'Steel Knife Team' at cutting edge of service

Deng Jun: a dream come true

When Deng Jun was a child, he dreamed of being a soldier. So, when he graduated from Guizhou University of Engineering Science last year, he didn't bother looking for a civilian job.

Instead, he joined the Yunnan PAP. However, he quickly realized that life in the camp was much harder than at university.

"During my college years, I seldom slept before 1 am and usually got up at noon, watched movies or just played with my phone on the bed in my dormitory. When I went outside, my eyes would be dazzled by the light and needed to adapt," Deng said.

"In those days, I was comfortable but lazy. The force has made me more self-disciplined and totally changed my mental state. When I video chatted with my parents, they said my eyes looked brighter than before."

He is the fourth of five children, and his parents make a living by working odd jobs.

"My parents are getting older and are not as strong as they were. I have to work hard in the force and repay them in the future," he said.

"I used to be so naive and knew nothing but playing around－if I hadn't come to serve in the PAP, I might be having a barbecue party with friends right now!"

When the squadron first assessed his fitness, Deng was physically weak and felt a lot of peer pressure, he said.

It is a tradition in the squadron to swear an oath in front of honor pennants and certificates handed down many decades ago.

"It was amazing to see so many worn-out pennants. I realized that none of us should hold our honored team back," he said.

He recalled how he once followed a comrade into the tent where the squadron's honors are displayed.

"I saw him standing still, staring at the pennants on the wall. He told me he always sought spiritual support whenever he was criticized by his superior for not doing a good job or just for feeling exhausted," Deng said.

"Sometimes my squad leader pointed out my weaknesses and mistakes, which no one had ever done before. I corrected them straightway, but I was easily hurt and felt unhappy. Now I understand that he was right. I don't feel unhappy about it anymore, though, because I can meet the standards even when no one is pushing me."

On campus, Deng watched movies such as Wolf Warriors that depicted soldiers as individual heroes. But once enrolled, he discovered that the PAP is not about individual heroism, but about teamwork.

"For example, comrades fight for honor as a team. We help each other with the daily training, such as correcting our running techniques," he said.

"The most important thing I have learned in the force is to listen to different opinions. Before, I did whatever I wanted and was self-centered. Now, I belong to a team. Everyone has a special quality, which means we always discuss things and ask each other for advice to achieve our goals."