Li Yangang, who loves learning, was recently praised as an “excellent battalion commanding officer” by his superior. In the two years since Li Yangang has acted as a battalion commander, 75% of all officers and soldiers in the battalion have taken part in the distance learning for sergeancy in Bayi College of the Open University of China (OUC), under his influence and inspiration, and more than one hundred participants have obtained a nationally recognized university diploma. A good climate for learning has formed around him.

Li Yangang joined the army in December of 1996 and started the study of a law specialism for a college degree through distance education in the OUC Bayi College in 2000. He graduated in July 2003 and in September this year he was promoted to be deputy company level commander, as a result of his systematic acquisition of cultural knowledge in the OUC Bayi College and his superior military qualities. During the 18 years in the army, he established himself in his post to learn and made considerable achievements. From an ordinary grassroots soldier, sergeant, squad leader, agent platoon leader, company commander, section chief, he became the battalion commander of First Tank Battalion of an armored regiment of the Beijing Garrison. He had joined major military competitions and camping training exercises seven times in succession, undertook the task of training new recruits six times, and participated in extensive training and security missions including supporting of the Olympic Games and National Day Military Parade. He was cited several times as a “model of learning to become a talented person”, a “model of excellent martial arts and loving the army”, a “model of excellent cadres” and an “excellent party worker” by his higher authorities, and twice as an “excellent trainee” of the OUC Bayi College, and was four times individually awarded the “Three-Class Merit”. Looking at the golden honorary certificates in front of him and the achievements he has made, Li Yangang said with pride: “The Bayi College not only helped me realize my college dream, military school dream and military officer dream. Above all, it cultivated my interest in learning and developed my fine learning and thinking habit which will benefit me in my whole life. “ 

In Li Yangang’s bookcase and on his desk, several well-organized thick books and more than ten reading notes are witness of his learning passion and thirst for knowledge. He loved reading not only books about law and armored forces  information, but also books about history and management. The hardship of a troopers’ training is well illustrated in a saying of “eating 100 grams of earth every day, if not enough, in the night one will be made up”. (Meaning ‘If the day is not enough, then the night must be used.’) In order to squeeze out time to study, he put his whole heart into his work in the daytime, and used the time after lights were out to read books until deep in the night. During summer camping training exercises and when it was stuffy in the camp tents, he would go to the forest to read books during the lunch break. In order to use the legal professional knowledge that he had learned to solve problems concerning law for comrade-in-arms around him, Li Yangang obtained the qualification certificate for grassroots legal service issued by the General Political Department through his own efforts in 2001. Over the 10 years, he has solved dozens of problems including disputes over housing land, asking for salary by relatives and personal injury for his comrade-in-arms.    

Li Yangang not only loves learning himself, but also is good at leading comrade-in-arms around him to learn to show their talents by basing their achievements on their own positions. In 2006, when he was deputy company commander in the Third Tank Company, there was a seaman named Xiao Zhao, who had only junior middle school education but came from a well-to-do family. He had abundant social experience, but often dozed off classes and used to like to play silly tricks and was a recognized as a typical “problem soldier” in the company. Li Yangang got close to him to do ideological work with him. He introduced the importance of learning for life, encouraged him to apply for the distance education legal diploma specialism for sergeancy of the Bayi College, and personally taught him to learn to use the distance education network for sergeancy of the Bayi College. Through his continuing inspiration and careful coaching, Xiao Zhao became another person and was even transferred to be a sergeant at the end of that year. Now Xiao Zhao has become a Squad Leader of staff sergeants in his company with the help of Li Yangang. All soldiers and officers in his squad took part in the distance learning for sergeancy. Li Yangang also carried out study activities in his company including “reading more books, smoking fewer cigarettes”, “writing a piece of learning note every week” to inspire soldiers and officers to read more good books and to forge good habits of reading good books. Since acting as battalion commander two years ago, under the influence and inspiration from Li Yangang, 75% of all officers and soldiers in the battalion have taken part in the distance learning for sergeancy in the Bayi College, under his influence and inspiration, and more than one hundred participants have obtained nationally recognized university diplomas. 

By Zeng Jianhua, Bayi College