Military career: Starting with a recruitment letter

Chapter 179 The selection is finalized. Which son of a bitch is eyeing me again?

Inside the meeting room, everyone remained silent, weighing the feasibility of what had just been said.

A series of knocks, one heavy and two light, came from the door.

Upon hearing the commotion, Luo Yaowu, who was standing on the podium, gave a wink to the person at the door, signaling them to open it.

Then he clapped his hands and laughed, "Comrades, this is the first time for everyone here today."

"The meeting has been going on for quite a while. Let's have lunch first, and we can discuss this while we eat."

Luo Yaowu finished speaking.

The meeting room door opened, and soldiers from the mess hall pushed in a row of food carts, starting to prepare meals from the front row.

The standard isn't high: two dishes and a soup, stir-fried loofah with eggs and cumin lamb, plus a bowl of seaweed and egg drop soup.

For staple foods like rice and steamed buns, which are not included in the food allowance, feel free to take as much as you can eat.

In the military, it's not uncommon for a meal to be served during a break in a meeting, especially for units like the staff department and the training department.

If these people were even slightly dedicated, they would all be well-known workaholics in the military region. Each of them, a senior staff officer, would be working themselves to the bone like a panda, and premature aging would be nothing to them.

no way.

Who made the General Staff and the Operations and Training Department responsible for all aspects of operations, training, assessments, and exercises for all units in the entire military region?

The pace is usually extremely busy.

Of course, this was something Director Luo deliberately arranged for someone to do.

The Army Academy is building a base here, and no matter how nicely they put it, their real intention is still to get personnel from the military. They can't just dodge the question at the meeting.

Often, it's necessary to use meals as an opportunity to lighten the mood and have a proper discussion about work.

It's much more efficient than holding meetings all the time.

"Chen Mo, come, sit down and eat too."

Before Chen Mo could return to his seat, Luo Yaowu beckoned him to sit in the empty seat at the front.

Anyway, the meaning is quite obvious.

Xiucai is from your 63rd Army. He has put forward his suggestions, and the academy has followed them. Now it depends on the attitude of each of your units.

Chen Mo himself did not expect that he would be pushed into the eye of the storm so quickly.

Those behind them might see it as a great honor for a student to be able to sit in the front row for a meal.

After all, at the same dinner table, sitting next to him was the director of the Strategic and Operational Studies Department of the Army Academy, opposite him was the Chief of Staff of the Army, Qin Quan'an, and the Minister of Operations and Training, Li Guanduo.

Having a deputy army-level officer and two division-level officers accompany me to dinner is a rare opportunity.

But only Chen Mo himself truly understands the awkwardness involved.

Damn it, I can't eat.

Cumin lamb tastes like chewing wax, and when I eat rice, I don't know whether to bend down or bend over. It's so damn uncomfortable.

Sitting in the back, Liang Hongjie would occasionally look up and let out a barely audible sigh.

He felt that the scholar seemed to have become a different person since he went to the academy, and was doing quite well.

Looking at myself, a top student who graduated from the Kyoto Armored Forces Academy, it's almost June, and I'll have been in the army for almost a year.

If he becomes a platoon leader, he can't manage a single soldier; if he becomes a clerk, nobody takes him seriously.

He had lofty ambitions, but made no progress whatsoever.

He also longed to stand on a stage like a scholar, speaking eloquently, so that with such a resume, he wouldn't be among the first batch of people to be rejected.

That's right.

When Liang Pai saw Chen Mo again, he felt somewhat inferior. He was ashamed and speechless, and he also began to doubt his own abilities.

After all, even he doesn't understand information technology, let alone offer any effective suggestions on it.

The meeting room was silent for about three or four minutes.

Just as Chen Mo was quietly eating, like a quail with his head down, picking up food with his chopsticks.

Chief of Staff Qin coughed twice, put the steamed bun he had taken a few bites of on his plate, and looked at Chen Mo, saying, "I heard Lao Tao say that you were clamoring to build a non-commissioned officer academy as soon as you got to school."

"Is this happening?"

"Yes." Chen Mo nodded affirmatively.

The leaders have already put down their chopsticks and are preparing to "discuss" the matter.

He naturally couldn't eat heartily. After quickly swallowing the food in his mouth, he continued, "Commander, I think the establishment of both the sergeant academy and the sergeant training base is of great significance."

