Chapter 258: Merit And Promotion! Deputy Battalion Commander Of Steel Seventh Battalion!
With the official document issued by the Military Region, the designation of the Pilot Combined Arms Battalion was formally confirmed, with the full name—People’s Liberation Army Eighty-fourth Group Army T Division Seven Zero Two Regiment Seventh Assault Combined Arms Battalion.
Externally referred to as 77318 Troops!
Because the Pilot Combined Arms Battalion performed outstandingly in the exercise, standing at the forefront of the modernization information reform, providing great help to the reform of the entire Army.
In view of this.
To commend the contributions made by the Combined Arms Battalion to the reform, the War Zone General Political Department specially awarded the Seventh Assault Combined Arms Battalion the honorary title of “Steel Vanguard Battalion”.
The honorary title is an existence that surpasses the First-class Merit, and the Pilot Combined Arms Battalion has become a well-deserved honor battalion.
When hearing the Military Region Leader announce it publicly, Gao Cheng, this tough guy who sheds blood but not tears, couldn’t help but have his eye sockets moisten.
Not because he became the Acting Battalion Commander of the honor battalion, but because the bloodline of Steel Seventh Company had received complete continuation.
The former Steel Seventh Company had become the Special Reconnaissance Company.
But it had not disappeared!
Instead, with the brand-new posture of Steel Seventh Battalion, it began its brand-new journey, not only with personnel continuing, but the soul and bloodline still being inherited.
“Steel Seventh Battalion, Steel Seventh Battalion…”
Gao Cheng couldn’t help but mutter to himself, and Chen Jun beside him also had hot tears in his eyes, his heart surging for this brand-new name.
From Steel Seventh Company all the way to Steel Seventh Battalion…
It really wasn’t easy, and a lot, a lot had been paid.
Fortunately, the final result was good, all the efforts were worth it, and today was the sacred moment of harvesting the fruits and witnessing the harvest.
Everyone should be happy, everyone should laugh.
No tears allowed.
Even if crying from extreme joy!
So Chen Jun, Gao Cheng, even Regiment Commander Wang, no matter how excited their inner emotions were, all suppressed the surging emotions.
After all, this was the beginning of finally harvesting the fruits after working hard for more than half a year.
With the designation of the Combined Arms Battalion formally established, next was rewarding the individuals and groups who had outstanding performance in the process of forming the Combined Arms Battalion.
First was the superior Seven Zero Two Regiment of the Combined Arms Battalion, which received the 《Outstanding Unit in Implementing Reform》 Military Region Commendation.
Next was the initiator of forming the Combined Arms Battalion, as well as Chen Jun who played a great role and made huge contributions in the construction of the Combined Arms Battalion.
He received the first Military Region Commendation in his life, and was commended as a 《Modernization Reform Model Individual》.
And because Steel Seventh Battalion was, so far for the entire Army, the first formal Combined Arms Battalion with formally established new establishment, having extremely important and widespread influence on the entire Army.
So Chen Jun was awarded Second Class Merit once by the Military Region!
This was already Chen Jun’s second Second Class Merit, the previous one was for breaking the entire Army’s 5 Kilometers Cross-country record.
Now at just twenty-five years old, having formally joined the company for just over three years, he had already earned two Third-class Merits and two Second Class Merits, as well as multiple Collective Second-class Merits and Third-class Merits.
And various commendations and praises from company, battalion, regiment, division, Group Army levels totaling more than a dozen times.
Chen Jun’s resume could not be described as not luxurious.
Seeing it would scare anyone!
And with the formal establishment of the Pilot Combined Arms Battalion, next would inevitably be widespread promotion, as well as subsequent Combined Arms Regiment and Combined Arms Division, etc.
The influence of these matters would be even greater and broader, and the greater and broader the influence, the higher the honors and rewards one would get in the troops.
Therefore, it can be foreseen…
Now was only the starting stage for Chen Jun, far from reaching his highlight moment.
In the near future, getting individual First-class Merit, individual honorary title, etc., would no longer be dreams, but things set in stone.
Chen Jun once again relied on his own strength to bring back a thick stack of honor certificates.
Others such as Gao Cheng, Tuo Yonggang, Man Guangzhi, and other cadres and warriors who performed excellently in the exercise, also won the honors belonging to them.
It could be said that the entire Seven Zero Two Regiment, from top to bottom, today all welcomed the moment of autumn harvest.
Everyone was beaming with joy!!
The happy award ceremony ended, and after the meritorious persons led by Chen Jun returned to their seats with honors, the next was the final link.
The Superior Leader’s instructions on the future development of Steel Seventh Battalion, from preliminary to complete combat effectiveness construction.
The current Steel Seventh Battalion was only preliminarily constructed, equivalent to having built the main structure of the house, turning it into a rough blank house that could be sold.
How to decorate this rough blank house into the most perfect living state.
