"Old Rivals" Become "Good Partners": Company Commanders Must Build Each Other Up and Work in Sync

In early summer, smoke filled a certain railway platform as a combat-realistic railway loading and unloading training exercise got underway. Wang Qi, company commander of the UAV company of a certain brigade under the 80th Group Army, fixed his gaze ahead and directed specialists from each field to coordinate closely and precisely manage vehicle loading. During the lashing and securing phase, several new soldiers fell behind the pace due to inexperience. Company political instructor Yin Hao quickly stepped forward and guided them hands-on: "Don't panic—follow the procedures one step at a time…"

Wang Qi and Yin Hao have worked together for less than a year, yet they are already known throughout the brigade as a "golden partnership"—in military training, Wang Qi strictly enforces training standards and tempers combat capabilities, while Yin Hao keeps pace with the training process and provides ideological guidance; the two complement firmness with flexibility and consolidate the combined force for training soldiers. In company building, they build each other up and work in sync, insisting on prior communication and joint deliberation, forming a combined force for construction through the collision of ideas, and continuously driving the company's development in a positive direction.

How did they develop such rapport in so short a time? Because although they are "new partners," they are "old rivals."

Turn the clock back to 2020. That year, Wang Qi and Yin Hao were admitted in the same cohort from the enlisted force to the UAV specialty at what was then the Army Artillery and Air Defense Forces Academy.

In the first diagnostic assessment after enrollment, Yin Hao took first place and Wang Qi placed second. "In letters there is no first; in martial arts there is no second"—both being outstanding soldiers promoted to officer, Wang Qi refused to fall behind, worked hard on his weak points, and successfully overtook Yin Hao in the second assessment.

The alternating rankings in those two assessments seemed to fire the starting gun of a competition. From then on, the contest for first and second place became the norm between the two—Wang Qi kept constant watch on Yin Hao's physical fitness scores and seized every free moment to put in extra work at the gym; Yin Hao knew that teaching and organizing training was Wang Qi's strong suit, so he used his rest time to sharpen his instructional skills, harboring the same refusal to accept defeat.

By the time of the military academy graduation joint examination, Wang Qi held on to the top spot in the professional assessment in this "final battle," bringing the two-year-long competition to a pause.

Yin Hao was not fully satisfied with this outcome. As it happened, graduation assignment policy had just been adjusted; upon learning that Wang Qi would be assigned to the 80th Group Army, Yin Hao proactively chose to go to the same group army, looking forward to writing a new chapter in their competition.

During the group army's collective training for newly graduated officers, the two remained evenly matched. At the conclusion of the training, Yin Hao came out on top and Wang Qi placed second. The two were then assigned together to the brigade's UAV company as platoon leaders, and their rivalry extended from examination halls to competition fields—military sports meets, the officer "Sharp Sword Five-Event" competition, communications and electronic countermeasures specialist training camps… engagement after engagement, the two competed on the same stage and were difficult to separate. It was not until the last cadre adjustment, when Wang Qi was assigned as a battalion staff officer and Yin Hao was appointed political instructor of the UAV company, that this competition was paused once again.

After becoming a battalion staff officer, Wang Qi repeatedly applied to go to a company as company commander, wanting to compete with Yin Hao over who could lead a company better. In 2025, half of that wish came true—he would serve as commander of the UAV company, becoming Yin Hao's military-political command partner.

At that time, higher authorities organized an equipment effectiveness verification mission with tight timelines, heavy tasks, and high standards. Wang Qi, who had not participated in the earlier data collection phase, often worked late into the night to crack this "hard nut." Although he was well aware that Yin Hao had a more thorough grasp of the equipment's performance parameters, Wang Qi was unwilling to seek guidance from this "old rival."

"In the past we were rivals, but even more so comrades-in-arms—now we are simply closer than ever." Yin Hao was perceptive and quickly sensed Wang Qi's reservations. According to his leave plan, Yin Hao could have gone home to be with his daughter, who had just turned one. But in order to break down the barrier, he stayed in the company, helping Wang Qi familiarize himself with the company's construction situation, grasp the ideological dynamics of the officers and soldiers, and sort through various data and materials.

This unspoken consideration allowed Wang Qi to feel Yin Hao's sense of responsibility as a company commander, and also led him to redefine the relationship between the two.

During that period, Wang Qi led the officers and soldiers in measuring equipment parameters under different terrain and meteorological conditions, while Yin Hao followed along providing guidance, promptly correcting operational deviations and optimizing measurement methods… Perseverance pays off: the equipment effectiveness verification results from their first collaboration received high praise from higher authorities.

Today, this kind of tacit cooperation has long since replaced the former back-and-forth pursuit. Inside the simulation training classroom, at the issuance of a command, UAVs rapidly ascend, and operators at command-and-control, intelligence, and other stations coordinate closely. When training ends, Wang Qi and Yin Hao quickly convene key personnel to sit together, hold a training analysis meeting, review problems, and discuss countermeasures. As the meeting concludes, the same flame flickers in both their eyes: "This year, we will anchor on the goals of 'Four-Iron' (四铁) advanced unit and 'Advanced Grassroots Party Organization' and sprint with full force!"