"Putting aside everything else, just reducing the waste of administrative resources is worth trying."

"By learning from foreign militaries' recruitment systems, we can provide career planning education to soldiers upon enlistment, and allow them to choose to participate in cross-disciplinary training once every three years of service. This would completely break the career limitations of the existing non-commissioned officer group and would be absolutely beneficial to improving combat effectiveness."

"Ah."

Qin Quan'an smiled and did not deny it.

He was able to reach the position of chief of staff, which means he must have some skills. He understood this from the moment Chen Mo pointed out at the conference that the core of the information technology experiment was focused on the non-commissioned officer group, rather than a single unit.

A field army is not just one person, but 220 million people, and the non-commissioned officers are the primary factor in maintaining combat effectiveness and morale. Their stability can directly affect the entire army.

The higher-ups discovered this problem a long time ago.

Otherwise, the two most recent adjustments to military ranks would not have targeted non-commissioned officers, rather than officers.

However, there are far too many aspects that need to be adjusted. The reduction of troops alone has taken several military regions several years to complete.

Even in career planning, one should start as an officer and then progress to a non-commissioned officer, one step at a time.

In the context of the overall information technology strategy, the most important issue to address is the educational level of officers. This includes policies on national defense students, downsizing and merging military academies. The next few months will require significant and decisive action.

Isn't that what you're after?
After all, if the cultural issues of the commanders cannot be resolved, many things will be difficult to implement in the future.

Unexpectedly, before the officers' policy could be fully implemented, the sergeant was being so openly targeted by this young man.

You have a sharp eye!

Qin Quan'an stared at Chen Mo for a few moments, then looked at Luo Yaowu, who stood beside him with a serious expression but remained silent. He felt somewhat helpless.

What "strengthening the military through science and technology" speech?

That old man went to great lengths to get Chen Mo on stage, all to put him in a difficult position.

How can the chief of staff decline or refuse a suggestion made by a younger colleague?
The key is, if I don't refuse, I can't get it done.

The initial requirement for the information technology experiment was a minimum of one battalion, and the entire battalion had to be composed of outstanding non-commissioned officers. Even the chief of staff would have a headache with such a requirement.

Which unit would send all its best soldiers to the base, leaving only a group of ordinary soldiers behind in the camp?

What, are you going to give up on life from now on?

Chen Mo sat upright in front of him, while Luo Yao, dressed like a gentleman, remained completely silent.

I wanted to take advantage of the mealtime to express my opinion.

Qin Quan'an coughed lightly, then turned to look at Li Guanduo, the head of the training department.

Minister Li immediately understood that the Chief of Staff had encountered a problem and needed him to step in and handle the situation.

He hurriedly said, "Chief of Staff, how about this? I think what Chen Mo said earlier was quite valuable."

"I believe that as the one who proposed this, this kid must have a more mature idea and a clearer plan. I think we should temporarily transfer him to our training department for a while so that we can make a proper plan?"

"This is one approach, but we need to be more cautious. We should second him to another position, and if necessary, let Chen Mo hold a few seminars. We need to take a serious and gradual approach to researching the future direction and planning of our experiments."

Upon hearing this, Qin Quan'an calmly nodded, his performance remarkably realistic.

"Yes, we need to be more cautious."

Li Guanduo also looked serious. Their so-called "seriousness" and "slowness" were just excuses for procrastination.

We really need to transfer Chen Mo there.

It's likely that even after eight or ten years, no results will be found.

Because once they're on loan, they have no intention of returning them.

Have no idea.

The military region is not unaware of the general trend or development, but the problem is that it is in the midst of troop reduction, and the morale of all units is already low.

If a base comes and immediately demands non-commissioned officers, how can the military region allocate them?
What do the grassroots units think?
Will the General Staff and the Operations and Training Department still be able to function in the future?
Hearing such a clumsy excuse, Chen Mo pursed his lips and remained silent for a long time.

This is why he was worried about being pushed to the front; if the training department really "borrowed" him, he would be finished.

Don't expect any further advancement. At most, you'll get a lieutenant staff officer position after some time, a sinecure. You might get laid off and sent home one day.

Don't think this is an exaggeration.

Any reform and progress is forced out, rather than a perfect match.

