A female soldier operates the computer system inside a missile vehicle on March 2, 2015. Photo: CFP

As the first all-female missile vehicle company in the history of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), they may have felt that they had a lot to prove when the company was set up in 2013. Since then, they have won numerous honors and proved to the country that women are the equals of men in this work.

It used to be said that "Women are not warriors." In an age of hi-tech informational warfare, this is not the case any more. "Launching missile requires a grasp of sophisticated information technology. Humans and computers are highly interactive. Most combat process are implemented by computer commands. It is a field that relies on mental skills more than physical strength," said brigade commander Ru Lei.

Apart from the physical training all soldiers must go through, the ability to memorize data is a must for this company. Each individual movement of missile vehicles requires a series of precise computer commands. There are more than 300 buttons on a missile vehicle's computer system. The soldiers are required to memorize all of them and every launching procedure. "Even with my eyes closed, I know the location and function of each button," said one of the company's soldiers. 

In order to provide a comfortable training and living environment for the female soldiers, the army has built them a library, a space where they can practice yoga during their free time and a music room.

Since its establishment in March of 2013, the company has won Collective Third-class Merits, and been named one of the "Top Companies in Military Training" by the PLA Guangzhou Military Area Command, helping to dispel any doubt in their abilities that may have lingered.

Global Times

Soldiers conduct routine training. Photo:CFP

 

Several female soldiers carry a missile. Photo: CFP

 

Learning to move quickly and precisely is a must for the soldiers. Photo: CFP

 

Soldiers practice yoga during their free time.Photo: CFP