That was the main work to be carried out next.
The instructions given by the Superior Leaders had several points, including based on the formation plan Chen Jun had previously submitted, as well as decisions made by the Military Region after research.
The first point was expansion.
The superiors, based on Steel Seventh Battalion’s performance in the exercise, as well as Chen Jun’s personal suggestions in the plan, and the actual needs of Seven Zero Two Regiment.
Positioned Steel Seventh Battalion as an Assault Combined Arms Battalion, mainly focusing on high-mobility assault combat.
To meet the necessary demands of assault combat, Steel Seventh Battalion would be built into a benchmark assault Combined Arms Battalion for the entire War Zone, or even the entire Army.
The Military Region decided, on the original basis, to add three more main combat companies.
First was to add a heavy Armored Company, with the entire company standardly equipped with the latest main battle tanks of the entire Army, the 96-type main battle tanks that entered service just last year.
Cooperating with the original Armored Company, forming a double-pincer main battle tank charge formation.
Second was to add an Armored Infantry Company.
To truly fit the model of the Assault Combined Arms Battalion, the entire Armored Infantry Company was fully equipped with infantry fighting vehicles, forming nine strong 86-type infantry fighting vehicle groups.
This way, it could act as the vanguard for tank charges when needed, and also do the aftermath work for them.
It could also, during the battalion’s rapid lightning assault, leverage the special advantage of the infantry fighting vehicle main gun, using the Armored Infantry Company as a Light Tank Company.
Forming a strong scale of three tank companies, composing special mechanized infantry-tank coordination.
To carry out fierce armored charges against the enemy.
Allowing the Special Reconnaissance Company to completely free up, thoroughly bid farewell to the armored infantry combat sequence, and fully devote to the special reconnaissance combat field.
In this way.
When Steel Seventh Battalion later expands to Steel Seventh Regiment, the Special Reconnaissance Company basically wouldn’t need much change to smoothly transition to Special Operations Battalion.
Infantry and armor both received supplements, basically reaching the peak of a Reinforced Battalion.
Plus the original Artillery Air Defense Company, Electronic Reconnaissance Company, and Logistics Support Company, as well as the Battalion Command Post gradually adapting to combined arms tactics and maturing.
Steel Seventh Battalion’s current configuration of seven companies absolutely counted as the strongest combat battalion in the entire Army.
None other!
Whoever is unconvinced can come try, guaranteed to shut them up with one touch.
However, the Military Region, which aimed to make it the entire Army’s benchmark strongest battalion, felt that this strengthening was still not enough, still lacking the most important and key “part”—
The sky!
The fastest way for assault combat was undoubtedly descending from the sky.
So the third company added by the Military Region’s expansion was an Army Aviation Company capable of launching aerial surprise attacks, and it even over-standardly equipped six helicopters.
For a general ground Army combat battalion, with tanks, infantry, artillery, there really was no need to equip air units.
Mainly because even if equipped, they wouldn’t have much effect, no one could coordinate with helicopter combat.
If adding a paratrooper company establishment just to cooperate with the Army Aviation Company.
Not to mention whether the Logistics Support Company could support it, this nine-company establishment was already infinitely close to a regiment, completely detached from Reinforced Battalion.
Two levels of establishment scales would seriously conflict, better to directly make it a Combined Arms Regiment.
So a Reinforced Battalion could only be controlled around seven companies.
And Steel Seventh Battalion was a special existence, because of Chen Jun’s personal strength and charisma combined, the Special Operations Platoon was born ahead of time.
This Special Operations Platoon all had extraordinary backgrounds, the vast majority could parachute.
The rest all had top-notch strength and qualities, and extremely strong learning ability, given them a little time, they could easily learn.
Equal to saying.
As long as giving Steel Seventh Battalion an Army Aviation Company, paratroopers would be available anytime.
The original Special Operations Platoon had extremely outstanding performance in assault combat during the previous exercise confrontation, impressing the War Zone leaders especially.
If equipping them with helicopters now, how terrifying the combat effectiveness would be, no one dared to imagine.
Perhaps the Military Region thought exactly this, wanting to further strengthen the Special Operations Platoon’s combat positioning and diversity in the Combined Arms Battalion.
So they broke precedent, unprecedentedly adding an Army Aviation Company in an Army battalion.
Whether this unconventional innovative move could achieve the imagined effect, making the Special Operations Platoon like a tiger with wings in combat.
Now no one could give an answer, everything had to wait until forming complete combat effectiveness.
At that time…
Whether donkey or horse, pull it out for a stroll and see.
The super Reinforced Battalion configuration of eight companies was already comparable to the border defense army’s regiment of around ten companies, the happiest was undoubtedly Gao Cheng.
Recalling that moment half a year ago, he only had one Steel Seventh Company in hand.
