)

Though tbf for the PLA, the local Xinjiang MD was lagging behind in terms of the reform and reorganization in the first place.

Interesting. Can you explain more? What do you find / get from India - Chinese standoff in 2020? What I see is that Chinese is way better than India in Logistic and rapid deployment department. In 2017 standoff, India General even said that China is so good in hiding their position. Of course, compared to 2020, China in 2017 was not so ready to reacted against India challenge. But I see that they performed better in 2020 standoff. But I can be wrong. So please explain to us more, so we can learn better.
 

Tanjiro Kamado

Just Hatched
Registered Member
Chinese Students' experience in Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (translated by google, edited by me)


Chinese students embedded in the British army “I can't give up, I represent the Chinese soldiers”

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09:06, June 05, 2018 | Source: People's Liberation Army News

Photo above: student 程诗凯 (right) Join the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst graduation comprehensive drill. Photographed by 蒋蔚蔚

Every weekend, Cheng Shikai (程诗凯), a cadre (干部) of the Graduate School of the Army Engineering University (陆军工程大学研究生院), likes to climb to the Nanjing Purple Mountain Observatory to enjoy the feeling of climbing up in the wind and looking up at the sky.
This feeling made Cheng Shikai (程诗凯) very " Infatuated" and reminded him of studying at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom three years ago and went to and mountains of Wales to carry out orienteering training.
"We learn from others, and we are also learnt by others; we are watching the world, and we are also watched by the world." Like Cheng Shikai, in recent years, more and more Chinese military academies have gone abroad and studied abroad. The young people go to world-renowned military academies. They have a deep understanding of the mission and responsibilities of military academies through close contact with the world, feel the glory and dreams of Chinese soldiers, expand their horizons, show their talents on the world stage, and improve their strategic vision and international exchange’s ability.
"I can't give up. I am representing Chinese soldiers here."
If my military time is described as a surging river, then the experience of studying in Sandhurst is nine bends and eighteen bends, with high peaks on both sides towering, and the river moving forward in turbulence." Postgraduate student (研究生学员) Min Yangguang (闵阳光) made a vivid analogy.
As an international student sent by the government, Min Yangguang studied at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom for one year in 2011. He said that every semester, the school will have 20 or 30 foreign students from more than 20 countries to study, train and live with British students. In the graduation exercise that year, the school also invited 120 cadets from the Saint Cyr Military Academy (圣西尔军校) in France to participate.
Min Yangguang’s 师弟 (younger/ lower grade/ newer student) Bie Lin (别林), studied at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, UK in 2014. His "meeting presenty" at the beginning of school is still unforgettable-with a weight of 20 kilograms, he "kissed" the mountains of Wales with his feet for 35 hours. This reminded him of the 300-kilometer camping training when he first entered the Chinese Military Academy.
In Sandhurst, more training items can only be described as "harsh": "lift wood"-six or seven meters long logs, 11 people in a group, 8 people carry and run at the same time, 3 people rotation; Walking a tightrope"-5 meters above the ground, 4 sections, 15 meters each, protected by ropes and buttons... Sandhurst has 15 field exercise sites, a world-renowned graduation military parade, and more than a dozen sports events choices. there are various forms of collective activities. In addition to the necessary physical training, shooting, platooning, and tactical training, students also need to complete military and cultural course, such as military system- human resource management, war studies, national defence strategy, and communication studies.
"In less than 7 weeks, 2 people were filtered out and 2 were forced to repeated, among the 30 people platoon.” Student Min Yangguang still feeling horrified by the school's high failing rate.
"When the weight is close to the limit of my body, when I am horrified by walking a tightrope in the air, when the exercise is soaked and I only have three or four hours of sleep, I really want to hold myself into a ball, rub it, rub it and throw it out. At this time, I will raise my head. Looking up at the sky: I can't give up. Here, I represent the Chinese soldiers!"
The book "The Long Battle—The Korean War in the Eyes of the Americans" recorded this: The US military never understood why the volunteers were so desperate and indomitable when they heard the Charge. "They have no way to realize that firm belief is the soul of fighting spirit. The outstanding qualities of Chinese soldiers also need to be pass on by us the younger generation of military academies." Cheng Shikai said.
"Pairs of eyes examines the army behind the students of various countries"
