An Air Force Base Takes Multiple Measures to Accelerate the Rapid Growth of Its Young Technical Cadre Force
An Air Force Base Takes Multiple Measures to Accelerate the Rapid Growth of Its Young Technical Cadre Force — A Contingent of Young Science and Technology Talent Rises in the Desert
PLA Daily report by Tang Jun and reporter Li Jianwen: Not long ago, a reporter entered the training research office of a Navy unit and saw an informatized war-game deduction system (信息化兵棋推演系统) running on an electronic screen. The officer on the podium explaining the system's operating procedures was Chen Pengwei, a post-2000s assistant engineer from an Air Force base stationed in the desert Gobi.
"This system was independently developed by our team and has substantially improved deduction efficiency," Chen Pengwei explained. The team's members have an average age of 32 and include both senior engineers and newly commissioned officers; post-1990s and post-2000s personnel have already become the main force leading key research breakthroughs.
As an important platform through which the Air Force integrates the functions of "test and evaluation, combat training, scientific and technological innovation, and operational assessment," the base has continuously attracted talent from all quarters. One young science and technology cadre voluntarily applied for reassignment and set off for the desert Gobi; Li Zefang, a doctoral graduate from a "double first-class" (双一流) university, gave up a high-paying position in a coastal city to take root on the front lines of equipment testing. "Devote oneself to national defense, forge the sword to serve the country, and let youth shine through shouldering responsibility" — this has become the shared value pursuit of the base's young scientific research personnel.
"Standing at the forefront of combat-capability generation, we focus on forging a contingent of young science and technology talent capable of 'fighting and winning battles,' and we are doing everything in our power to resolve the era's pressing questions of transitioning weapons and equipment toward actual-combat and systems-based employment (实战化、体系化转型)." A base leader explained that, to accelerate the growth of young talent, they have scientifically formulated talent cultivation plans, built a "one outline, seven objectives" (一纲七目) growth-planning pathway covering all categories of talent, and improved mechanisms for mentorship pairing, tiered cultivation, and research fault tolerance (科研容错). The base has also engaged in in-depth cooperation with military academies and scientific research institutes, hosted professional forums, and carried out commendation activities such as selections for "Outstanding Science and Technology Worker" and "Advanced Individual in Digital and Intelligent Development," fully stimulating the innovative vitality of science and technology talent.
After doctoral graduate Ruan Chengwei was assigned to work at the base upon graduation, the base precisely matched his posting to his area of expertise and designated an expert to pair with him as a mentor. With organizational support, he led the development of a certain type of assessment system; after years of sustained effort the work yielded results, and the system has now been promoted for use across the force. In recognition of his outstanding performance, Ruan Chengwei was named an "Individual Model in Practicing the Goal of Strengthening the Military Across the Entire Military" (全军践行强军目标标兵个人) in 2023.
The desert forges the sword and cultivates talent; digital and intelligent (数智) vanguard soldiers bravely shoulder their responsibilities. It is understood that in recent years, with its sights fixed on the demands of future high-end warfare and seizing the opportunity of digital and intelligent (数智化) transformation, the base has incubated more than 30 science and technology innovation teams and high-end talent groups, and has achieved a number of independently innovative results.