Exercises Modernization Doctrine

A Brigade of the 83rd Group Army Organizes Pre-Assignment Integrated Collective Training for Newly Graduated Officers

第83集团军某旅组织新毕业军官岗前融合集训

PLA Daily (解放军报) 9 May 2026

Summary

A brigade of the 83rd Group Army, based in northern Henan, conducted pre-assignment integrated collective training that co-enrolled newly commissioned infantry platoon leaders and helicopter pilots in a shared curriculum centered on air-ground coordination, requiring them to jointly plan tactical exercises, exchange specialty knowledge, and participate in a culminating multi-element simulation involving ground reconnaissance, UAV swarms, armed helicopters, and transport helicopters. The program reflects a deliberate effort to institutionalize joint-force thinking at the entry point of officer development—shifting from single-specialty pre-assignment training toward a model that embeds systems thinking and cross-domain coordination before officers reach their units. For analysts tracking PLA human capital development, the initiative is evidence that combined-arms integration is being pushed earlier in the officer lifecycle, consistent with broader PLA efforts to operationalize joint warfighting concepts at the tactical level.

Translation

A Brigade of the 83rd Group Army Organizes Pre-Assignment Integrated Collective Training for Newly Graduated Officers——

Platoon Leaders and Pilots Attend the Same "First Lesson"

■ PLA Daily Special Correspondent Tong Kang, Special Correspondent Xu Junqiang

The brigade organizes air-ground coordination training. Photo by Xu Junqiang

Recently, smoke filled a training ground in northern Henan as a brigade of the 83rd Group Army launched a demonstration training exercise on company-level tactical positional defense.

"When selecting a firing position, one must consider whether the terrain can bring the weapon's maximum effectiveness to bear and whether it can form a cross-fire network with aerial firepower…" Inside the command post, new platoon leader Wang Zihao raised a suggestion on positional defense from the perspective of air-ground coordination, which was adopted by the company's chief of staff.

"My ability to quickly adapt to air-ground coordinated combat is thanks to the pre-assignment integrated collective training the brigade organized beforehand," Wang Zihao told the reporter.

Prior to this, the brigade organized newly graduated platoon leaders and new pilots to conduct pre-assignment integrated collective training, attending the same "first lesson" on air-ground coordination, so that they could strengthen their coordination awareness through joint air-ground training and mutual learning across specialties, and firmly establish the concept of integration (融合理念) and systems thinking (体系思维) from the very beginning of their careers as officers.

Wang Zihao told the reporter that his path toward pre-assignment integration was not smooth sailing. At the outset of the collective training, seeing new pilots in flight suits and new platoon leaders in camouflage sitting on opposite sides of the classroom in a clear divide gave him an invisible sense of pressure.

During one subject exercise, Wang Zihao confidently drafted helicopter landing points and assault routes, only to have new pilot Guo Xing cut straight to the problem: "Although this point is in the blind spot of the 'enemy's' air defense firepower, low-altitude penetration by helicopters is easily affected by terrain masking and air currents, which not only makes it difficult to ensure mission completion but could also drag down the entire aerial formation."

Although he felt some loss of face, the experience made Wang Zihao realize that the significance of integrated collective training lies not in understanding how much theoretical knowledge or mastering how many operational skills, but in guiding everyone to learn to understand the battlefield and think about warfare from a holistic and systems perspective.

After that subject exercise concluded, Wang Zihao took every free moment to actively seek guidance from Guo Xing, while Guo Xing actively sought to understand from him the key operational points of ground units—mobility, firepower configuration, and battlefield protection. Like Wang Zihao and Guo Xing, the new platoon leaders and new pilots participating in the collective training gradually broke down psychological barriers through candid and in-depth discussion and exchange and through side-by-side practical training, advancing together through mutual learning and mutual reference.