Not to mention that they claim to be geniuses, in this kind of climate, what they lack least are geniuses who can jump up and down the social ladder.

This is why Chen Mo has always wanted to stick close to the Seventh Division; after all, he has a powerful backer.

Having a powerful backer makes it less likely to be abandoned.

This is not.

Chief of Staff Qin and Minister Li were engrossed in their performances.

Director Luo, who had been silent until now, waved his hand with a smile: "Old Qin, don't even think about being seconded."

"Chen Mo has just transferred from the reconnaissance and command department to the armored communications department. He hasn't even had a single day of classes yet. We have to be responsible for our new comrade and must stay here to attend classes."

"Old Li, your training department is one of the departments that spearheaded the reforms. You should know how important the information technology experiment is, so don't try to fool me."

Luo Yaowu brought the topic up directly.

This is all thanks to the fact that he is now the director of the Army Academy. If it were when the Seventh Division was still around, he, as the chief of staff, wouldn't be so easy to talk to.

He might not dare to bang on the table with the Chief of Staff, but as a deputy division commander, he would definitely dare to bang on the table with a division-level officer in the operations and training department.

There's nothing we can do; some divisions are just that stubborn, they can't bend even a little bit.

"I'm not trying to bluff."

Li Guanduo shook his head. He was eating his meal when his eyes almost reddened. He said, "Old Luo, you have no idea how difficult it is for the training department right now."

"The training department is difficult?" Luo Yaowu was taken aback. He knew that many leaders in the army were good at performing.

I never expected Li Guanduo to be such a good actor.

This guy barely said a few words before his eyes were almost red, acting like I owed him a whole battalion.

"It's so difficult."

Li Guanduo didn't care whether there was a young man sitting in front of him or not, because he dared not agree.

If he were to give in to the demands for personnel from me during this trip to the base, the army commander and political commissar would surely kill him once he returned to the military region.

What a spendthrift! He lost hundreds of officers just by going out; he can't bear that kind of blame.

He could only lower his voice and say, "Old Luo, we're practically acquaintances, so I won't beat around the bush. Haven't you all seen the data from the armored unit exercises over the past three years?"

"The training department is responsible for the military training assessment of the group army. As an examiner, the work is difficult, as you know. Every time the exercise is not effective, a group of people have to leave."

"Because of this, in recent years, various regiments have been secretly badmouthing our training department, saying that our standards are too harsh and that our evaluations have affected the progress of other units. Lao Luo, to be honest, we are almost more unwelcome than the military police."

"I can tolerate being scolded. What are we doing this for? Isn't it to be worthy of the national emblem and military emblem above our heads?" Li Guanduo became so emotional that he stopped eating and pulled out several documents from his pocket, placing them in front of him.

"Look, the latest batch of troop reduction orders has come down. The 189th Division, Lao Zheng's unit, must have dozens of officers transferred to civilian jobs by the end of next month, and two battalions will be disbanded."

"The 7th Armored Brigade, is that your old unit? The howitzer battalion is also being disbanded at the end of next month. I don't even know how to send out the notice."

"Not only that, but for the past three years, we've been pushing for troop reductions, which has caused a lot of complaints from lower-level units. Foreign militaries already have mature models for mechanization, and they're telling us to feel our way across the river."

"But how do we feel this stone? The reform work needs a lot of capable, experienced and qualified staff officers to assist us, but where do we get good officers? The grassroots main combat regiments are unwilling to provide them."

"This is the transfer order from the 189th Division at the beginning of the year. It's almost June now, and the people still haven't been transferred. Old Zheng won't release them."

"There's also the transfer order for the 7th Brigade. It's been three months since the transfer, and I still haven't seen anyone."

"The training department has heavy tasks, but also heavy responsibilities. Now you're saying you want non-commissioned officers, where am I supposed to go to express my support?"

Li Guanduo clearly came prepared; his pleading poverty was so rhythmic and supported by evidence.

Fortunately, Chen Mo knew what kind of people these were; otherwise, he would have really thought that this division-level cadre was living such a miserable life every day.

However, on the other hand, the training department is indeed quite difficult.

Many of those staff officers had gray hair by their thirties, after all, their mission was indeed very demanding.

But it's certainly not as difficult as Minister Li described.

