Chapter 195: Restructure Again, Transform Into Special Reconnaissance Company!
Chen Jun saw that the proposed Independent Battalion model was not favored by Gao Cheng and Regiment Commander Wang, realizing there was a significant misunderstanding in their thinking.
He immediately explained, “Adding a new battalion on the existing foundation of the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment is indeed unrealistic, but my idea is not like that.
What I mean by making it independent is to single out the Combined Arms Battalion, while the other three battalions undergo reduction in size, changing from a five-company system to a three-company system.”
“Reduction in size?”
Regiment Commander Wang heard this completely new idea and immediately became interested, urging eagerly, “Come on, come on, tell me in detail, how exactly would it work?”
Gao Cheng also felt it was very novel and listened curiously with perked ears.
“My idea is like this…”
Chen Jun organized his thoughts and said methodically, “Our regiment has three battalions and sixteen companies in total, among which the Signal Company is a regiment direct subordinate unit, so let’s not worry about it first.
First, let’s talk about the First Battalion. My idea is to draw two Tank Companies, one Light Tank Company and one Heavy Tank Company, into the Combined Arms Battalion’s establishment…”
“Two Tank Companies?”
Gao Cheng interrupted Chen Jun’s words, puzzled, “Doesn’t the Combined Arms Battalion only have one Tank Company? How did it suddenly gain an extra one?”
“I have my reasons for this arrangement. Listen to me finish, and you’ll understand.”
Chen Jun did not explain immediately and continued, “The First Battalion would then have two Heavy Tank Companies and one Light Tank Company left, still functioning as a Tank Battalion.
Overall combat effectiveness would definitely be somewhat weaker, but its core role can be preserved.
Now, for the Second Battalion, with the Combined Arms Battalion fully independent, it would be left with the Eighth Company, Ninth Company, and Tenth Company, all three being Armored Infantry Companies, so the battalion’s combat attributes can still be maintained.
Because two Armored Infantry Companies are removed, the missing combat effectiveness can actually be compensated from the newly established Combined Arms Battalion, just like with the Tank Battalion.
From the perspective of individual battalions, combat effectiveness is weakened, but from the overall regiment level, strength would definitely increase…”
By the time Gao Cheng and Regiment Commander Wang heard this, they already had a general grasp of Chen Jun’s thinking and listened with increasing interest.
Chen Jun continued…
“The remaining Third Battalion is a bit more complex. The Combined Arms Battalion needs an Anti-Aircraft Company and an Artillery Company, but with only five companies in its establishment, it can’t take two companies at once, so a slight adjustment is needed.
Draw one Anti-Aircraft Company from the Third Battalion, and convert the Logistics Support Company to a regiment direct subordinate unit, directly commanded by the regiment headquarters. With the addition of the Combined Arms Battalion, it can better complete support tasks.
The remaining two Artillery Companies and one Anti-Aircraft Company would naturally form a new firepower Third Battalion.
In this way.
The Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment’s overall reorganization becomes three-three system basic battalion-company structure, plus two regiment direct subordinate companies, and a fully independent Combined Arms Battalion equivalent to an Independent Battalion.”
The three-three system is our army’s traditional model. In this era when Combined Arms Battalions are just emerging, the five-company First Battalion is only used in a few field units.
Reducing the regiment scale to the three-three system model, plus the structure of an Independent Battalion and direct subordinate companies, is indeed very novel and fits the current needs of the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment perfectly.
“Wonderful! Too wonderful!”
Regiment Commander Wang’s eyes lit up upon hearing this, praising with great satisfaction, “Chen Jun, it has to be you. You haven’t disgraced your reputation as a military genius, haha.”
“This idea is truly unique. Through this reorganization, it highlights the value of the Combined Arms Battalion without affecting the strategic roles of the other three battalions, and it can even charge into battle alongside the Combined Arms Battalion.” Gao Cheng also commented.
“The adjustments for the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment are roughly like this. The rest is about the Combined Arms Battalion.”
With the previous suggestions highly approved, Chen Jun was even more confident and continued, “After the regiment adjustments, the Combined Arms Battalion would have light and heavy Tank Companies, an Anti-Aircraft Company, Steel Seventh Company, and Electronic Warfare Company.
What these five companies lack is obvious: an Engineer Support Company, lacking an artillery output unit, but with an extra Tank Company.
To achieve the required Combined Arms Battalion configuration, adjustments must be made among these five companies.
My idea is to modify the Light Tank Company, transferring all its warriors to the Anti-Aircraft Company and converting them to artillery, forming an Artillery Air Defense Company.
