Source: Learning Corps Chinese Military Horn
Author: Chen Dianhong Zhao Chao Shen Yehong
The growth and dreams of young officers and soldiers in the new era of meritorious service
Standing at the top of Mount Tai, Niu Zhenguo ushered in the first dawn of the new year. At that moment, the extremely far-reaching view, the mountains are majestic, and the pleasure of "seeing the mountains and small mountains" comes to mind.
When he was a child, Niu Zhenguo liked to climb mountains. In his heart, climbing mountain peaks and experiencing different landscapes is particularly fulfilling.
The mountain is a man-made peak. Niu Zhenguo often remembered a sentence his father said: "Boys should fight for the strength of the country." When he was a child, he listened to his father more than once nagging the meaning of the name "Niu Zhenguo". The older he grew, the more Niu Zhenguo understood his father's expectations of him.
Niu Zhenguo was lucky. Stepping into the barracks, a whole new world opened before his eyes—
Special pilots, logistics support sharpshooters, sniper gold medal instructors, tank commanders... For Niu Zhenguo, every transformation is like climbing a mountain: every step is climbing, and every step has a new scenery.
Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Beijing, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia... On the map in Niu Zhenguo's room, the red dots marked with a pen are particularly eye-catching. Along the curve of the red dots, Niu Zhenguo's military footprints spread all over the north and south of the great river, extending overseas...
Today, Niu Zhenguo has just been promoted to the commander of the second company of a brigade of the 75th Group Army. Along the footsteps of struggle, Niu Zhenguo "saw" the rapid transformation of the troops again and again, and "listened" to the footsteps of dreams come true.
★ Officers and men of a brigade of the 75th Group Army are conducting a real-combat exercise.
1
Climb hard to see the most beautiful scenery
August 2021, Arabino Range, Moscow.
After the rain, a beautiful rainbow volley flew over. On the field, the captain Niu Zhenguo and his comrades drove the tank and quickly rushed out of the quagmire and ran straight to the finish line.
Opening the hatch, Niu Zhenguo and his comrades-in-arms proudly unfurled the five-star red flag. The bright red color became a beautiful scenery on the field.
In this competition, Niu Zhenguo and his comrades-in-arms achieved the first place in the cycling group, the third place in the overall score, and the third place in the relay race.
Niu Zhenguo knew that if he hadn't chosen to persevere, he might never have seen such a beautiful scenery.
At that time, Niu Zhenguo took the initiative to invite Miao to register for the "International Military Competition-2021" tank training. This is also the first time since the transformation of the brigade to participate in international military competitions.
"Can the platoon commander of the loading company participate in the two military competitions of tanks?" At first, no one thought niu Zhenguo could get to where he is today.
Looking back at the road he has traveled, Niu Zhenguo has long been accustomed to proving himself with strength and perseverance, and has repeatedly turned those "unbelieving" eyes into "believing".
14 years ago, after the end of recruit training, Niu Zhenguo was selected to be sent to a certain military training base for training because of his excellent performance. There, the recruit successfully obtained a special certificate in driving.
Special Driver is the highest professional level of infantry chariot driving. Niu Zhenguo, who has a halo on his head, sweats like rain on the training ground every day after returning to the team after finishing training. A scar that is still clearly visible above his eyebrows was left at that time.
At the time, he was groping for driving skills in the heavy rain. The chariot flew over the rutted bridge, and the huge impact caused him to crash headlong into the door of the car, with more than 10 stitches sewn in his forehead. The military doctor told him: "If the wound is further down 1 centimeter, the eye cannot be saved." ”
At the end of 2012, Niu Zhenguo, who had just been promoted to corporal, decided to embark on a "cross-border adventure". He locked the special driver certificate in the drawer and took the initiative to sign up for the group army sniper competition.
In the training team of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, almost everyone chose to ignore this soldier who had "never touched a sniper rifle". "The mountain is high and there is hope, the road is far away, and you can keep climbing to see the most beautiful scenery." Niu Zhenguo is cheering himself up every day.
