Carry Forward the Spirit of 'Pack Up and Move Out,' and Continue to Achieve Merit on the New Journey
"Pack Up and Move Out"
■ Wang Guochang, Lu Shuaichen
● "Pack Up and Move Out" is a bold act of letting go and moving forward unburdened—a courageous transformation of actively stepping out of one's "comfort zone"
"Chairman Mao's soldiers heed the Party's call above all else; wherever we are needed, there we go; wherever conditions are hardest, there we make our home. The motherland calls me to guard the frontier post—I shoulder my rifle and march, I pack up my bag and set out..." This military song, sung across generations, is engraved with the iron-hearted loyalty to the Party and absolute obedience to the Party's command of the older generation of revolutionary soldiers. Today, although the situation and our tasks have changed greatly, we still need to carry forward the spirit of "pack up and move out" that our predecessors embodied, and continue to achieve merit on the new journey.
"Pack up and move out" is a bold act of letting go and moving forward unburdened. Looking ahead and behind, thinking too much, leads to an excess of misgivings and a spiritual burden too heavy to bear, shackling the steps of those who would advance. Only when the pack is light can one keep pace and not fall behind; only when the mindset is unencumbered can one act without restraint in work and in life. Therefore, one must set aside the mentality of fretting over personal gain and loss—one must not become unsettled at the slightest sign of change, nor quibble over every personal interest. When facing new posts, new responsibilities, and new challenges, one must stand at a higher vantage point, see further ahead, cultivate a broader outlook, and hold greater confidence; view gains and losses through the developmental lens of "a long view is always best" (风物长宜放眼量). One must be ready to set out the moment an order is given—without conditions, without workarounds, without compromise—moving out toward the transformation of the force, toward the demands of actual combat, toward the battlefield of the future, and using diligent effort and steadfast action to shoulder the duties and mission of our generation.
"Pack up and move out" is a courageous transformation of actively stepping out of one's "comfort zone." Research indicates that the human brain is in a "modeling" phase before the age of thirty, actively absorbing new information to construct a cognitive world; after thirty, the brain tends more toward processing information within already established cognitive models. Over time, this makes it easy to draw a "comfort zone" around oneself, gradually accumulating more going-through-the-motions and less bold striving for progress. Only by having the courage to actively step out of one's "comfort zone" can one continuously renew oneself in the face of new situations and new tasks, keep pace with the times, and respond to all manner of challenges with composure. Stepping out of one's "comfort zone" does not mean completely discarding past experience, nor does it mean mechanically repeating fixed work patterns; rather, it means reorganizing one's kit from a wholly new starting point, building strength before setting out, and scaling new heights in one's career with a spirit of pioneering innovation and vigorous striving.
"Pack up and move out" requires, even more, the courage to press forward in the face of difficulty and overcome hardships. The journey of building a strong military has never been smooth; only by confronting risks and challenges head-on and fearing no hardship or obstacle can one cut through thorns and brambles and advance steadily toward distant goals. Ren Yirong, named one of the "Most Beautiful New-Era Revolutionary Soldiers" (最美新时代革命军人), has experienced multiple garrison relocations and unit transfers over more than thirty years of service. Although his post has changed repeatedly, he has always devoted himself deeply to his combat position and applied himself wholeheartedly to the study of warfare, taking the lead in tackling multiple major research problems. In many cases, "setting out" means taking the initiative and pressing forward in the face of difficulty; passive lying flat (消极躺平) is absolutely unacceptable, and laxness and slackening must be resolutely prevented. On the new journey, when confronting new situations and new challenges, officers and soldiers throughout the force must not shirk tasks, must not evade problems, and must not shrink from difficulties; they must build strength and grow in ability through the tempering of hardship and adversity, and make new contributions to the cause of building a strong military.