Exercises Political Work

Marching Toward War! An Air Force Unit Organizes a Comprehensive Field March Exercise

向战而行！空军某部组织野外综合拉练

PLA Daily (解放军报) 28 May 2026

Summary

A Central Theater Command Air Force unit conducted a combined field march exercise integrating CBRN lane passage, combat casualty care, and political education at a revolutionary martyrs' monument, with personnel identified as Huang Zhanpeng, Shang Jin, Lin Hu, and others. The article documents the PLA's persistent practice of fusing ideological conditioning—oath renewal, martyr veneration, combat spirit cultivation—with physical and tactical training rather than treating them as separate activities. This fits the established pattern of political work embedded in field exercises as a force-cohesion mechanism, providing a baseline record of how Central Theater Command Air Force ground-level units frame the relationship between hardship training and loyalty reinforcement.

Translation

Recently, a unit of the Central Theater Command Air Force rigorously organized a comprehensive field march exercise, drawing on combat-realistic subject training while simultaneously conducting ideological and political education, with focused efforts to temper combat spirit (战斗精神) and continuously forge the original aspiration of military service (从军初心).

At the first light of dawn, with war drums urging the march forward, all officers and soldiers were in high spirits and morale, advancing toward the target area with orderly and vigorous strides.

The long-distance march is not only a contest of physical endurance but also a tempering of conviction and willpower.

During the march exercise, various special situations arose in rapid succession. "Enemy contaminated zone ahead—take protective measures." As the order was issued, officers and soldiers reacted swiftly and passed through the "contaminated zone" in sequence. The combat atmosphere continued to intensify.

Some personnel came under attack by "enemy aircraft." A combat casualty care team rapidly deployed to assess "casualties," performing hemorrhage control, bandaging, immobilization, and evacuation. Each element, through realistic combat training, honed their proficiency in emergency response and crisis handling.

Upon arriving at the designated area, all officers and soldiers formed up in orderly ranks for on-site education, presented a floral basket at the revolutionary martyrs' monument, paid tribute to revolutionary forebears, and renewed their military oaths. The deeds of the fallen heroes illuminated their original aspirations; battle songs rang out loudly, stirring their fighting will.

This comprehensive field march exercise not only effectively tempered the force's hard work style of "training elite soldiers through hardship, orienting all effort toward war (苦练精兵、向战为战)," but also boosted morale, forged courage and fighting spirit (血性胆气), and further strengthened officers and soldiers' sense of mission and responsibility to render meritorious service in the cause of building a strong military.

Officers and soldiers unanimously expressed that they will carry forward the spirit of the fallen heroes, dedicate themselves to their posts with unswerving effort, and contribute the energy of their youth to the cause of building a strong military.

(Huang Zhanpeng, Shang Jin, Lin Hu, Mo Shouwei, Xiang Shiyang, Yuan Jiashuo, Yang Xu)

Original Chinese

近日，中部战区空军某部严密组织野外综合拉练以实战化课目训练为依托同步开展思想政治教育着力锤炼战斗精神持续砥砺从军初心晨光熹微战鼓催征全体官兵精神抖擞、士气高昂迈着整齐矫健的步伐向目标地域前进长途行军不仅是体能的比拼更是信念意志的磨砺拉练途中各种特情接踵而至 “前方遭遇‘沾染区域’，做好防护措施” 随着命令下达官兵们迅疾反应依次通过“沾染区域” 战斗氛围持续升温部分成员遭“敌机”空袭战伤救护小队快速出动判断“伤情” 止血、包扎、捆绑固定、后送转移各要素在实战实训中练强应急处突过硬本领抵达预定区域后全体官兵整齐列队组织现地教育向革命烈士纪念碑敬献花篮缅怀革命先烈重温军人誓词英烈事迹映照初心战歌嘹亮激扬斗志此次综合拉练不仅有效锤炼了部队 “苦练精兵、向战为战”的过硬作风更提振了军心士气砥砺了血性胆气进一步强化了官兵建功强军事业的使命担当官兵们一致表示要传承英烈精神立足本职岗位矢志奋斗为强军事业贡献青春力量（黄展鹏、尚进、林虎、莫守卫、向世洋、苑家硕、杨旭）