Our regiment is a fully mechanized combat unit. The operation mode of self-propelled howitzers is actually very similar to light tanks, just needing more logistics personnel support. The main operation and control personnel are basically the same.
The gunners, drivers, and commanders of the Light Tank Company can switch to Artillery Company tasks. With some training time to familiarize themselves with self-propelled howitzer equipment, there would be no problem at all.
And since the military region has agreed to the pilot Combined Arms Battalion, it means they have approved the all-NCO battalion concept.
So combining the two companies’ personnel together, the numbers won’t exceed the standard—possibly even fewer—and we’d need to draw NCOs from elsewhere to fill them up.”
Chen Jun had just proposed the three-three battalion reorganization model, and now he was suggesting collectively converting tank soldiers to artillery.
The breadth of his imagination and the liveliness of his thinking.
Regiment Commander Wang and Gao Cheng had no choice but to be convinced.
Most importantly, Chen Jun’s conversion method was truly feasible in practice, with high conversion efficiency and almost no difficulties.
Merging two companies into one also effectively established the Artillery Air Defense Company.
At this point, only one issue remained…
“If all the Light Tank Company personnel are transferred to the Anti-Aircraft Company, that company would be completely empty. Is there any point in keeping it? Wouldn’t that be a waste? Why not keep the Light Tank Company and just add another company?” Gao Cheng wondered puzzledly.
“Could it be…”
Regiment Commander Wang thought of Chen Jun’s idea: “You’re going to convert this vacated Light Tank Company into an Engineer Support Company?”
“Exactly!”
Chen Jun nodded and said, “Every military reform implies demilitarization, and this time is probably no exception. Under such a major background, increasing establishment is probably very difficult.
So, we can only adjust existing companies within the current establishment.
If the Great Merit Sixth Company can become an Electronic Warfare Company, why can’t the Light Tank Company become an Engineer Support Company? Right? The higher-ups wouldn’t reject it.
I’m 100% certain.
As long as it improves the troops’ combat effectiveness, as long as it fits the major background of informatization reform, any change will be supported by the higher-ups.”
The Tank Company was established later and has no special honors or historical value.
Under the military reform background, modifying it is as easy as drinking water.
No difficulty.
“Reorganizing the Light Tank Company into an Engineer Support Company is indeed a very good method, but with just an empty shell, filling it up—and all with NCOs—won’t be easy.” Gao Cheng frowned worriedly.
“Didn’t the higher-ups tell us to write a plan? We just write it. As for whether we can fill the personnel, that’s for the higher-up leaders to consider, not us. Regiment Commander, am I right?” Chen Jun said slyly with a grin.
“Hahaha, you little clever one.”
Regiment Commander Wang was amused by Chen Jun’s words and immediately decided on the spot, “Good, let’s settle on this for now. Whether it works or not, we set aside—we first finalize the plan.
If there are issues later and the higher-ups’ seminar doesn’t approve, we can think of methods then.
The Combined Arms Battalion’s establishment plan is set like this. Now, only one last thing remains: the camp construction for the Combined Arms Battalion.
Not just the site selection for the camp, but also the barracks design— the higher-ups want us to provide plans. Do you two have any ideas?”
As soon as Regiment Commander Wang finished speaking, Gao Cheng shook his head and waved his hands, saying, “I definitely won’t know about this. I can’t handle such things.”
“What about you? Do you have any plan?”
Regiment Commander Wang seemed to know Gao Cheng wouldn’t, keeping his gaze fixed on Chen Jun.
“I actually did some preparation. Before, when I took on the division’s task to go for training, I took the opportunity to visit almost every company in the entire division, researching the differences among Artillery Companies, Tank Companies, Infantry Companies, and so on. I have a bit of grasp on it.”
Chen Jun first explained the source of his thinking, then said, “For how to construct the Combined Arms Battalion’s camp, I have already written a design plan.
It just needs professional civil engineering personnel to turn my plan into specific design drawings, and it should be ready for use.”
“Good, forward-thinking, preparing for a rainy day. With you in charge of the Combined Arms Battalion, I’ve saved a big worry, haha.” Regiment Commander Wang praised Chen Jun again.
He had no choice but to praise.
No matter which boss encounters such a subordinate, not only does he do what you want, he does it extremely well, and has prepared it in advance long ago.
It would feel exceptionally satisfying.
“Of course, who is Old Chen? He’s one of the top geniuses in our entire Group Army. If he can’t handle it, then definitely no one else can.”
Gao Cheng rarely praises people, let alone flatters, but Chen Jun is one of a kind.
