The country's armed forces the Chinese People's Liberation Army
(PLA) are to start selecting some civilians this year for
non-combat duties to free up more soldiers for combat missions.
The PLA Daily reported yesterday that these civilians include
cooks, typists, telephone operators, projectionists, announcers,
drivers, repairmen and paramedics.
The daily added the move is aimed at reducing the number of
non-combat personnel of these departments and non-combat troops, in
a bid to solve long-standing structural problems.
Previously, all the non-combat posts were shouldered by warrant
officers and compulsory servicemen.
Departments and non-combat troops of army-level units or above
can start recruiting civilians, who can apply on their own or by
being recommended by military job centers and servicemen.
The PLA will not carry any advertisements for the recruitment,
the paper said, adding that army-level command posts, military
bases and others which shoulder combat tasks and experiments are
not allowed to take part in the recruitment.
In line with the new move, the paper said provincial military
area commands and sub-commands, military training bases, military
courts and procuratorates can offer jobs to civilians.
In addition, civilians can take on posts in prisons,
storehouses, military hospitals, financial and audit offices, real
estate management agencies, news media, culture and sports
institutions.
The applicants need to have a minimum polytechnic school
education. They also have to be healthy, no more than 35 years old,
and possess skills to meet the requirements of selected jobs, the
daily said, noting that relevant certificates showcasing their
skills are welcome.
(China Daily February 17, 2006)