"Integration cannot remain only on the surface—it must be fused to the bone and engraved in the mind. In peacetime, thinking from the other's perspective and training to fill each other's gaps in coordination means that in wartime one can clench fingers into a fist (攥指成拳) and achieve victory through combined strength." The brigade's leadership introduced that during this integrated collective training, all newly graduated officers' basic physical training and daily education and management were uniformly organized by the collective training team. They abandoned the previous training model that emphasized single-specialty skills, having pilots assist infantry platoon leaders in formulating ground training plans and having infantry platoon leaders participate in research on tactics and methods for aviation specialties. At the same time, they incorporated operational elements such as fire strikes, information offense and defense, and comprehensive support in phases, embedding real combat links throughout the entire practical training process, achieving the principle of "train the troops the way the war will be fought (仗怎么打，兵就怎么练)."

As the collective training neared its end, an intense air-ground coordination simulation exercise unfolded. After Wang Zihao commanded the ground unit to detect and acquire target information, he pushed the coordinates of the "enemy" air defense firepower positions point-to-point to the aerial formation. In the simulated cockpit, after Guo Xing received the shared information, he adopted the tactic of ultra-low-altitude penetration with full electromagnetic silence throughout, successfully breaking through the "enemy" interception network. Throughout the training, ground reconnaissance, unmanned aerial vehicle swarms, armed helicopters, transport helicopters, and other multi-element joint formations worked in concert, with the new platoon leaders and new pilots coordinating with tacit understanding and high efficiency to successfully complete the seizure and control mission.

"Personnel cultivation is 'the most arduous war preparation.' Our goal is to use concentrated tempering to enable new platoon leaders and new pilots to break out of the limitations of their specialties, expand the boundaries of their thinking, forge joint command and coordinated combat capabilities, and forge a strong talent force capable of fulfilling the mission of winning on the future battlefield." The brigade's leadership stated that in the next step, they will formulate individualized training plans around the needs of different positions, work hard to fill the capability gaps of newly graduated officers, and "implant" in them from the source the concept of integration and systems thinking.

Adjusting Stride from the Starting Line

■ Yang Yue

The Art of War states: "Therefore, those skilled in employing troops move their forces as if directing a single person by the hand." Systems-based warfare (体系作战) requires tacit coordination among all elements, and mutual understanding is the foundational condition. How exactly does one achieve this understanding? The approach of a brigade of the 83rd Group Army offers us inspiration—start from the beginning.

As a key combination for three-dimensional assault on the battlefield, aerial combat aircraft and ground infantry fighting hand in hand is a required course for pilots and ground unit commanders. The brigade makes air-ground coordination the pre-assignment "first lesson" precisely so that new officers, from the very beginning of their careers, can benchmark against actual combat, adjust their stride from the starting line, move toward each other, and consolidate the foundation for systems-based warfare.

New officers who have just stepped out of school have only recently established their professional frameworks and have not yet formed deeply ingrained patterns of thinking—this is precisely the best moment to cultivate new concepts and form new ways of thinking. Organizing them to conduct pre-assignment integrated collective training is not only an optimization and upgrade of the training model but also reflects a profound transformation in the philosophy of personnel development.

When new platoon leaders understand the aerial "rules" and new pilots master the ground "language," and both sides break down the barriers between arms of service from the very beginning, truly achieving cognitive resonance on the same frequency (同频共振), this will certainly lay a solid foundation for future coordinated combat. This also enlightens us that only by fusing the gene of coordination into the bloodstream and deeply planting the concept of integration in the heart can "new shoots" growing side by side grow into "great trees" that support each other, solidifying the foundation of combat power for systems-based warfare and joint victory.

A Change of Perspective Opens Up a New World

■ Platoon Leader of a Brigade of the 83rd Group Army, Wang Zihao

Not long ago, as soon as the battalion's tactical positional defense demonstration training concluded, the chief of staff led us straight to the operations room to refine the action procedures and conduct sand table attack-and-defense exercises, working through the night to draft a positional defense plan. Looking at this operational defense plan that closely integrates air and ground elements, my thoughts were drawn back to that pre-assignment collective training that left such a deep impression on me.

At the time, I had just graduated from the academy not long before, my mind full of the fixed routines of ground combat, and I was very unfamiliar with this new subject of air-ground coordination—I inevitably felt some apprehension.