Day after day of diligent study and hard work, Niu Zhenguo quickly mastered the shooting skills. This challenger from the driving profession finally stood out from the training list and was shortlisted for the "sharpshooter" selection list of the group army.
However, just a few months of intensive training cannot make up for the gap in experience. In the end, Niu Zhenguo regretted that he had failed.
The road is difficult because it is always going uphill. Niu Zhenguo did not stop, he chose to accumulate strength for the next climb. Half a year later, as a driver, he won consecutive championships in competitions organized by his superiors. In 2014, Niu Zhenguo, who had already been promoted to sergeant, once again waited for the opportunity to sign up for the all-army logistics professional competition.
In half a year, Niu Zhenguo worked hard to "nibble" the theory, worn out more than 50 pairs of woven gloves, and mastered dozens of logistics equipment support methods. In this competition, his results once again impressed everyone - the first in the group and the second in the individual.
Honor, while bringing Niu Zhenguo a great sense of accomplishment, also left an unforgettable memory on him.
In the army's "Jingwu-2018" military competition reconnaissance professional training, Niu Zhenguo was lying in the mire for a day and a night in camouflage, and his knee was damaged; in the "International Military Competition-2021" tank training, in order to practice rapid reloading skills, his left forearm was accidentally caught by the tail of the gun, causing a slight fracture...
Growth is not only reflected in a shining military medal, but also recorded in a notebook that has changed from thin to thick -
Sniper competition, Niu Zhenguo's competition experience was used by the unit as a lesson plan for cultivating sniper elites; reconnaissance training, the training methods he summarized were promoted in the group army; the tank two competitions, the suggestions he put forward became the "training treasure book" of the late-generation...
Climbing the mountain requires courage, perseverance, and opportunity. Niu Zhenguo, who has never lacked courage and persistence, firmly believes that his luck lies precisely in seizing the opportunities of the times.
★In August 2021, officers and men of a brigade of the 75th Group Army participated in an international military competition.
2
Walking with the times, we will go faster and farther
Upon receiving the order, Niu Zhenguo, who was on vacation, hurriedly embarked on his return journey.
Originally, the Notice of the Southern Theater Army's "Sniper-2019" Competition was issued, the project increased, the difficulty setting increased, and the preparation time decreased, in the absence of experience to follow, who will serve as a coach?
Flipping through the list of previous participants, Li Rongzhuang, chief of the brigade's training section, stopped at Niu Zhenguo's name. Niu Zhenguo, who had been a platoon leader for less than a year, took up the sniper rifle again.
The last time Niu Zhenguo picked up a sniper rifle was 7 years ago, and that time he failed. This time, Niu Zhenguo, as a coach and commander, observed the battlefield through the scope, and his vision became very different.
In the past, his gaze followed the target; now, even if no target appeared, his mind would reach the battlefield.
Under the guidance and training of Niu Zhenguo, the strength of the participants increased by leaps and bounds, and 3 people were rated as "gun kings" by the Southern Theater Army. Niu Zhenguo has thus become a well-known "gold medal coach".
This is not the first time niu Zhenguo has been "in danger" to be ordered. That year, the superior organized a tactical lottery competition, which happened to be the "Night Tiger" class where Niu Zhenguo was located. Niu Zhenguo, who was the squad leader at the time, led his comrades to charge into the battle and won the first place. His performance made one chief appreciate: "This is a squad leader with strong command ability. ”
"My abilities are actually forced out." Niu Zhenguo said that with the transformation and upgrading of military training, all kinds of competitions and training have sprung up, which have greatly boosted their own growth like engines.
Want to go to the next level. In 2016, Sergeant Niu Zhenguo was admitted to the military academy with excellent results. Through the window of the military academy, Niu Zhenguo's thinking horizons expanded rapidly.
The military academy was refined, and Niu Zhenguo was reborn. At the same time, Niu Zhenguo's old troops are also reborn.