In just half a year, the troops under his command had more than tripled in size, the companies he actually commanded were almost the same as his immediate superior Regiment Commander Wang.
Now he was truly the big boss under the Regiment Commander.
Suddenly adding three combat companies, the logistics pressure would definitely rise sharply, the original configuration definitely couldn’t support it.
So the superiors also instructed in the order that supplements would be carried out successively in the coming time.
Specifically from where to transfer people over for supplement, the superiors didn’t say clearly, meaning the Combined Arms Battalion just needed to wait to receive them.
With the Group Army’s scale of tens of thousands, transferring a few hundred people was no problem.
Steel Seventh Battalion’s establishment underwent change, to adapt to the new establishment, the personnel in internal command organs at all levels also made some minor adjustments.
Because no suitable Battalion Commander candidate was found, Gao Cheng continued to serve as Acting Battalion Commander of Steel Seventh Battalion.
Really couldn’t find one?
Actually, those in the know all knew.
Everyone just tacitly understood.
After all, for a super deputy regiment-level Reinforced Battalion of eight companies, Gao Cheng’s current status really didn’t qualify him to be Battalion Commander, even being Acting Battalion Commander was already very reluctant.
Even if the father was the top leader above, it was impossible to let Gao Cheng skip three levels.
But with such a big cake already in hand, handing it to others obviously wasn’t appropriate either, no matter how upright and unwavering the father was, he would actually think for his son.
So the best method left was only one.
That was to continue letting Gao Cheng be Acting Battalion Commander, just keep acting, drag it out for a year, as long as no big mistakes were made.
Then promoting him to formal Battalion Commander would be a natural and smooth matter.
Gao Cheng’s status had no change, but being able to continue acting after the Combined Arms Battalion formally landed already explained everything.
This big cake of the Combined Arms Battalion was basically secured.
The remaining Political Instructor Ma Tianxiang, Chief Staff Officer Man Guangzhi, and other staff officers, continued their original duties.
The positions with changes were only two.
First was the most outstanding performer, and absolute core of the Combined Arms Battalion, Chen Jun.
His main position was originally Company Commander of the Special Reconnaissance Company, while acting as a Training Staff Officer in the Battalion Headquarters, and also had an invisible duty—
Incidentally serving as “Commander-in-Chief” during combat.
Now with the Military Region’s latest appointment document down, Chen Jun unexpectedly, like Gao Cheng, played leapfrogging, acting as Deputy Battalion Commander after Gao Cheng’s Acting Battalion Commander.
His own position was only company level, yet acting a battalion level position.
Looking across the entire Group Army.
Probably only Chen Jun!
This position appointment came too suddenly, even the person involved Chen Jun didn’t react, stunned there for a full five seconds.
In contrast was the atmosphere of the whole audience, instantly pushed to the peak.
Everyone was clapping, the applause like thunder.
This applause was three parts envy, the remaining seven parts heartfelt congratulations.
Chen Jun’s various excellent performances in recent years had long conquered everyone in the entire regiment.
Everyone knew the Combined Arms Battalion was made by Chen Jun, even if he became Battalion Commander no one would have objections, let alone just acting as a Deputy Battalion Commander.
Gao Cheng was the happiest in the whole audience, because his “Deputy Company Commander” had returned.
Regiment Commander Wang smiled.
The smile full of gratification.
The second big change was Shi Jin.
When Chen Jun wrote the Combined Arms Battalion establishment plan back then, he mentioned that the Combined Arms Battalion itself was too large in scale, the battalion headquarters staff simply couldn’t fully manage.
The life, training, and management of the soldiers below was a very important job.
Needed dedicated people to watch and be responsible.
This position was called Sergeant Major!
In 21st century domestic combined arms units, from battalion to brigade level all had Sergeant Majors, specifically responsible for managing soldiers’ life and training.
It was already a very mature position, and facts proved it had great benefits.
Soldiers managing soldiers, better than officers managing soldiers.
Really had more advantages.
Unexpectedly, the Military Region’s expansion of the Combined Arms Battalion this time actually adopted Chen Jun’s “Sergeant Major System”, leading the entire Army to pilot it first in Steel Seventh Battalion.
And fully respecting Chen Jun’s suggestion, appointing the old Squad Leader “Shi Jin” specifically mentioned by Chen Jun.
Thus, Shi Jin, who originally could only muddle along in the company, even if later promoted to Logistics Staff Officer by Chen Jun’s arrangement, was still just a marginal role.
Now smoothly became “Sergeant Major”, finally becoming a key role in the Combined Arms Battalion.
Still Gao Cheng’s most handy “soldier” from back then!
Recalling two years ago when he first heard of reform and demilitarization, he almost had to pack up and retire home, to now stepping onto a brand-new height in life.
The person involved Shi Jin had fluctuating thoughts, couldn’t help but have red eye sockets with two streams of hot tears flowing.
Life…
Really is impermanent!
