Political Work

National Defense University Political Academy Organizes Students to Conduct On-Site Teaching in Yan'an

国防大学政治学院组织学员赴延安开展现地教学

PLA Daily (解放军报) 2 June 2026

Summary

The National Defense University Political Academy took over 100 students to Yan'an in early summer for on-site political education, visiting sites including Zaoyuan, Yangjialing, and Wangjiaoping and holding a thematic session explicitly linking the Yan'an Rectification Movement to current 'political consolidation training' (政治整训). The article documents the institutional framing of ongoing political consolidation training as ideological purification — the 'physical examination and detoxification' language used by a CMC organ student confirms that rectification rhetoric is being internalized and reproduced by mid-career officers across the joint staff, not just propagated top-down. The Yan'an lineage invocation extends a pattern in which NDU Political Academy uses historical legitimacy to reinforce compliance with the current consolidation campaign, making this a useful baseline record of how that campaign is being taught to the officer corps in mid-2024.

Translation

National Defense University Political Academy Organizes Students to Conduct On-Site Teaching in Yan'an — Reflecting on Original Aspirations and Discussing the Mission at the Foot of Pagoda Mountain

Reported by Li Xinnian and Ma Yafei for the PLA Daily: From the former site of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University to the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall, students observed and reflected as they walked, listening and thinking as they went; at the "April 8th" Martyrs' Cemetery, Party members raised their right fists and collectively recited the oath of Party membership anew… In early summer, the National Defense University Political Academy organized more than one hundred students to travel to Yan'an to conduct on-site practical teaching, using actual sites, actual scenes, and actual artifacts to seek out the source of faith and consolidate the ideological foundation.

"History is the best teacher; the site itself is the best classroom." A staff officer from the academy introduced that the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese Military and Political University was the predecessor of the National Defense University, born in Yan'an at a critical moment of national peril, and became the red cradle (红色摇篮) in which the Party cultivated military and political backbone personnel and tempered revolutionary talent during the War of Resistance Against Japan. The academy organized this on-site practical teaching with the aim of helping students "seek their roots, forge their soul, and strengthen their capabilities (寻根、铸魂、强能)." During the on-site practical teaching period, students successively visited revolutionary former sites including Zaoyuan, Yangjialing, and Wangjiaoping, experiencing firsthand the original aspirations, missions, and steadfast faith of the older generation of Communists; through participating in multiple immersive education sessions such as "Study Zhang Side, Serve the People Wholeheartedly," they gained a deep understanding of the core essence and practical requirements of deepening political consolidation training (深化政治整训).

Historical photographs one after another, revolutionary artifacts one after another, accounts of combat history one after another… At the thematic teaching session on "The Yan'an Rectification Movement and Political Consolidation Training in the New Era," students engaged in discussion and exchange centered on the historical experience of the Yan'an Rectification Movement and the requirements of political consolidation training in the new era. "Deepening political consolidation training is a 'physical examination' and 'detoxification' of the political constitution (政治肌体) of our military — it is the only path to ensuring the People's Army remains forever pure and glorious. Only when every officer and soldier cultivates himself strictly and strengthens his sense of responsibility can he ensure that his fundamental character does not change and his true colors do not fade." When student Li Shiju, from a CMC organ, finished his remarks, warm applause broke out at the scene. Afterward, students sat together in a circle, examining themselves against the spirit of their predecessors, identifying problems and shortcomings in areas such as ideals and convictions and Party character cultivation (党性修养), and clarifying the direction for improvement.

"At the foot of Pagoda Mountain, in pursuing the red lineage and receiving a baptism of the soul, we continuously polish the original aspiration with which we enlisted in the military." The sentiments expressed by student Liu Jie spoke for everyone present. Students who participated in this on-site practical teaching stated one after another that they will study deeply and reflect carefully on the deeds of their predecessors' struggle, temper their original aspirations and mission, forge an exemplary work style, and contribute to accelerating the building of the People's Army into a world-class military.

Original Chinese

国防大学政治学院组织学员赴延安开展现地教学宝塔山下悟初心话使命解放军报讯李鑫年、马亚飞报道：从抗日军政大学旧址到延安革命纪念馆，学员边看边悟、边听边思；在“四·八”烈士陵园，党员高举右拳，集体重温入党誓词……初夏时节，国防大学政治学院组织百余名学员来到延安开展现地实践教学，通过实地、实景、实物，探寻信仰之源，强固思想根基。 “历史是最好的老师，现场是最好的课堂。”该学院一名机关干部介绍，中国人民抗日军政大学是国防大学的前身，在民族危亡的关键时刻诞生于延安，成为抗日战争时期党培养军政骨干、淬炼革命英才的红色摇篮。学院组织此次现地实践教学，旨在帮助学员“寻根、铸魂、强能”。现地实践教学期间，学员先后来到枣园、杨家岭、王家坪等革命旧址，实地感悟老一辈共产党人的初心使命和坚定信仰；通过参加“学习张思德，全心全意为人民服务”等多堂沉浸式教育课，深刻理解深化政治整训的核心要义、实践要求。一张张历史照片，一件件革命文物，一段段战斗史实……在“延安整风与新时代政治整训”专题教学现场，学员围绕延安整风的历史经验和新时代政治整训要求，展开讨论交流。“深化政治整训是对我们这支军队的政治肌体进行‘体检’和‘排毒’，是确保人民军队始终纯洁光荣的必由之路。每名官兵只有严以修身、强化担当，才能确保本质不变、底色不褪。”来自军委机关的学员李士举发言结束，现场响起热烈掌声。随后，学员围坐一起，对照先辈精神检视自身，查摆理想信念、党性修养等方面存在的问题不足，明确改进方向。 “宝塔山下，我们在追寻红色根脉、接受灵魂洗礼中，不断擦亮当兵入伍的初心。”学员刘捷的感慨，道出了大家的心声。参加此次现地实践教学的学员纷纷表示，将深学细悟先辈奋斗事迹，砥砺初心使命、锤炼过硬作风，为加快把人民军队建成世界一流军队贡献力量。