In 2018, Niu Zhenguo, who returned from a military academy, participated in the exercise for the first time, and the guidance and dispatch group announced the "sacrifice" of the company commander and was replaced by him. In the face of "unexpected circumstances", Niu Zhenguo won by surprise with the knowledge he learned.
Leading a company to victory, Niu Zhenguo felt very different from before. From sniper scopes to chariot periscopes to combat command screens, Niu Zhenguo's vision continues to extend to higher and farther fields.
In Niu Zhenguo's view, a grass-roots commander must not only be able to command a combat unit, but also be familiar with the weapons and equipment performance of the combat units assigned to and friendly neighbors, and "integrate the use and flexible command to maximize the combat effectiveness."
Sometimes, this older platoon leader also thinks about the proposition of maximizing the potential of life. At this time, the comrades around him can always give him the "answer"——
As the oldest member of the training team, the 34-year-old artillery commander Liang Bojin riveted in the tank almost every day to study skills; his father died suddenly, the driver Pan Yuhong went home to take care of the aftermath, tearfully and quickly embarked on the way home, a mind into training...
The comrades around him were all speeding up, and Niu Zhenguo was unwilling to stop for a moment, nor did he dare to stop for a moment.
In June last year, Niu Zhenguo, who was preparing for the "International Military Competition-2021" tank training, received good news that he had been promoted to deputy company commander. Only half a year later, he was promoted to company commander.
Walking with the times, Niu Zhenguo feels that he has gone faster and farther.
3
One person runs, leading a group of people to cross
During the Spring Festival of the Year of the Tiger, Niu Zhenguo decided to take his son Niu Zirong to spend time with him in the military camp.
On the training ground with ravines and obstacles, watching his son running with a tank model, Niu Zhenguo seemed to see his own figure running all the way.
At this time, Niu Zhenguo, who had just been promoted to company commander, had a longer service life again, and the "runway" in front of him was clearer.
In the new year, his notebook is already full of plans: learning wartime political work, upgrading training models, updating operational concepts... He not only set goals for himself, but also planned the growth route for the officers and men of the company.
For a while, Niu Zhenguo set his sights on an overgrown wasteland outside the camp. After receiving the approval of his superiors, he fused elements such as intelligence reconnaissance, camouflage protection, and battlefield rescue, re-planned and designed, and opened a small road that twisted and turned and concealed the killing machine.
One person runs, leading a group of people to cross. At the beginning, many people complained that Niu Zhenguo's training method was too harsh. But after adapting for a while, they tasted the sweetness and began to spontaneously build the training ground, constantly injecting new training elements.
Running on the road planned by Niu Zhenguo, the officers and men were also brewing and planning their own "road" in their hearts.
First-class sergeant Qin Zhenqiang taught himself the wargame deduction system and won the third place in the first wargame tactical challenge of the whole army; the driver Fang Dong took the initiative to ask Niu Zhenguo for advice on shooting skills, participated in the sniper competition, and was rated as the "gun king" by the army of the southern theater...
Last year, Corporal Chen Hao took advantage of his vacation time to carefully plan a long trip. Departing from Shanghai, he visited red landmarks in various places along the way, and explained the history of the party live through video link company officers and men.
Back at the unit, Chen Hao was invited to the podium and gave an education lesson to the officers and men of the whole company. At the end of the education, the enthusiasm of the officers and men of the company for training was unprecedentedly high, which made Chen Hao, who was originally at a mediocre job, find self-confidence and become more positive. At the end of last year, his military training performance was excellent, and he was recommended by the company as an "excellent non-commissioned officer".
"One person may run fast, but a group of people can run farther." Niu Zhenguo said that in recent years, many changes seem to have occurred overnight, and they are quietly and profoundly reshaping every comrade-in-arms who is in it.
Soon, a drill will begin. At that time, Niu Zhenguo will lead the officers and men of the whole company to start the "first battle" after taking office. In this regard, Niu Zhenguo is full of confidence.
