Exercises Political Work

A Brigade of the 74th Group Army Firmly Establishes the Clear Orientation of "Merit Through Training, Credit Through Martial Excellence"

第74集团军某旅牢固树立“训练有为、精武有功”鲜明导向

PLA Daily (解放军报) 18 May 2026

Summary

A brigade of the 74th Group Army awarded nine third-class merits to a single armored infantry company in 2024—eight individual and one collective—after the brigade Party committee tied commendations directly to performance in an all-specialty (全专业) skills competition and major exercises, under the explicit orientation of 训练有为、精武有功 ('merit through training, credit through martial excellence'). The article documents a deliberate institutional effort to correct incentive distortions in the awards system by making competition and exercise results the primary basis for recognition, a problem the PLA has acknowledged repeatedly since the 2015–2016 reforms. The attached commentary's emphasis on 政绩观 (view of political performance)—contrasting 显绩 (visible, short-term achievements) with 潜绩 (latent, foundation-building work)—confirms the brigade is framing talent cultivation and long-term readiness as the corrective to careerist award-seeking, though whether this reflects brigade-level initiative or theater army guidance is not established by the article.

Translation

A Brigade of the 74th Group Army Firmly Establishes the Clear Orientation of "Merit Through Training, Credit Through Martial Excellence" — Nine Third-Class Merits "Take Up Residence" in One Company

■ Lü Xuefei, Fang Junteng, PLA Daily Reporter Chen Dianhong

"Eight officers and soldiers were awarded individual third-class merits, and the company was awarded a collective third-class merit…" Recently, a brigade of the 74th Group Army organized a "Strivers Speak" (奋斗者说) story session on strengthening the military. Yin Guodong, the political instructor of an armored infantry company, took the stage and gave a heartfelt account of the company's struggle to earn nine third-class merits last year.

One company, nine third-class merits in a single year — how was this achieved?

Last year, the brigade faced a heavy workload of combat-readiness tasks, with major tasks advancing in overlapping succession. To continuously inspire officers and soldiers' enthusiasm for military training, the brigade Party committee deliberated and decided to organize an all-specialty (全专业) skills competition, and to make performance in major exercises and training activities and competition results an important basis for commendations and awards, establishing among officers and soldiers the clear orientation of "merit through training, credit through martial excellence" (训练有为、精武有功).

"Whoever can distinguish themselves on the exercise and training ground is qualified to earn merit and receive awards." When the news spread, a wave of training enthusiasm swept through the entire brigade, and this armored infantry company was the most dazzling crest of that wave.

At the story session, Yin Guodong recounted with vivid emotion the company's trail of struggle over the past year, and the thoughts of the officers and soldiers in the audience were drawn back to one after another blazing training and competition scene.

During maritime training last year, Deputy Company Commander Cheng Xiang volunteered at a Party branch deliberation-on-war-and-training (议战议训) meeting: "For the 'Sea Dragon' (海上蛟龙) competition, I'll lead the team." During the preparation period, he took the lead in organizing training, charging the beach again and again at sea and conducting after-action reviews time and again on shore. In the end, the company's competition results ranked among the top, and two officers and soldiers won the title of "Sea Dragon."

Tempered by the sea, sharpened on shore. During field garrison training last year, then-Company Commander Liu Yang led the company to capture three pennants including "Outstanding Unit in Live-Force Confrontation" (实兵对抗优胜单位) and was awarded an individual third-class merit. At the year-end merit and award evaluation, the company earned a collective third-class merit on the strength of this outstanding record.

In the audience, Staff Sergeant Second Class Li Jun could not help but let the corners of his mouth curl slightly upward when he heard his own story recounted, his thoughts seeming to return to the smoke-filled armored infantry comprehensive competition arena —

At the sound of the whistle, he rapidly operated a UAV to conduct forward reconnaissance, locked onto the target at the first opportunity, planned the optimal navigation route, operated the artillery to precisely destroy the target, and drove the infantry fighting vehicle swiftly across the finish line. When the results were announced, Li Jun's overall score ranked among the top.

What few knew was that Li Jun was not the company's first choice for the competition. Zhang Long, the company's artillery technician and Sergeant First Class, was technically proficient and experienced, having competed twice on the international stage, and was universally recognized by the company's officers and soldiers as the best candidate. However, after registration opened, Zhang Long proactively put forward to the organization: "With my discharge approaching, I want to put my expertise to use and bring up a good crop of seedlings for the company. For this competition, I am requesting to serve as a coach and help the younger comrades compete."

After discussion, the Party branch leadership reached a consensus: while winning gold medals and competing for honors on the competition field is certainly important, cultivating and building a reserve of talent with an eye toward the company's long-term development is even more important. In the end, the company decided to send Li Jun, Song Lizhong, and a cohort of other young backbone personnel with outstanding potential to compete, and organized tailored support groups for them according to the principle of "pairing strong with weak, precisely compensating for shortfalls" (强弱搭配、精准补短).

During the preparation period, Zhang Long and the support group members imparted everything they knew, scrutinizing details at every stage and seeking breakthroughs in every skill. In the end, Li Jun led his team members to perform outstandingly in the competition, and he himself was awarded an individual third-class merit.

