A Major Officer Returns to His Old Unit and Finds Some Training Events He 'Can't Make Sense Of'—What Did He Go Through?

少校军官重返老部队竟有些许“看不懂”训练课目，他都经历了啥？

PLA Daily (解放军报) 3 June 2026

Summary

A Rocket Force brigade major returning to his former unit after a four-year absence documents a cluster of training reforms now in place: scenario-integrated physical conditioning (gas mask runs, launch-vehicle-specific calisthenics), night-time common-subject assessments, step-by-step procedural drilling of launch sequences, simulator-based crew training replacing cable-connector practice, and NCO-developed data interpretation software that cuts a two-hour manual process to seconds. The article documents the brigade-level implementation of the PLA's longstanding 'training-combat gap' (训战脱节) problem and records concrete institutional responses to it—procedural rigor enforcement that penalized a company despite zero errors, and junior enlisted personnel (including a first-term conscript holding a key crew position) displacing senior NCOs in skills competitions, which extends the pattern of accelerated technical proficiency among younger Rocket Force enlisted ranks. The data interpretation software developed by the Senior Sergeant Innovation Studio raises the question of how widely such locally-developed decision-support tools are being institutionalized across Rocket Force brigades versus remaining unit-level workarounds.

The article describes a Rocket Force brigade deploying simulation-based launch training systems with real-time data recording and backend review, unit-developed data interpretation software reducing a two-hour manual process to seconds, and scenario-integrated physical training explicitly tied to launch operations in CBRN-protective states—collectively providing unusual operational detail about how a Rocket Force brigade is modernizing its crew training and readiness practices.

Translation

Back on the Training Ground, I Found Some Things I 'Couldn't Make Sense Of'

—A Major Officer's Initial Experience Returning to His Old Unit for a New Assignment ②

■ Yang Yuanchao, Officer of a Certain Rocket Force Brigade

The brigade organizes live-equipment operational drills; officers and soldiers in full protective gear pass through a "contaminated" area. Photo by Dai Longfu

Some were sprinting with gas masks on their heads and combat gear on their backs; others were doing "hanging leg raises" on horizontal bars. The training ground was blazing with activity, yet I found myself a bit dizzy watching it: "Before, physical training was mainly basic events like running and pull-ups, plus optional examination events like the 400-meter obstacle course and loaded combination exercises—so what are they training for now?"

"Can't make sense of it, can you!" Seeing my puzzled expression, my old partner—now Battalion Commander Huang—explained: "The new syllabus integrates physical and skills training with combat scenarios. Running with a gas mask improves the physical strength and endurance of officers and soldiers when carrying out launch missions in a protective state; hanging leg raises are similar to the movements used when climbing a launch vehicle…"

I wanted to ask more, but before I could open my mouth, my attention shifted to something else—a soldier came rushing over to confirm with Battalion Commander Huang the details of a self-rescue and mutual-rescue assessment that was about to be conducted that night. "Aren't common-subject assessments usually held during the day?" "If combat kicks off at night, then training and assessments have to be conducted at night too—let's talk later…"

Watching the two of them walk away, I reflected to myself as I walked: back when I was still working at the company level, I had been troubled by the training situations in certain units that were divorced from actual combat—"night training that doesn't understand the darkness of night" and the like. Now it seems those deep-seated problems are being gradually eliminated, and training is drawing ever closer to actual combat.

Just then, two platoon leaders from my time as political instructor walked in. Today, one is a launch company commander and the other serves as a staff officer at the headquarters element. I couldn't wait to ask: "What new changes have there been in professional training?"

Company Commander Xiong thought for a moment, then shared a recent experience with me.

During a live-combat assessment conducted by the brigade, the company had no overtime and no errors throughout, and all "special situations" (特情) were handled appropriately—yet the assessment results were unsatisfactory. Company Commander Xiong went to the assessment team to "demand an explanation," but the problems they pointed out left him with nothing to say in rebuttal: blindly pursuing speed and simplifying test procedures; cable insertion and extraction checks and power-on inspections reduced to mere formality; excessive aiming equipment setup errors… These "minor problems" in the details seemed to have little impact, yet they bore directly on whether a launch would succeed or fail.

"Now the entire brigade is strictly enforcing basic training, breaking down operational training procedures into specific steps, drilling each one individually, assessing each one individually, and comparing each one individually, to ensure every officer and soldier and every detail is trained solidly." Staff Officer Wang, standing to one side, added.

