Exercises Doctrine

A Certain Brigade of the 74th Group Army Delivers a "Combination Punch" to Consolidate the Capability Foundation of Prospective Staff Officers

第74集团军某大队打出"组合拳"，夯实预任参谋能力基础

PLA Daily (解放军报) 27 June 2026

Summary

A brigade of the 74th Group Army recently ran a consecutive, multi-subject assessment for prospective staff officers that integrated document drafting, combat calculation, and map overlay plotting into a single field exercise, with trainees operating independently under simulated combat conditions including electronic jamming. The article documents a recognized institutional failure: brigade leadership found that staff officer pre-assignment training over-weighted theory and observation, producing officers who performed well in collective training but broke down under complex battlefield conditions once posted. The brigade's corrective package—post-assignment performance tracking, immersive scenario instruction, battalion- and company-level commanders as part-time instructors, and rotational attachments to army- and brigade-level staff positions—extends a visible PLA-wide effort to close the gap between collective training outcomes and actual staff competency at the combined-arms group army level.

Translation

A Certain Brigade of the 74th Group Army Consolidates the Capability Foundation of Prospective Staff Officers, Delivers a "Combination Punch," and Tempers the "Central Command Tent (中军帐)"

PLA Daily News, reported by Mei Kaihua and special correspondent Zhang Baiyang: "Blocked by 'enemy' artillery fire — adjust the route of advance!" Recently, on the training ground of a certain brigade of the 74th Group Army, an intensive combat-realistic (实战化) consecutive assessment for prospective staff officers was underway. Unlike previous assessments, this one integrated more than ten subjects — including document drafting, combat calculation, and map overlay plotting — into a single exercise. Trainees, acting on instructions from exercise controllers, independently and on the spot carried out consecutive operations, effectively testing their battlefield emergency response and adaptability.

"Staff officers are an important component of the 'central command tent (中军帐),' and their capabilities and qualities bear directly on the effectiveness of command and decision-making." The brigade's leadership explained that prior investigations had revealed that collective training and instruction for prospective staff officers was not closely aligned with actual combat, with problems such as "emphasizing theory over practice" and "more observation, less hands-on operation." Some trainees who performed excellently during collective training found themselves "unable to adapt" once assigned to staff positions, often becoming flustered when confronted with complex battlefield environments and unable to respond effectively.

Deliver a "combination punch" and temper the "central command tent (中军帐)." To consolidate the capability foundation of prospective staff officers, the brigade established a tracking and follow-up mechanism to comprehensively survey trainees' performance after taking up their posts, collect and compile the capability requirements of those positions, and promptly adjust and refine training and instruction plans to ensure precise alignment between trainee development and position requirements. They explored and implemented immersive instructional methods such as on-site teaching (现地教学) and live-case deduction exercises (实案推演), integrating typical combat scenarios into instructional practice to help trainees exercise their planning, command, and tactics (练谋略、练指挥、练战法) in near-combat environments. Excellent commanders from grassroots battalion and company units were selected to serve as part-time instructors, imparting practical and effective staff skills and professional techniques to trainees. Moreover, the brigade regularly organizes prospective staff officers to participate in practical training at staff positions at both the army and brigade levels, dynamically optimizes the development plan based on actual conditions, and continuously drives the conversion of collective training results into combat capability.

Not long ago, the brigade conducted a command operations training exercise in a field area. Using a typical combat mission as the backdrop, they assigned trainees to staff positions within a command post and required them to conduct planning and command in accordance with combat procedures. "'Enemy' forces are conducting electronic jamming against our command post — each position is to formulate a response plan!" As the instructor issued the order, the participating trainees responded immediately and rapidly entered a combat-ready state.

Drafting backup communications plans, adjusting command post configuration, plotting mission situation maps (任务态势图)... On the training ground, trainees kept their eyes fixed on their screens, rapidly striking their keyboards, and carried out proficient operations in accordance with terrain conditions and force deployment, completing the training tasks with distinction. "During the collective training period, the instructors not only systematically taught theoretical knowledge but also shared without reservation their practical skills and experience, giving me far greater confidence in fulfilling my duties and responsibilities," trainee Liu Zhuang told the reporter after stepping off the training ground.

Original Chinese

第七十四集团军某大队夯实预任参谋能力基础打出“组合拳” 练强“中军帐” 解放军报讯梅凯华、特约记者张百阳报道：“遭‘敌’炮火拦阻，调整行进路线！”近日，第74集团军某大队训练场上，一场预任参谋实战化连贯考核紧张进行。与以往不同的是，此次考核将文书拟制、作战计算、要图标绘等10余个课目融为一体，参训学员根据导调指令，临机自主展开连贯作业，战场应急应变能力得到有效检验。 “参谋人员是‘中军帐’的重要组成部分，他们的能力素质关乎指挥决策质效。”该大队领导介绍，此前他们调研发现，预任参谋集训教学与实战贴合不紧，存在“重理论、轻实践”“看得多、实操少”等现象，一些学员集训期间虽然成绩优异，走上参谋岗位后却出现“水土不服”，面对复杂战场环境时往往手忙脚乱，难以有效应对。打出“组合拳”，练强“中军帐”。为了夯实预任参谋能力基础，该大队建立跟踪回访机制，全面摸排学员到岗后的履职表现，收集汇总岗位任职能力需求，及时调整完善教学训练方案，确保学员培养与岗位需求精准对接。他们探索推行现地教学、实案推演等沉浸式授课方式，将典型作战场景融入教学实践，帮助学员在近似实战的环境中练谋略、练指挥、练战法；遴选基层营连优秀指挥员担任兼职教员，为学员传授实用高效的参谋技能和业务技巧。不仅如此，该大队定期组织预任参谋赴军旅两级参谋岗位参加实践锻炼，并结合实际情况动态优化培养方案，持续推动集训成效向作战能力转化。前不久，该大队一场指挥作业训练在某野外地域展开。他们以某典型作战任务为背景，将学员编入指挥所参谋席位，要求他们按照作战流程进行筹划指挥。“‘敌’对我指挥所实施电子干扰，各席位制订应对方案！”随着教员下达指令，参训学员闻令而动，快速进入战斗状态。拟制备用通信方案、调整指挥所配置、标绘任务态势图……训练现场，学员们紧盯屏幕，快速敲击键盘，结合地形条件和兵力部署熟练作业，出色完成训练任务。“集训期间，教员不仅系统讲授理论知识，还倾囊相授实操技巧经验，让我履职尽责的底气更足了。”走下训练场，学员刘壮告诉记者。