Before the smoke had cleared from the armored infantry comprehensive competition, the armored infantry passenger (载员) competition followed in quick succession. At the firing line, Staff Sergeant First Class Song Lizhong kept his eyes fixed on the targets. This competition required the comprehensive use of five types of firearms and the completion of accurate grenade throwing. During the preparation phase, the company's coaches for different firearms trained him in weapon-holding and breath control, and grenade-throwing training exceeded one hundred throws per day.

At the starting signal, Song Lizhong rapidly chambered a round, aimed, and fired. "All light armored targets hit!" When the competition results were announced, Song Lizhong's outstanding scores made him a true "King of Marksmen" (枪王).

While the company commander was executing an important mission, Deputy Company Commander Cheng Xiang led the entire company to successfully complete a demonstration of the company tactical comprehensive exercise subject, received a commendation notice from higher authorities, and was awarded an individual third-class merit. Platoon Leader Ye Yingqing participated in the group army's pre-designated staff officer (预任参谋) training course and ranked first overall, earning an individual third-class merit. Driver Shi Zhihang performed outstandingly in support mission completion and was awarded an individual third-class merit. Staff Sergeant Second Class Luo Wen ranked among the top in the armored infantry passenger competition and was awarded an individual third-class merit. Staff Sergeant Second Class Wu Yinglu placed second in the urban warfare backbone competition and was awarded an individual third-class merit… One name after another, one military merit medal after another, together form the complete mosaic of this company's officers and soldiers striving to strengthen the military.

As the story session drew to a close, Yin Guodong said with deep feeling: "Training people for war (为战育人) has only a present tense, never a past tense. We must not only 'build a stage' (搭台子) for officers and soldiers in ordinary times, but even more so 'set up a ladder' (架梯子) at the critical moments of their growth. Only by laying the foundation of talent cultivation deep and firm can we accumulate sufficient strength and confidence for strengthening the military and winning wars." His words had barely fallen when the officers and soldiers in the audience broke into warm applause.

A story session was not only a display of honors, but also a powerful mobilization. The moving stories of one "striver" after another inspire officers and soldiers to refine their martial skills, strengthen their capabilities, and achieve merit at their combat posts. Since the beginning of this year, a wave of training and combat-readiness enthusiasm has surged through the brigade: four operational research results have received awards from the theater army (战区陆军) level and above, 57 person-instances across all specialties have set or broken records in competitions, and the force's combat capability development has reached a new level.

Short Commentary

When the View of Political Performance Is Correctly Established, Undertakings Are Carried Out with Strength

■ Huo Rui

One company, nine third-class merits in a single year — how was this achieved?

It was achieved through every officer and soldier striving to be first, and through the company's overall excellence. From officers proactively volunteering to soldiers winning competitions, from the company capturing outstanding-unit pennants to officers and soldiers across all specialties distinguishing themselves on the competition field — nine military merit medals, each one bearing the clear measure of "merit through training, credit through martial excellence."

Even more, it was achieved through their establishment and practice of a correct view of political performance (政绩观). Faced with the choice between planning for the immediate versus planning for the long term, the company Party branch kept a clear head and boldly supported "young shoulders" (嫩肩膀) in bearing heavy responsibilities. Faced with the trade-off between individual honor and company development, the veteran non-commissioned officer was willing to serve as a stepping stone for others, voluntarily stepping back to play a supporting role (当"绿叶").

What is a correct view of political performance? The answer lies hidden in each of these choices made for strengthening the military and winning wars: not fixating on "visible achievements" (显绩) and seeking quick results, but focusing on "latent achievements" (潜绩) to lay foundations and build platforms; not pursuing individual results that "stand out alone" (一枝独秀), but striving for company development where "spring colors fill the garden" (春色满园).

When the view of political performance is correctly established, undertakings are carried out with strength. A story session on strengthening the military displays past honors, but what it conveys is a clear orientation. When the training enthusiasm of more and more officers and soldiers is inspired and ignited within the rich atmosphere of "merit through training, credit through martial excellence," the force's combat capability development will have an even more solid foundation and bedrock.