With the spotlight stolen by Chen Jun, Gao Cheng was thoroughly convinced.
“So only one last thing remains: the site selection for the Combined Arms Battalion’s camp. Where do you think around our regiment would be better?”
Regiment Commander Wang first raised the question, then added, “How about putting it next to the regiment headquarters? Closer, so we can communicate better.”
The regiment headquarters base is located in the wilderness far from the city, and the surrounding area is indeed quite spacious.
Vast and boundless!!
Not to mention one battalion—even another regiment would fit.
“The area near the regiment headquarters isn’t bad either. It’s close, making future building materials and supplies transport more convenient. Regiment and division leaders coming for inspections would also be more convenient.”
Chen Jun agreed with Regiment Commander Wang’s proposal, but Gao Cheng offered a different view.
“The Combined Arms Battalion has barracks construction for five companies, plus daily training—the land area won’t be small. I think we can have the whole regiment do some scouting first, see if there’s something more suitable, and decide later.”
“Yes, indeed. We still have enough time to do a full regiment survey. If there’s something better, that would be great.”
Chen Jun thought for a moment and also felt there was no need to rush.
“Alright, Combined Arms Battalion—you’re the actual person in charge, you decide.”
Regiment Commander Wang wasn’t one to pretend to be fat when he wasn’t. For things he wasn’t good at, he delegated decisively, saying, “Then this matter is handed to you and Gao Cheng. You two go around more during this time.
I’ll give you two half a month. In half a month, give me the address. Then I’ll organize the plan into a document and send it to the division for seminar.”
“Received!”
“Guarantee to complete the mission.”
Chen Jun and Gao Cheng stood up simultaneously to accept this order.
…
The preparation work for the Combined Arms Battalion is the current major task, not allowing any ambiguity.
So in the half month after returning from the regiment headquarters, Chen Jun and Gao Cheng really became map collectors, driving cars around everywhere all day.
The time invested was proportional to the harvest.
The full materials obtained in half a month, after final organization and various planning, revealed that next to the regiment headquarters wasn’t the best.
For convenient water supply in camp construction, water resources are relatively scarce in the Loess Plateau area.
Moreover, after Steel Seventh Company becomes part of the Combined Arms Battalion, its combat missions also need to change, requiring conversion from a Combined Arms Company to a Special Reconnaissance Company.
The Special Reconnaissance Company’s “service” objects are the Combined Arms Battalion. Combat missions are not limited to reconnaissance but also include assault infantry, behind-the-lines operations, and more complex and diverse tasks, infinitely close to special operations forces.
So the training ground requirements are higher, needing cliffs, water areas, and so on.
Finally, the site was selected about ten kilometers east of the regiment headquarters, where there is a natural small lake, more suitable than around the regiment headquarters.
The Combined Arms Battalion’s establishment plan, barracks plan, camp site selection, and so on, were all fully designed.
Regiment Commander Wang took these well-designed plans and the next morning ran to the division, personally handing them to the eagerly waiting Division Commander.
Regiment Commander Wang completing the task a month ahead earned extremely high praise from the Division Commander.
That very afternoon, a meeting was convened, led by the Division Commander and Political Commissar, to discuss the materials and plans submitted by the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment.
The Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment’s three-three system plus Independent Battalion reorganization, and the innovative Independent Battalion establishment design.
It greatly amazed all the division leaders!
This line of thinking they had never considered gave them an unprecedented sense of novelty, making the meeting discussion exceptionally heated.
Also because the designed plan was truly perfect, with basically no major flaws to pick.
The division’s final discussion result was very smooth. Apart from some minor points, like the all-NCO battalion standard being too high and likely difficult to implement, there were no other issues.
Ultimately, it passed the division seminar unanimously and was then urgently sent to the military region.
The division only discusses the plan, and only limited to discussion—essentially just passing it through their eyes. As long as no major problems, it’s fine.
To put it bluntly, just talk about it verbally, no need for actual actions, no great pressure.
But it’s different at the military region.
The military region not only confirms if the plan is feasible but also checks if they have the capability to execute it, whether personnel, supplies, and other aspects are available.
Because once the military region approves the plan, it means putting real money and effort into it.
To ensure military expenses are used where they should be, and the Combined Arms Battalion project doesn’t end up unfinished, the military region has a lot to consider.
Moreover, it needs to coordinate with logistics, supplies, equipment, and other units.
The process is very complex.
Not something that can be done in three to five days.
Therefore, after Chen Jun and Gao Cheng submitted the plan, they entered an indefinite waiting period again. No matter how anxious they were, they could only wait.