Chun Chun is blatantly lying.

Zheng Lin, the commander of the 189th Division, was sitting not far away. He heard the conversation, but he turned his head away as if he hadn't heard it.

Feng Yunqian, the chief of staff of the 7th Armored Brigade, was also looking down and picking at his food. He had picked at those two pieces of mutton more than ten times, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Director Luo opened his mouth, but was somewhat speechless.

He knew that the base was having difficulty recruiting, and he convened today's meeting under the guise of arranging subsequent work, hoping to get the military region to make a statement.

I didn't expect much progress.

I never imagined that even expressing my opinion would be so difficult.

The atmosphere was somewhat tense, and Chief of Staff Qin, who was sitting next to him, was also eating seriously and no longer responded.

Because he didn't dare to speak first and open the floodgates.

During the disarmament period, the military underwent re-equipment, organizational restructuring, and modifications were made based on the mature models of foreign military armored units.

They all took place during the same period.

During this period, some companies were disbanded, some regiments were reduced in size, some divisions were demobilized as a whole, and some armies had their designations canceled.

Some Class B divisions were also transferred across different branches of the armed forces to form mobile divisions.

Most units have seen many glorious veterans leave, and now the training base wants to borrow non-commissioned officers.

Even if the military region doesn't shirk its responsibility, it's true that morale is low.

Li Guanduo knew that the Army Academy meant well. The military region had many problems that would need to be solved by the academy in the future, and many officers would be sent to the Army Academy for further study.

If they want to mobilize troops, it's best not to make things too tense.

But he hesitated several times, unable to find a solution.

A battalion of non-commissioned officers—this was the number that had been decided long ago; it was too many, and he dared not make a decision.

Nowadays, armored units generally suffer from outdated equipment and bloated command structures due to outdated organizational structures. If we send out more outstanding non-commissioned officers...

The combat effectiveness of many units will be directly paralyzed.

Just imagine.

The Kuchi Reconnaissance Company may be awesome, but...

If it weren't for Lao Pao, Liu Hai, and other sergeants like the fifth and third sergeants carrying the load, would he still be the same flanking third company he was back then?
Along with the veterans' morale and spirit, they will also dissipate as they are transferred out, which is a terrible chain reaction.

Nobody wants to take the blame.

Although new recruits are not well-liked by the veterans, in their eyes, those formidable veterans are the spirit and morale of the entire company, their role models, and their benchmarks.

One day, when the veterans are gone, they will strive to replace their former role models and become new benchmarks.

But if the role models and benchmarks are removed from this organization from the very beginning, the organization will collapse.

This is the most basic source of survival for grassroots companies.

no doubt.

If everyone continues to remain silent, this conference, themed "Strengthening the Military through Science and Technology," will ultimately fizzle out after dinner.

Because it couldn't continue operating.

The idea is good, but what if you can't attract people?

Those few oddballs who came in the first batch are no good at all.

The Army Academy could certainly report the situation to the Kyoto Military Region, or even to the ZYJW, so that higher authorities could issue a forced order requiring the military region to cooperate.

But is that useful?
Often, what needs to be considered are practical issues.

It's not like your Army Academy's single approved project can cause unrest throughout the entire military region.

Knowing that his suggestion had hit a nerve, Chen Mo took a deep breath.

He realized it was his turn to take the stage.

The reason he notified the reconnaissance company so early, and asked Company Commander Cheng to inform the veterans in the company to prepare, was because Chen Mo had guessed it.

Whether it's a training base or a non-commissioned officer academy, the first step will most likely be this one.

The reconnaissance company is in a good position. Originally, 70% of the officers were senior sergeants. Now that the new recruits have been dismissed, the privates in the company will soon be promoted to sergeants.

At that time, the proportion of non-commissioned officers will be 100%, and the proportion of senior non-commissioned officers will still be 70%. This is the most suitable unit for conducting experiments.

Of course, it was also Chen Mo's own selfish motive. After all, he knew all too well that with him around after the entire company became a pilot unit, everyone's future development would not be bad.

"Chief!"

Chen Mo suddenly spoke.

This attracted the attention of Luo Yaowu, Qin Quan'an, Li Guanduo, and even Zheng Lin, the commander of the 189th Division, who was sitting in the distance.