During the first simulated joint exercise, my thinking shortcomings were exposed—I requested aerial support but failed to clearly communicate my own unit's position, nearly causing "friendly fire" casualties. In the second joint exercise, I learned from this lesson and promptly coordinated precisely with the pilot on the flight route and aerial strike plan. With aerial elements joining the battlefield, we were like a tiger with wings added, successfully completing the mission.

The different results of the two joint exercises made me genuinely feel the power of air-ground coordination, and I thought I had found the "secret formula" for battlefield victory. After that, in every tactical action, I would deliberately incorporate helicopter elements. During one plan exercise, pilot Guo Xing reminded me: "Using helicopters only as transport tools fails to bring out the core advantage of aerial forces."

This remark made me suddenly wake up: treating aerial forces as a "supporting role" ultimately still had not broken out of the old thinking of planar warfare (平面作战). That evening, I wrote a line in my notebook: In air-ground coordination, thinking must first complete the assault from the ground to the air—one must absolutely never "board a new ship with an old ticket."

From then on, whenever I had free time I sought guidance from the pilots on airspace knowledge and coordination rules, and on the training ground I worked with them to fill each other's gaps and refine tactics and methods, gradually breaking down the professional barriers, deepening mutual understanding, and deepening my understanding of the battlefield.

A change of perspective opens up a new world. On the future battlefield, three-dimensional warfare is the norm—ground forces cannot focus only on the ground, and pilots cannot think only about the sky. Only by breaking down walls with one heart and advancing toward war can one clench fingers into a fist and truly bring to bear the powerful combined strength of coordinated combat.

