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900,000 sergeants in China's armed forces

By Hou Lei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-07-14 11:41

The number of sergeants in China's armed forces will be increased to 900,000, a Central Military Commission circular said Monday.

According to the circular, China will revise the current sergeant service system for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police (PAP).

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The sergeants in PLA and PAP will serve as professionals in high-tech troops. The expansion will not increase the number of armed forces' personnel.

The new system divides the sergeants into three ranks: low-lever sergeant with the longest service term of six years, mid-level sergeant with the longest service term of eight years, high-level sergeant with the longest service term of fourteen years.

The number of high-level and mid-level sergeants will be increased while the number of low-level sergeants will be cut.

The army will recruit more college graduates serving as sergeants.

Salaries of the sergeants will also be increased, the circular said.