China Defense Mashup China Military News, Photos and Videos
2012-08-08 (Chinese Military News from China-defense-mashup) — Special forces must often fight in extremely hostile environments, so the selection of special forces soldiers around the world usually follows a harsh screening process. China’s special forces – with their own unique selection methods – are no exception.
Thunderers Commando
The Thunderers commando unit is a new small and flexible multi-purpose special force established by the airborne forces of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). They prepare to deploy anywhere, seize any pre-emptive opportunity, overcome any difficulty and defeat any enemy.
Their selection covers basic physical condition, such as height and weight, as well as stamina, psychological quality, intelligence and foreign language proficiency. The screening process is as difficult as any special forces, but they do prefer certain criteria among candidates: participation in at least three major military drills or “actual combat” experience and a high degree of flexibility; the ability to use at least three kinds of parachutes and jump from four types of aircraft without guidance, ground command and coordination or prearranged support personnel. “It is like building a national team. We choose the best players from local clubs to form a team, and the team can then compete. We pick people with potential from a large group and give them further professional training,” said instructor Du Zhihui, who has trained abroad in Turkey.
A good personality is also a significant standard. In combat, special forces troops must work in small teams to penetrate enemy lines, so they must be able to bond well with colleagues and be trustworthy. If a member is not good with other people and not a team player, he could put the entire team in danger.
Subjective Approaches
Special forces troops are usually relaxed in their demeanor, but meticulous in their minds. Many seem to behave in an obstinate and unruly way and have an arrogant attitude, but their minds are always highly alert.
Although strict training is essential to operate in a complicated environment, each member’s own outstanding qualities are the foundation of a team’s strength. In August 2001, the “Erna Raid” International Scout Contest was held in Estonia. It tested competitors on their ability to conduct reconnaissance behind enemy lines, in an area of 4 square kilometers containing hundreds of the “enemy.” Troops with advanced equipment guarded key targets. The Chinese team reached the reconnaissance area after an arduous two-day trek, but failed to find a way in after circling it several times. As night came, the team leader decided to enter alone, pretending to be one of the enemy. With his torch on, he took the main road toward the enemy headquarters, pointed his torch on targets and at enemy troops on the way and stopped to observe from time to time as if he were an inspector. The defenders were surprised and got up to salute him. In this way, the Chinese team had a clear picture of the enemy in half an hour. The enemy headquarters was astonished by the reconnaissance results handed in by the Chinese team, all thanks to the bold initiative of the team leader.
PLA Soldiers in Winter Training
How are soldiers like him picked from so many candidates? One company commander said, “I look at two features in choosing special force members: the eyes and the body. The eyes show a soldier’s mind, from which I can judge his intelligence, while the body shows his potential in stamina and skill.”
Often the selection process is very subjective. On one occasion when a special forces officer was instructing an army physical training session, he had squads of soldiers race each other on the obstacle course. The officer noticed one soldier who was unusually active before the contest and “was leaping about like an excited pony.” Although he failed to win the race, he was admitted to the special forces because he was “excited before battle.” The soldier became an excellent special forces member.
The author makes several racial and ethnic stereotyping statements that are simply not true. For example “…there is truly a gap between Asian people’s stamina and that of Europeans, Americans and Russians.” And again here “..People of the same weight from the two countries have similar strength, but Chinese have an advantage on suppleness and combat skill.”
And finally an entire paragraph of racial stereotyping “Compared with Europeans, Americans and Russians, Asian people have greater suppleness and endurance, so Chinese have strong capabilities in crossing natural obstacles, such as jungles and waterways. Asians also have natural edge in terms of psychological capability. Chinese soldiers are more hard-working and enduring than Western counterparts.”
What possible data exists to defend such racial and ethnic stereotyping? The results of one or two contests cannot be a valid means of making such broad conclusions about entire racial or ethnic groups.
These kinds of racial and ethnic stereotypes are simply not true. It’s always a bad idea to make judgments on the basis of such false stereotypes.
Sincerely,
Hugo
Its not a bad stereotype. Its quite flattering.
There may be some supporting facts for the stereotyping. The Chinese were certainly superior at winter/snowstorm warfare, as had been proven at Korean War and Sino-Indian 1962 border war. They beat their enemies during the worst and coldest of the conditions. The US admitted that during Korean War, they lost more men to the snowstorm than combats, as did the Indian. Napoleon’s Grand Army perished to the snowstorms in Moscow, and so were Hitler’s German Army. The Russian won’t engage enemy during snowstorm. There were, of course, controversy over account of Chinese casualties from both sides, but the fact is; they fought on the harshest snowstorms in history and survived while others perished.
I agree,they are not better,at any of the above mentioned
Yeh not better, but just can kick your countryman’s when they want to “China and the United States have held several police combat contests, and the Chinese side has won all of them decisively.”
Guess your boys are just unlucky everytime