"Every officer and soldier at the grass-roots level can find his or her own coordinates in the big system of building combat strength." With the continuous deepening of the actual combat training and the deepening of the officers and men's understanding of modern warfare, Niu Zhenguo felt that there were more and more companions around him.
A trumpet sounded, and groups of forwarders were running. On the horizon, the afterglow of the setting sun stretches the shadowy figures long. Niu Zhenguo looked back at the beginning of the road and suddenly found that he had gone so far.
If he could, Niu Zhenguo hoped that he could go on forever.
★ Officers and men of a brigade of the 75th Army were conducting shooting training.
Grow cross-section
The future comes to us in the agreement
Author | Niu Zhenguo
"Congratulations! Climb higher and you still have a much farther way to go. "After learning that I was promoted to company commander, my old company commander Li Liang sent this text message for the first time.
The old company commander was the leader of my army's road. The first time I participated in the sharpshooter competition, when almost no one looked favorably on me, he encouraged me: "The road is out of people, others can question you, but you can't deny yourself." ”
After that training was eliminated, I once felt ashamed of my trust in him, and my mood was depressed to a low point. At the critical moment, he tapped me on the shoulder and agreed to fight again next year.
For that agreement, I practiced desperately. A year later, in the all-army logistics professional competition, I won the second place in myself, and the old company commander showed a happy smile.
"In the future, the room for personal growth and progress in the military will be getting bigger and bigger, and you have to keep going." In 2013, the old company commander exchanged to the new unit, and "keep going" became a new agreement between me and him.
Just as the old company commander predicted, on the journey of strengthening the army and rejuvenating the army, the stage for the growth of officers and men at the grass-roots level has become bigger and bigger. Times and opportunities have put me on a higher platform.
With every transformation, I encounter many challenges. I always remember the saying: the times give everyone the same opportunity, the road is under the feet, only spelled out.
Keeping up with the pace of the times, I have the privilege of witnessing more and more officers and soldiers spelling out wonderful lives.
After becoming a company commander, I often encouraged my comrades to stand up bravely and challenge themselves on a bigger stage. Just like the old company commander and my agreement, I have a new agreement with my comrades-in-arms.
"Never leave a soldier behind, never give up a soldier." This is my commitment to my comrades-in-arms. Liu Anqian, a senior soldier, has always had a dream of military school, training hard and working seriously, but her psychological quality is not good, and her initial test results are not ideal. Seeing Liu Anqian's frustrated expression, I only told him one word: "I believe in you, we all believe in you!" Later, Liu Anqian successfully entered the training team to study. Liu Anqian and I agreed to witness his dream come true together.
When the private Yang screwed down the company, he was plagued by training injuries, and his running performance always hovered at the passing line. For this reason, he is a bit self-defeating. In the afternoon, I often accompany him on a run, constantly encouraging him: "As long as you dare to fight, you will be able to surpass yourself." "I made an agreement with him that as long as the next test improves by 20 seconds, I will surprise him."
Without admitting it, the company's physical fitness test, Yang Screw ignited his fighting spirit and ran all the way, running out of his personal best. I took out a surprise for Yang Screw — his favorite harmonica. Looking at his happy expression, I hit the iron while it was hot and set the next goal for him. After a few rounds, Yang Screw regained confidence, saw hope, and became more positive. Hearing that the brigade organized military sports games, Yang Fu took the initiative to sign up for the hand grenade throwing course. I made a pact with him that if I got into the final, I would surprise him again.
The soldiers and the motherland have made a covenant of life, and I and the soldiers have made a covenant of growth. In order to realize the dream of a strong army, I and the soldiers gladly went to the future covenant together.
The convention is also continued in a way of inheritance. My father honored his agreement with his fellow villagers and led the whole village out of poverty and became rich; my son often took my medal and said that when he grew up, he would become a soldier like me...
The future is coming to us one by one.
(Produced by Learning Corps and Chinese Military)