Chapter 129: The Military Reform Knife Falls!!
The most complex mission tasks belong to First Platoon, while the remaining two platoons are relatively much simpler.
Of course.
Simple does not mean easy.
Second Platoon has been integrated into three tactical squads, each with different weaponry and equipment configurations, which predetermines that each squad’s missions will also be different.
As tactical execution configuration squads, each squad’s training missions in the second stage are largely similar.
Whether it’s the precision strike Sniper Squad, the anti-air defense Anti-aircraft Squad, or the anti-armor Anti-tank Squad, they all just need to master their own “weapons.”
Mastering them is easy, but mastering them to perfection is very difficult.
Not to mention the squads that also carry tactical titles; the warriors in those squads need to be able to fight alone and also perfectly coordinate with each other to unleash the power of integrated tactics.
They need to fight solo, but even more so in groups.
It can be called difficult on top of difficult.
Therefore, throughout the second stage training period, the missions of the three tactical squads are all the same.
That is, based on the training plan provided by Chen Jun, they must maximize individual combat ability while also enhancing the squad’s team coordination ability.
The Sniper Squad’s cooperative combat training mainly focuses on coordinated precision sniping.
The Anti-tank Squad’s cooperative combat training mainly focuses on integrated assault point strikes.
The Anti-aircraft Squad’s cooperative combat training mainly focuses on various anti-air formations.
Through their respective different cooperative combat trainings, the tactical squads are forged into a dragon alone and a pack of tigers together, able to switch quickly and flexibly at any time.
If the tactical squads are equivalent to assassins, who only need to quickly enter the battlefield and precisely kill their respective prey.
Then the last remaining Third Platoon—Firepower Platoon—is equivalent to the Steel Seventh Company’s “remote group attack unit” in synthesized modification, needing to act as artillery output from the rear.
In the process of Steel Seventh Company executing any mission, whenever there is any demand for remote firepower strikes, Firepower Platoon must respond at any time and carry out precise strikes.
Therefore, Firepower Platoon’s training in the second stage mainly revolves around remote precision firepower strikes.
The training content includes but is not limited to rapid maneuver, transfer operations, camouflage silence, ultra-fast deployment, point strikes, and evacuation concealment, and more.
To put it bluntly.
The training core is the same as the tactical platoons, which is to hone their own skills to the extreme.
Achieve a first-shot hit rate of over ninety percent within artillery strike range, and a concentrated artillery strike reaction speed within three minutes.
After completing the remote artillery strike mission, they can also complete transfer within two minutes.
Achieve the ability to strike and run, coming without a trace and leaving without a trace, making it impossible for the enemy to capture their position, unable to counter, ensuring sufficient safety.
It sounds like it’s not that difficult.
In reality, to reach this standard, the operational difficulty is very high.
Just take the 100 mortar plus nearly a hundred pounds of artillery shells; to move it from the vehicle within three minutes, then find a position to lay the base plate, set up the cannon barrel and support arms, adjust the firing elements, and open fire.
Completing so many actions within three minutes requires extremely skilled gunners.
Skilled gunners are not born; they are born through hundreds and thousands of repeated trainings, continuous learning, and continuous progress.
They also require a large amount of artillery shells as foundation, achieving veteran gunners through constant firing.
Only by firing real artillery shells can one develop artillery sense.
Ordinary companies really don’t have that many artillery shells, allowing a company to fire dozens of rounds every day in basic training to practice feel.
Fortunately, Steel Seventh Company is the fattest company in the regiment, and there is also Regiment Commander Wang Qing Rui providing strong support.
The issue of artillery shell consumption did not become an issue.
Under Chen Jun’s efficient and busy command, the entire company quickly entered the rhythm of the second stage, methodically beginning to hone themselves.
Training time seems to pass very slowly, but in reality it passes very quickly.
After other companies entered October, the year’s work was basically completed; veterans are about to retire, new recruits are about to arrive at the troops, companies enter the rest period, and life begins to become relaxed.
Yet Steel Seventh Company’s warriors are working fervently, turning the previous rest period into an intensive training period.
From deep autumn unknowingly into the cold winter.
As another batch of new recruits enters the new recruit camp, carrying beautiful yearning and aspirations for the troops, they begin their three-month new recruit training.
Xu Sanduo, Cheng Cai, Bai Tie Jun, and other new recruits finally put on Private First Class rank and became veterans.
Entering the next stage of their military career.
Steel Seventh Company’s synthesized modification second stage training also reached its final end.
To verify whether the second stage training achievements met the initially set standards, Gao Cheng specially organized a company-wide overall assessment.
This annual assessment had no common subjects; it tested each squad’s exclusive skills and techniques.
First Squad tested logistics support related subjects, Second Squad and Third Squad tested field simulation reconnaissance, Fourth Squad tested individual and coordinated sniper targets, Fifth Squad tested rocket launcher on moving targets, Sixth Squad tested anti-aircraft missiles on balloon targets.