I couldn't help but admire the assessment team's sharp eye and precise focus: "Assessments should be this detailed, and training should be this rigorous!"

"Assessment standards are stricter, and training methods are also being continuously updated. Simulated live-equipment operations don't have to worry about wear and tear, and they allow officers and soldiers to experience combat scenarios as if they were real, building psychological resilience while honing technical skills and capabilities…" In the course of our exchange, the "simulated live-equipment operations" (模拟实装操作) that Staff Officer Wang mentioned caught my attention. So, after saying goodbye to them, I went to the comprehensive training center to investigate for myself.

Walking into a training room, I found a simulated launch drill in progress. Indicator lights flashed on the screens and data updated in real time; crew members (号手) operated simulated controls on the equipment, and the entire procedure was completely consistent with live-equipment operations. After "launch success," the commander immediately reviewed problems based on data recorded in the backend.

The training scene before me was very different from what I had left behind—back then, soldiers could only practice cable insertion and extraction with cable connectors and work on their technique with mechanical buttons. I couldn't help but recall that when I was working with the garrison in Hong Kong, I had experienced a portable surface-to-air missile simulation training system, and at the time I thought: it would be great if our crew members had equipment like this. I never expected that now we actually do!

Seeing me standing in the doorway, Squad Leader Duan Xuehui, who was in charge of organizing the training, came forward warmly to greet me. Learning the purpose of my visit, he and several senior squad leaders pulled me over to a nearby Senior Sergeant Innovation Studio.

Duan Xuehui pointed to a string of data on the computer and asked with a smile: "Political instructor, let's see if you've forgotten your 'old trade.' How long does the data interpretation phase after testing roughly take?" "That won't stump me. This is a 'slow and careful work' phase—four officers and soldiers working together, comparing data one by one—it takes a full two hours."

"That's the 'old almanac' (老皇历) now. These days it only takes a few seconds!" As Duan Xuehui spoke, he operated the computer to open the data interpretation software; after importing the data, he lightly clicked the interpretation option, and several anomalous data points instantly turned red. "This software, along with the fault information retrieval system, was all developed by us ourselves!" Listening to the introductions from the senior squad leaders before me, I realized that the crystallized wisdom of frontline officers and soldiers is becoming a powerful support for combat readiness.

In the course of our conversation, they brought up the champions of several recent skills competitions and assessments, but I found myself completely at a loss: "Wait—who are you talking about?"

In the past, the champions of various skills competitions and assessments were mostly claimed by mid- and senior-grade sergeants. Although I had already been away from the unit for four years, I should have known the more senior sergeants—yet the names they were now mentioning were unfamiliar to me.

"These are all young comrades who haven't been in the military long—it's perfectly normal that you don't know them. College-graduate soldier Sun Jiuye was the first conscript-term crew member (义务兵操作号手) to hold a certain key crew position in the entire brigade; directly-recruited sergeant Lu Jiahong won first place in a skills competition organized by a higher-level unit in his very first year of service; Staff Sergeant First Class Liu Wenjie consecutively defeated two Master Sergeants Second Class to win the championship in the brigade-wide 'Special Driver Vanguard' (特驾尖兵) skills competition…" Duan Xuehui rattled off the names like reciting items from a menu, leaving me somewhat dazed, yet deeply gratified in my heart—when I left, my old unit had model soldiers in science-and-technology-driven military training, and also a missile soldier king who had received the "August 1st Medal" (八一勋章); it was a place where ordinary soldiers could create miracles. Now, the "rising waves" (后浪) have caught up as well—the future is full of promise.

"You haven't heard of any of them? Quite a few of them were personally trained by Battalion Commander Huang." Duan Xuehui added.

"This old partner of mine is getting better and better at developing soldiers!" Hearing this, I smiled and nodded. "It seems I'll have to learn well from him!"