Military school classrooms are silent battlefields of the minds of military academies from all over the world.
The creative opening of new courses is the most intuitive impression given to Belin by the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He said that Sandhurst's classrooms often use small class teaching. On the stage, the lecturers analysed the current hot topics such as global and foreign policy; off the stage, the students listened and thought with their own understanding, and discussed thoroughly.
"The more urgent the juncture, the more you rely on intuition and instinct, and the simple'seven questions' is the fastest way to make decisions." Bielin told the author about the characteristic course of Sandhurst Royal Military Academy-Seven Questions on Combat Evaluation Law. "What is the enemy doing? Why?" "What order did I receive? Why?" "What influence do I want to have on the enemy?" ... Questions one after another, logically clear and interlocking, and the commander answers the answers to the questions Tthat constitutes the information for the analysis of the current situation, and is quickly transformed into military orders for implementation.
"The reason why many foreign military academies can become prestigious schools is largely because they can accurately grasp the direction of future wars." In the interview, Cheng Shikai talked about the battlefield rescue training during studying abroad. In the class, British instructors who had participated in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan used battlefield examples to explain the skills of self-first aid in battlefields, first aid for others, and access injury levels.
During the exercise, Cheng Shikai's team was fully armed and coordinated to transfer the wounded through dense forests, sewers, swamps and other complex terrain. The whole class held a stretcher in the swamp, and every student did his best for the team. What impressed him the most was that British military instructors took war reflections as an important part of the curriculum and throughout the upper-level courses and exercises.
Step-by-step progress is also a major feature of the school's training of talents. Bie Lin said that starting from the first grade, the weekly weapons practical courses accounted for more than 20%, and the types of shooting also gradually transitioned from the first grade simulated shooting and scattered shooting to the middle grade precision shooting, tactical shooting, and special shooting. Night shooting and actual combat shooting for seniors.
The temperament and content of the military school classroom determine the vision and ability of the students. "Strong youth make the country strong, and progressing youth will make the country progress. Cadets from various countries are not only class audiences, but also commanders of the future battlefield. With pairs of eyes, judging the army behind the students of various countries." Cheng Shikai said.
"Today we are friends, tomorrow we may meet on the battlefield"
"Prepare for the battlefield"-is the school philosophy of the UK Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on war
Here, the buildings of the various colleges ingeniously combine the history, traditions and achievements of the British Army; the college has two companies for each grade, often named after famous battles; the campus buildings and their decorative displays are just like A military museum that combines ancient and modern, allowing batch after batch of students to draw strength from it...
"Sanghurst has established a complete set of electronic tactical simulation systems, including patrol units, strongholds, emergencies, etc., to teach and test students' response and communication skills in complex situations." Bie Lin introduced, "Teach us the course. Approximately 60% of the instructors who participated in the war in Afghanistan personally participated in the Afghan war. They set up a realistic combat environment, and the trainees were rotated to take on different roles and leadership positions, so that the trainees experienced various pressures and dangerous tests."
The instructors engaged in military training and management at the UK Royal Military Academy Sandhurst all have rich practical and combat experience. The civilian faculty hired locally are experts in war studies, international relations, communication and media studies. "From the perspective of the composition of the instructor team, it fully embodies the school's school-running philosophy of'preparing for the battlefield'." Bie Lin said with deep feeling.
"Today we are friends, and tomorrow we may meet on the battlefield." Min Yangguang still clearly remembers the words when his comrades in the foreign military academy were separated. Min Yangguang said that during his study abroad, he placed a map of the world and Chinese knots in his room. The quilt always kept "four squares" and the Chinese flag was hung outside the door. "Through the campus environment, I feel the strong sense of belonging to the country from my colleagues in a foreign military school. It also makes me remind myself that I am a Chinese soldier."
(Zhu Henggang)
(editor: 邱越、黄子娟)
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