Original Chinese

第83集团军某旅组织新毕业军官岗前融合集训—— 排长和飞行员同上“第一课” ■解放军报特约记者童康特约通讯员徐君强该旅组织空地协同训练。徐君强摄近日，豫北某训练场上硝烟弥漫，第83集团军某旅一场营战术阵地防御示范训练拉开帷幕。 “选择射击阵地要考虑阵地地形能否发挥武器最大效能，与空中火力形成交叉火力网……”指挥所内，新排长王子豪从空地协同角度提出一条关于阵地防御的建议，被营首席参谋采纳。 “我能快速适应空地协同战斗，得益于前期旅里组织的新毕业军官岗前融合集训。”王子豪告诉记者。此前，该旅组织刚毕业的新排长、新飞行员开展岗前融合集训，同上空地协同“第一课”，让他们在空地同训、专业互学中增强协同意识，从“官之初”就牢固树立融合理念、体系思维。王子豪告诉记者，他的岗前融合之路并非一帆风顺。集训展开之初，看到身着飞行服的新飞行员与身着迷彩服的新排长，泾渭分明地坐在教室两侧，让他无形中感到一丝压力。一次课题推演，王子豪信心满满地拟定了机降点位和突击路线，却被新飞行员郭兴一针见血地指出问题：“这个点位虽处于‘敌’防空火力盲区，但直升机低空突防易受地形遮挡和气流影响，不仅难以确保任务完成，还可能拖累整个空中编队。” 尽管脸上有些挂不住，但这次经历让王子豪意识到，融合集训的意义，不在于弄懂多少理论知识、掌握多少操作技能，而在于引导大家学会站在全局和体系的视角认识战场、思考战争。那次课题推演结束后，王子豪一有空就主动向郭兴请教，郭兴也积极向他了解地面分队的机动能力、火力配置、战场防护等作战要点。与王子豪和郭兴一样，参加集训的新排长和新飞行员们，通过坦诚深入的讨论交流、朝夕相伴的同台实训，逐渐打破心理隔阂，在互学互鉴中齐头并进。 “融合不能只停留在表面，必须融到骨子里，刻进脑海中。平时换位思考、训练补位协同，战时才能攥指成拳、合力制胜。”该旅领导介绍，此次融合集训，所有新毕业军官的基础体能训练与日常教育管理都由集训队统一组织。他们摒弃以往侧重单一技能的训练模式，让飞行员协助步兵排长制订地面训练计划，让步兵排长参与飞行专业的战法研究，同时分阶段融入火力打击、信息攻防、综合保障等作战要素，把真实作战环节嵌入实训全程，做到“仗怎么打，兵就怎么练”。集训接近尾声，一场空地协同模拟训练激烈展开。王子豪指挥地面分队侦获目标信息后，将“敌”防空火力阵地坐标点对点推送至空中编队。模拟飞行座舱里，郭兴收到共享信息后，采取超低空突防、全程电磁静默的战法，成功突破“敌”拦截网。训练全程，地面侦察、无人机蜂群、武装直升机、运输直升机等多要素联合编组，新排长和新飞行员们默契配合、高效协同，顺利完成夺控任务。 “人才培养是‘最艰巨的战争准备’。我们的目标是通过集中淬火，让新排长和新飞行员跳出专业局限、拓展思维边界，锤炼联合指挥与协同作战能力，锻造一支胜任未来战场打赢使命的过硬人才队伍。”该旅领导表示，下一步，他们将围绕不同岗位需求制订个性化训练方案，着力补齐新毕业军官能力短板，从源头上为他们“植入”融合理念、体系思维。从起跑线开始调整步伐 ■杨悦《孙子兵法》云：“故善用兵者，携手若使一人。”体系作战，要求各要素间默契配合，相互了解是基础条件。究竟如何了解？第83集团军某旅的做法给我们启示——从起点开始。作为战场上立体突击的关键组合，空中战鹰与地面步兵携手战斗，是飞行员和地面分队指挥员的必修课。该旅将空地协同作为岗前“第一课”，为的就是让新干部从“官之初”即对标实战，从起跑线开始就调整步伐、相向而行，夯实体系作战根基。刚迈出校门的新干部，专业体系建立不久，尚未形成根深蒂固的思维定式，正是培塑新理念、形成新思维的最佳时机。组织他们开展岗前融合集训，不仅是训练模式的优化升级，更彰显育人理念的深度革新。当新排长读懂空中“法则”，新飞行员掌握地面“语言”，双方从一开始便打破兵种壁垒，真正实现认知上的同频共振，必将为未来协同作战打下坚实基础。这也启示我们，唯有让协同基因融入血脉，将融合理念深植于心，并肩生长的“新芽”才能长成相互支撑的“大树”，筑牢体系作战、联合制胜的战斗力根基。视角一变天地宽 ■第83集团军某旅排长王子豪前不久，营里组织的战术阵地防御示范训练一结束，首席参谋就带着我们直奔作战室，细化行动流程、推演沙盘攻防，连夜拟制出一套阵地防御方案。看着这份紧密衔接空地要素的作战防御方案，我的思绪被拉回那场令我印象深刻的岗前集训。当时，我刚从院校毕业不久，满脑子都是地面作战的固有套路，对空地协同这个新课题十分陌生，心中难免有些忐忑。第一次模拟合练，我的思维短板就暴露出来——请求空中支援，却没说清己方位置，差点“误伤”友军。第二次合练，我吸取教训，及时与飞行员精准对接航线和空中打击方案。空中要素加入战场，让我们如虎添翼，顺利完成任务。两次合练的不同结果，让我真切体会到空地协同的威力，以为找到了制胜战场的“秘籍”。此后每次战术行动，我都会刻意加入直升机要素。一次方案推演，飞行员郭兴提醒我：“只把直升机当成运输工具，发挥不出空中兵力的核心优势。” 这句话让我猛然醒悟：把空中力量当“配角”，说到底依然没有跳出平面作战的旧思维。那天晚上，我在笔记本上写下一句话：空地协同，思维要先完成从地面到空中的突击，决不能“拿着旧船票登新船”。从那以后，我一有空就向飞行员们请教空域知识、协同规则，在训练场上与他们互相补位、磨合战法，渐渐打破专业壁垒，增进了彼此的了解，加深了对战场的认识。视角一变天地宽。未来战场，立体作战是常态，地面部队不能只关注地面，飞行员也不能只思考天空。唯有同心破壁、向战而行，才能攥指成拳，真正发挥协同作战的强大合力。