The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force has been rigorously training for the grand military parade in Beijing's Tian'anmen Square on September 3, commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Among the marching formations, the Air Force contingent stands out as its soldiers hail from frontline combat units, with every member having undergone live parachute training.
They have been training for the parade amid the sweltering summer heat in Beijing's suburbs.
Among them is Ji Jiakun, a descendant of General Ji Hongchang, a national hero who fought in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
And Ji Jiakun's grandfather participated in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.
"As the descendant of General Ji Hongchang, a national hero, I have always been fascinated by the military since childhood. After enlisting, I joined the heroic paratrooper unit, a time-honored and highly decorated force. My grandfather entrusted me with the task of upholding the 'Hongchang' spirit and not bringing dishonor to my great-grandfather. At the parade training ground, though it was tough and exhausting, these hardships pale in comparison to what previous generations endured. To fulfill my grandfather's wishes and to uphold the great spirit of the war of resistance, I will take each step with determination and strength, showcasing the heroic spirit of the Air Force in the best possible light," said Ji.
Gong Chengping is the 38th commander of a heroic airborne troops company.
Formed during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the company has fought in 18 major campaigns and over 100 battles.
During a grueling training week, Gong was awarded the "Air Force Hunter" title after marching 120 kilometers continuously while completing over 20 rigorous subjects including special parachute jumps, mountain climbing, rope traversal, water obstacle crossing, close reconnaissance, wilderness survival, and prisoner abuse resistance.
At the training base, Gong has rigorously honed his movements in order to showcase peak performance at the upcoming parade.
From the command vehicle on the training field, chief coach of the formation Liang Ting spots and corrects every detail that could disrupt uniformity.
"This is my second time participating in a parade. I joined the first one as a team member in 2009 to mark 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This year, I feel an even greater sense of honor and responsibility to partake in the parade as the chief coach," he said.
In Liang's view, leading as a coach is completely different from marching as a participant.
To forge an elite team, he personally completed all the 11 subjects of queue trainings in advance, believing that only through personal mastery can he teach with confidence.
"Since the start of training, we have achieved a well-formed formation, unified movements, synchronized steps, and high morale. We are confident that on September 3, we will march through Tian'anmen Square in the best condition to be reviewed by the Party and the people. In fact, a soldier's life is one of constant review, not only on today's parade ground but also on tomorrow's training ground," said Liang.
Chinese Air Force in top gear for upcoming grand parade