Third Platoon’s weapons include vehicle-mounted artillery and mortars, so they were divided into rear concealment artillery strikes and frontline artillery cover, two different assessments.
Because each squad’s assessment subjects are different, and all are live-fire assessments.
The preparation work needs to be more complex and meticulous.
Therefore, it took a full week and a half to complete the assessment of the skills and techniques trained by all nine squads of the company in the second stage.
Fortunately, the acceptance results were very good, not disappointing Chen Jun’s hard efforts.
Gao Cheng saw the greatly changed Steel Seventh Company; although the full modification is not yet complete, its combat effectiveness is already stronger than before, and he smiled so widely his mouth couldn’t close.
He could hardly imagine what kind of terrifying monster Steel Seventh Company would become after synthesized modification is complete.
How terrifying its combat effectiveness would be then.
The other fourteen regular companies and one Logistics Support Company in the entire 702 Regiment don’t even know that Steel Seventh Company is undergoing evolution.
They certainly wouldn’t think that once Steel Seventh Company completes its evolution, its combat effectiveness will soar to heights they can’t imagine.
Each of their companies’ main attention is still on this year’s new recruit camp.
Last year, Steel Seventh Company’s Gao Cheng led the new recruit company and picked all the good soldiers, leaving other companies without even a sip of soup.
Steel Seventh Company seemed to get fat all at once, rising strongly in the mid-year grand competition and soaring to the sky.
This made other companies’ company commanders mistakenly think that Steel Seventh Company rose because it led the new recruit company and got a batch of good soldier seedlings.
Among them, the strongest new recruit Cheng Cai is the example!
So they had such a big harvest last year, equivalent to Steel Seventh Company’s rise relying on leading the new recruit company.
Therefore, other company commanders are especially attentive this year, all ambitiously wanting to lead the new recruit company, fish for good soldier seedlings, and take off like Seventh Company.
They care too much about the new recruit company, investing too much attention in it.
To the point that no one noticed Steel Seventh Company’s changes.
This also laid the groundwork for Steel Seventh Company sweeping all directions in the confrontation military exercise two months later.
Interestingly…
There was a small interlude in between.
To compete for this year’s new recruit company leadership qualification, the fourteen regular companies’ company commanders almost fought with red eyes, using up all their connections and resources.
In the end, if Regiment Commander hadn’t had to step out, these company commanders probably would have fought.
Completely unaware that Steel Seventh Company’s rise had little to do with leading the new recruit company; even without Cheng Cai, it wouldn’t have much impact.
Chen Jun is the core of the core!
…
With the perfect conclusion of the second stage training, at this crucial moment when the confrontation military exercise is about to arrive, the third stage training unfolded racing against time.
Compared to the second stage where each did their own thing, polishing their own guns shiny.
The third stage is the real “combined arms tactics”!
Simply put.
In this crucial third stage training, the squads will evolve from each doing their own thing to mutual cooperation training between squads.
Mainly, as the core Vanguard Reconnaissance Squad, conducting simulated actual combat coordination training with other various squads.
This is also the “essence” of combined arms tactics!
With less than three months left until the confrontation, Chen Jun adjusted and planned the remaining time, leaving only the last month for full company integration training.
In the previous month and a half, Reconnaissance Squad will conduct joint training one by one with other squads.
For example, have Reconnaissance Squad cross the enemy blockade line, infiltrate into the enemy rear to collect intelligence and information; when encountering enemy snipers blockading key passes, call in Sniper Squad to clear them.
Snipers understand snipers best.
Sniper Squad’s four professional sniper teams go into action, conducting strict screening of various positions on the key pass, or using methods to lure out the enemy snipers.
After Sniper Squad clears the enemy snipers, Reconnaissance Squad then crosses the blockade line to complete the mission.
If Sniper Squad finds the enemy sniper positions but can’t clear the enemy, report the positions to Firepower Platoon.
Firepower Platoon then cooperates with Reconnaissance Squad, using point artillery strikes to take out the opponent.
No matter how awesome the sniper.
They also fear truth strikes from the sky.
Suppose the enemy dispatches armored units to sweep and search Reconnaissance Squad’s position, trying to find and eliminate the Vanguard Reconnaissance Squad.
Then at this crucial moment, Anti-tank Squad must come out to cooperate.
By taking out the enemy armored units and, when necessary, drawing away enemy reinforcements, clearing obstacles for Reconnaissance Squad’s frontline reconnaissance.
Suppose the enemy realizes ground pressure and dispatches helicopters with thermal imaging for scanning.
Then Reconnaissance Squad calls in Anti-aircraft Squad, while completing anti-infrared camouflage operations in the shortest time, waiting for Anti-aircraft Squad to take down the enemy air units.
Suppose Reconnaissance Squad successfully infiltrates the enemy rear and finds key enemy facilities and units.
