Soldier students swop pens for guns
Print Edition
HE left as a boy, but after two years in the army Zhao Songqing returned to college as a man.
Zhao, 23, an undergraduate, has now returned to Beijing-based Beihang University to complete his studies, one of 150,000 college army recruits in 2014.
In an attempt to add vigor and diversity to the military, China’s armed forces have conscripted undergraduates since 2001, and an increasing number of highly-educated students are joining up.
The army lets them express their patriotism in the most direct way possible: by putting down pens and picking up guns.
“It’s a great honor for a soldier to make contributions to the nation and its people,” Zhao said.
The most difficult but memorable period of Zhao’s service was fighting severe floods with his fellow soldiers as China experienced freak weather this summer.
It was July 6, just before he finished his service, when Zhao’s company was put on “first-degree combat alert.” They needed to stand ready to hit flood-ravaged areas — floods that went on to kill hundreds across China.
They received the order in the afternoon. Hours later, more than 20 soldiers and a lot of supplies crammed into the back of the truck to begin a grueling 30-hour journey.
“It was too hot to sleep, and I could only focus on two things,” he said. “I must keep myself safe for my parents’ sake, and more importantly, I had to do my best for those flood victims.”
Zhao went into the danger zone, not even telling his parents what mission he was on.
Honghu, where Zhao’s company was stationed, is a small riverside city in Hubei Province and was one of the areas worst-hit by the flooding.
Every day, the soldiers reinforced the dams with sandbags. Sometimes, they had to jump straight into the river to rebuild the dams.
“The military uniform bestowed us with a sense of honor, so we were willing to work hard and take risks,” Zhao said.
Two years ago, just before becoming a senior, Zhao’s classmates were busy applying for jobs or graduate school, but he was set to join the army instead.
“I’d always wanted to do something for the nation,” he said. “I saw two years in the army as an opportunity to harden myself.”
The army is keenly aware of the bravery it takes for young undergraduates to enlist.
“It requires great courage for college students to make the decision,” said Qi Jianli from the military office of Beihang University.
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