Chinese military focuses on stronger NCO ‘backbone’ with longer service, more skills

Small, highly skilled units are the ‘sharp knives’ of the future battlefield, PLA Daily says, citing lessons drawn from ‘regional wars’

Personnel reform is a major part of the PLA’s goal to become a ‘world-class’ military by 2050, as envisioned by President Xi Jinping

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A military parade in Beijing celebrates the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 12:00pm, 4 Dec 2022

The Chinese military is attaching more importance to non-commissioned officers (NCOs) by having them stay on longer and learn more skills, as they will be the “backbone” of future wars expected to rely heavily on small and functional units, state media reports said.

Regulations in place since March allow intermediate and senior sergeants of the People’s Liberation Army to stay in service longer, as part of a drive to have more professional NCOs in the army.

An inaugural group of nine Chinese navy NCOs stationed on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea had their service extended last year, according to a PLA Daily report on November 19. China and several neighbours have overlapping claims over the islands.

Another article in the Chinese military newspaper said the role of NCOs in modern warfare had become more important in light of lessons drawn from recent “regional wars”.

That article, published on October 10, did not identify the regional wars, but observers noted that Ukrainian military officials attributed their success against the invading Russian army in part to capable NCOs.

“Modern warfare is a battle of elite soldiers, and basic combat units that are more streamlined, modularised, and multifunctional,” the PLA Daily said.