Such as missile camps, command posts, logistics centers, etc.
When our main units are all tracked by the enemy, any movement might alert the enemy, unable to provide effective firepower strikes.
Reconnaissance Squad still needs to call in Firepower Platoon to complete self-detection and self-strike on the enemy.
Suppose during Reconnaissance Squad’s return after completing the mission, they are pinned down by enemy large troops and unable to break free, then they need to call in Firepower Platoon, Sniper Team, Anti-tank Team, etc., to help Reconnaissance Squad break free with cover fire.
Combined arms operations emphasize multi-branch fusion, perfecting one’s own functions as much as possible.
Achieving one troop having the combat effectiveness of multiple troops.
Without needing to, like traditional combat modes, be completely unable to handle different enemies and only call for friendly support.
Wasting a lot of time in the process, making combat efficiency extremely inefficient.
Modern informatized warfare emphasizes efficiency.
Chen Jun, with his rich actual combat experience, devised no fewer than twenty such hypothetical simulated battlefield scenarios.
Through Reconnaissance Squad cooperating with other squads to complete various different battlefield simulation trainings.
To achieve mutual tacit understanding between Reconnaissance Squad and other squads through continuous training, further improving action efficiency and combat effectiveness.
Also allowing every squad in Steel Seventh Company to familiarize themselves with various battlefield states without actual combat.
So that in the upcoming confrontation exercise, no matter what tactics the enemy executes, or any problems encountered along the way.
They can react at the first moment and think of effective tactics to counter.
“Platoon Leader Chen, I’m very curious; so many battlefield simulation scenarios feel extremely real, not like made up out of thin air, and you couldn’t have participated in actual combat—how did you do it?”
After experiencing Chen Jun’s myriad bizarre simulated trainings that he completely couldn’t think of, Gao Cheng was admiring but also genuinely puzzled.
If Chen Jun were fifty years old this year and had participated in the Sino-Vietnamese Self-Defense Counterattack War, there would definitely be no issue.
The problem is Chen Jun just graduated from military academy, only twenty-two years old at most, with no actual combat experience, yet able to come up with dozens of completely non-repetitive actual combat simulation scenarios in a year.
This matter is too bizarre; anyone would feel puzzled.
Facing Gao Cheng’s eyes full of doubt, Chen Jun naturally couldn’t tell him that these scenarios were from his actual combat experience, honed in mountains of corpses and seas of blood, fought for with his life one by one.
The only reasonable explanation is to push it all to high IQ.
He explained that during military academy, his favorite thing and hobby was reading modern war history and articles and books related to modern warfare.
Especially researching the Sino-Vietnamese Self-Defense, Sino-Indian Self-Defense, Iran-Iraq War, and Kuwait War extensively.
Fortunately, his brain is decent; through point-to-surface inference seeing the whole picture, he got a lot of inspiration and ideas from these war cases.
So he could deduce so many actual combat simulation scenarios for training without actual combat.
Chen Jun’s explanation is a bit forced.
After all, Chen Jun’s current high IQ attribute and military genius label not only have great fame in 702 Regiment, but already in the entire division.
Under the huge halo of military genius, this slight flaw is perfectly covered.
Gao Cheng was more curious than suspicious, just asking casually, completely believing Chen Jun’s statement, and his final conclusion was patting Chen Jun’s shoulder.
Both admiring and convinced, he said: “No wonder Regiment Commander says you’re a once-in-a-century military genius; this brain… is really grown differently.”
“What’s different? Don’t we all have two eyes, two nostrils, one mouth.”
Chen Jun deliberately used a joking way to shift the topic to a light level, making Gao Cheng laugh heartily, and the matter passed.
As cooperation between each squad and Reconnaissance Squad increased, along with the simulated scenario trainings constantly adding up, their mutual tacit understanding grew higher and higher.
Unknowingly, another month and a half passed, leaving only one month until the confrontation military exercise.
Regiment Commander Wang Qing Rui, afraid that his personal identity would affect Steel Seventh Company’s synthesized modification progress, couldn’t hold back at this time and called Steel Seventh Company to inquire about the synthesized modification situation.
Regiment Commander Wang worried that half a year is too short, and synthesized modification couldn’t be completed on schedule.
After all, reorganizing a troop is no small matter; even a lowest-level grassroots company is a trouble that affects the whole body.
The various aspects mainly involved far exceed what synthesized modification three words can cover.
Especially since Regiment Commander Wang previously attended the year-end work summary report conference uniformly convened by Division Headquarters, and got a definite message.
That is, the higher-ups made some new decisions; the military reform process has now accelerated again.
Group Army has given Division clear orders: every regiment under T Division must take out one company for informatized military reform.
And has already arranged “Blue Army examiners” to “baseline” all units of T Division this year.
Even 702 Regiment, grand competition first, cannot escape.