Original Chinese

再上训练场，我有些“看不懂” ——一名少校军官重返老部队任职初体验② ■火箭军某旅干部杨元超该旅组织开展实装操作演练，官兵全身防护通过“染毒”地域。代龙富摄有人头戴防毒面具、身背战斗装具疾驰，有人在单杠上做着“悬垂举腿”动作……训练场上一派火热，我却看得有些“眼晕”：“以前体能训练主要是跑步、引体向上等基础项目，再加上400米障碍、负重组合练习等选考课目，现在这是练啥呢？” “看不懂了吧！”见我一脸不解，曾经的老搭档、现在的黄营长向我解释道，“新大纲把体能技能训练与实战场景进行结合，戴面具跑可以提升官兵在防护状态下遂行发射任务的体力和耐力，悬垂举腿则与攀登发射车动作相似……” 我还想多问几句，可还没开口，注意力就转移到了另一件事上——一名战士匆匆赶来，向黄营长确认夜间即将展开的自救互救考核事宜。“通用课目不是一般在白天考核吗？”“战斗在夜间打响，训练考核就要在夜间展开啊，先不和你聊了……” 看着两人远去的身影，我一边走，一边暗自感慨：还在连队工作时，我就对个别单位“夜训不懂‘夜的黑’”等脱离实战的训练情况心有担忧，现在看来，这些积弊正逐步破除，训练与实战越来越近。就在此时，我担任指导员时的两名排长走了进来。如今，他们一个是发射连连长，一个担任机关参谋。我迫不及待地问：“现在专业训练有什么新变化？” 熊连长略作思索，便和我分享了不久前的一次经历。在旅里展开的实战考核中，该连全程没有超时、没有失误，所有“特情”处置得当，可考核成绩并不理想。熊连长找到考核组“要说法”，对方指出的问题却让他无言辩驳：一味求快简化测试流程，插拔电缆检查通电流于形式，瞄准设备架设误差过大……这些细节上的“小毛病”看似影响不大，却事关发射成败。 “现在全旅严抓基础训练，把操作训练流程分解成具体步骤，逐个练、逐个考、逐个比，确保每一名官兵、每一个细节都练扎实。”站在一旁的王参谋补充道。我不禁感叹考核组眼光“毒”、抓得准：“考核就该考得这么细，训练就该抓得这么实！” “考核标准更严，训练方式也在不断更新。模拟实装操作既不怕损耗，又能让官兵身临其境感受实战场景，在锤炼技能本领的同时提升心理承受能力……”交流中，王参谋提到的“模拟实装操作”，引起了我的注意。于是，向他们道别后，我又前往综合训练中心一探究竟。走进一间训练室，只见一场模拟发射训练正在进行。屏幕上指示灯闪烁、数据实时更新，号手通过设备模拟按键操作，整个流程与实装操作完全一致。“发射成功”后，指挥员立即根据后台记录的数据讲评问题。眼前的训练场景与我离开前大不相同——那时，战士们只能拿着电缆头练习插拔、对着机械按键练手法。我不由想起在驻港部队工作时，曾体验过便携防空导弹模拟训练系统，当时我就想，如果我们的号手也有这样的设备就好了。没想到，现在我们真有了！见我站在门口，负责组训的班长段学辉热情上前招呼。得知我的来意，他与几名老班长拉着我来到一旁的高级军士创新工作室。段学辉指着电脑上的一串数据笑着问我：“指导员，看看您的‘老本行’忘了没。测试后数据判读环节大概需要多久？”“这可难不倒我。这是个‘慢工出细活’的环节，4名官兵一起工作，逐个数据比对，都得两个小时。” “那是‘老皇历’了，现在只要几秒钟！”段学辉一边说，一边操作电脑打开数据判读软件，导入数据后轻点判读选项，几个异常数据霎时变红。“这些软件，连同故障信息检索系统，都是咱们自己研发的！”听着眼前几名老班长的介绍，我意识到，一线官兵的智慧结晶，正成为备战打仗的有力支撑。谈话间，他们聊起最近几次比武考核的冠军，我却听得一头雾水：“等等，你们说的都是谁啊？” 以往，各类比武考核的冠军大多被中高级军士包揽。我虽已离开单位4年，但资历老一些的军士应该都认识，可他们此时说起的人名，我却很陌生。 “这些都是入伍不久的年轻同志，您不知道也正常。大学生士兵孙久业，是全旅某重要号位第一个义务兵操作号手；直招军士卢家宏，入伍第一年就在上级组织的比武中摘得桂冠；一级上士刘文杰，在全旅‘特驾尖兵’比武中接连战胜两名二级军士长获得冠军……”段学辉“报菜名”似的介绍，让我听得有些发蒙，心中却十分欣慰——我离开时，老部队有科技练兵模范战士，也有获得 “八一勋章”的导弹兵王，是个让普通一兵创造奇迹的地方。如今，“后浪”也迎头赶上，未来可期。 “您都没听过？他们之中可有不少是黄营长亲手带出来的。”段学辉补充道。 “我这个老搭档，越来越会带兵了！”闻言，我笑着点了点头，“看来，可得好好向他取取经！”