Original Chinese

第七十四集团军某旅牢固树立“训练有为、精武有功”鲜明导向—— 九个三等功“落户”一个连 ■吕雪飞房骏腾解放军报记者陈典宏 “8名官兵荣立个人三等功，连队荣立集体三等功……”日前，第74集团军某旅组织一场“奋斗者说”强军故事会，某装甲步兵连指导员殷国栋登上讲台，动情讲述连队去年荣获9个三等功的奋斗故事。一个连队，一年荣获9个三等功，靠的是什么？去年，该旅备战打仗任务繁重，大项任务压茬推进。为持续激发官兵练兵热情，旅党委研究决定：组织全专业大比武，并将参加重大演训活动表现情况和比武成绩作为表彰奖励的重要依据，在官兵中立起“训练有为、精武有功”鲜明导向。 “谁能扬威演训场，谁就有资格立功受奖。”消息传出，全旅上下掀起练兵热潮，该装甲步兵连正是这股练兵热潮中最耀眼的一朵浪花。故事会现场，殷国栋声情并茂回顾连队去年以来的奋斗足迹，台下官兵的思绪也被拉回一个个火热的练兵比武现场。去年海训期间，该连副连长程翔在支部议战议训会上主动请缨：“‘海上蛟龙’比武，我带队参加。”备赛期间，他带头组训，海上一遍遍冲滩，岸上一次次复盘。最终，连队比武成绩名列前茅，两名官兵勇夺“海上蛟龙”称号。海上淬火，岸上砺刃。去年野外驻训期间，时任连长刘洋带领连队一举夺得“实兵对抗优胜单位”等3面锦旗，荣立个人三等功。年底评功评奖，连队凭借这份亮眼的成绩单，荣立集体三等功。台下，二级上士李俊听到自己的故事，嘴角忍不住微微上扬，思绪仿佛回到了硝烟弥漫的装甲步兵综合比武赛场—— 哨音响起，他迅速操作无人机前出侦察，第一时间锁定目标，规划最优导航路线，操作火炮精准摧毁目标，驾驶步战车快速冲过终点。成绩揭晓，李俊综合成绩位居前列。鲜为人知的是，连队最初遴选参加比武的第一人选并非李俊。该连火炮技师、三级军士长张龙技术过硬、经验丰富，曾两度征战国际赛场，是全连官兵公认的最佳人选。然而，报名开始后，张龙主动向组织提出：“临近退伍，我想发挥特长，为连队带出一批好苗子。这次比武，我申请当教练员，助力年轻战友征战比武场。” 支部一班人经过讨论达成共识：比武场上夺金牌、争荣誉固然重要，着眼连队长远建设培养、储备人才更重要。最终，连队决定派李俊、宋礼忠等一批潜力突出的年轻骨干参赛，并按照“强弱搭配、精准补短”原则，为他们量身组建帮扶小组。备战期间，张龙和帮扶小组成员倾囊相授，逐个环节抠细节、逐项技能求突破。最终，李俊带领团队成员在比武中表现出色，本人荣立个人三等功。装甲步兵综合比武硝烟未散，装甲步兵载员比武接踵而至。射击地线前，一级上士宋礼忠眼睛紧盯靶标。此项比武需综合运用5种枪型并完成手榴弹投准。备赛阶段，连队不同枪械教练员带着他练据枪、调呼吸，投弹训练每日超百枚。发令枪响，宋礼忠迅速上膛、瞄准、击发。“轻型装甲目标全部命中！”比武结果公布，宋礼忠以优异成绩成为名副其实的“枪王”。连长执行重要任务期间，副连长程翔带领全连顺利完成连战术综合演练课目示范，获上级通报表彰，荣立个人三等功；排长叶颖卿参加集团军预任参谋集训，综合成绩排名第一，荣立个人三等功；驾驶员施志航保障任务完成出色，荣立个人三等功；二级上士罗文在装甲步兵载员比武中成绩位居前列，荣立个人三等功；二级上士吴应禄在城战骨干比武中获第二名，荣立个人三等功……一个个名字，一枚枚军功章，构成了该连官兵奋斗强军的完整拼图。故事接近尾声，殷国栋深有感触地说：“为战育人只有进行时，没有完成时。我们既要在平时为官兵‘搭台子’，更要在他们成长的关键时刻‘架梯子’。只有把人才培养的根基扎深打牢，才能为强军打赢蓄足实力底气。”话音刚落，台下官兵纷纷报以热烈掌声。一场故事会，不仅是一次荣誉的展示，更是一次有力的动员。一个个“奋斗者”的感人故事，激励官兵精武强能、战位建功。今年以来，该旅练兵备战热潮涌动：4项作战研究成果获战区陆军以上奖励，全专业比武57人次创破纪录，部队战斗力建设迈上新台阶。短评政绩观树得正，干事业过得硬 ■霍锐一个连队，一年荣获9个三等功，靠的是什么？靠的是官兵人人争先，靠的是连队整体过硬。从干部主动请缨到战士比武夺魁，从连队夺得优胜锦旗到各专业官兵扬威赛场，9枚军功章，每一枚都标注着“训练有为、精武有功”的清晰刻度。更靠的是他们树立和践行正确政绩观。面对谋一时还是谋长远的抉择，连队党支部头脑清醒，大胆支持“嫩肩膀”担重任；面对个人荣誉还是连队发展的取舍，老班长甘为人梯，主动退居幕后当“绿叶”。什么是正确的政绩观？答案就藏在这一个个强军打赢的选择里：不是盯着“显绩”急功近利，而是聚焦“潜绩”夯基垒台；不是追求个人成绩“一枝独秀”，而是争取连队建设“春色满园”。政绩观树得正，干事业过得硬。一场强军故事会，展示的是过去的荣誉，传递的却是鲜明的导向。当更多官兵的练兵热情在“训练有为、精武有功”的浓厚氛围中被激励、被点燃，部队战斗力建设就有了更坚实的底座和根基。