"Speak your mind." Director Luo waved and arranged for someone to remove all the plates.

"Sir, I just heard about the difficulties the training department is facing, and I know it's very difficult to transfer personnel now."

"Could we find a complete unit and transfer all the personnel over here?"

"A complete unit?" Luo Yaowu was taken aback. "In the past, experiments were always conducted using complete units."

"Don't you know the final result?"

"No, sir, please listen to me first." Chen Mo hurriedly shook his head: "I come from the 3rd Reconnaissance Company of the 7th Armored Brigade."

"There are many veterans in the reconnaissance company, and the proportion of non-commissioned officers is very high. In addition, the reconnaissance soldiers usually train in conjunction with other units."

"They are highly adaptable, quick learners, and, more importantly, physically fit, enabling them to complete training sessions of varying intensities."

"With a period of training, I believe that with the reconnaissance soldiers' keen sense of the front-line battlefield, they will definitely be able to handle this experiment."

Reconnaissance Company 3
Luo Yaowu was a member of the old 7th Division, so he knew that his former unit, the Third Company, was indeed a unit with strong cohesion and adaptability.

But is there any truth to this?
"Please rest assured, sir. I believe in them. Give me three months, and I will serve as the staff officer for the entire company."

"Within three months, everyone will study professionally according to the courses in the base. After three months, we will definitely be able to fight a large-scale information-based battle."

Chen Mo stood up abruptly, his posture as if he were issuing a military order.

Luo Yaowu's pupils contracted; to be honest, he was tempted.

Because Chen Mo's suggestion came at just the right time, it's obvious that the military region can't get any more personnel right now.

If things get stuck in a dead end, transferring a complete company that he's familiar with might not be a bad idea.

Chief of Staff Qin Quan'an, who had remained silent the entire time, looked at Chen Mo's excited face and a meaningful smile appeared on his face.

I now understand that the young man in front of me has probably been planning this all along.

People who come from the reconnaissance company don't forget their own company when they're doing experiments, whether it's blind confidence or loyalty.

This kind of soldier is ultimately a good soldier.

“I think this suggestion is feasible. I also know about the 3rd Reconnaissance Company of the 7th Brigade. Lian Shi is on the political department’s radar.”

"You might as well give it a try."

“Yes, I agree with Comrade Chen Mo’s suggestion.” Li Guanduo, the head of the training department, nodded in approval.

Actually, as long as you don't ask him for personnel, or for a complete company like this, there won't be a problem.

Don't even mention giving me one, I'd give you ten.

Because it's a systematic transfer, there's no need for so much infighting or pleading for help everywhere; a transfer order is all it takes.

Moreover, the suggestion came from your reconnaissance company, and the decision was made by your company's former leader.

Even the chief of staff of the military region had no objections, so why would his training department refuse?

It's truly a win-win situation for everyone.

"Alright, let's move the reconnaissance company first." Luo Yaowu nodded.

Chen Mo's suggestion was ultimately adopted.

In the front row of the conference room, a group of leaders looked at each other, and many of them breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, this time, not only the General Staff Department and the Operations and Training Department came to the meeting, but also representatives from the military region's division and brigade levels.

What if the meeting fails to reach an agreement and the Army Academy asks their unit for personnel?
They don't have the same strong backing as the General Staff or the Operations Department.

That would be the best solution.

Chen Mo also breathed a sigh of relief.

His first step in implementing his plan has finally come to fruition.

And at this time.

Two hundred kilometers away, at the Kuchi reconnaissance company.

Company Commander Cheng Dong was strolling around the camp with his hands behind his back; it was almost the end of the month again.

The brigade's training department sent personnel to be stationed in the company to record the assessment results.

Company Commander Cheng, a man of strong character, would not allow his men to perform poorly.

To everyone's surprise, he was just strolling around, taking a cigarette out of his pocket and putting it in his mouth, but before he could even light it...

Suddenly my nose started to itch, and I sneezed three times in a row.

The shock almost made Cheng Dong's head spin; it felt like something had suddenly fallen from the sky.

It hit him like a "smack" on the head, making him dizzy and disoriented.

Cheng Dong glared at the sky, looked up at it with annoyance, and started cursing.

"Damn it, which son of a bitch is eyeing me again?"

(End of this chapter)