To comprehensively strengthen military governance

Enhance civilian personnel's military cultural identity

Xiao Xiong

【Abstract】As civilian personnel continue to join our military, they are gradually becoming an important part of it. However, during the process of integrating into the military, some civilian personnel face difficulties in adapting to military management and lifestyle, and even exhibit rebellious attitudes. Fundamentally, this is due to the low level of military cultural identity among civilian personnel towards our military. Therefore, leveraging the momentum of modernizing military governance, it is essential to enhance the sense of identity and belonging among civilian personnel towards our military culture. This can be achieved by adhering to the Party's leadership, governing the military by law, and strengthening the construction of institutional mechanisms, with comprehensive enhancement of military governance as the path.

【Keywords】Modernization of Military Governance | Civil Personnel | Military Culture | Cultural Identity

In response to the requirements of national defense and military reform and development, and to deepen the reform of military human resources systems, the entire military has been recruiting civilian personnel from society on a public basis since a certain year. Currently, civilian personnel have become an important emerging force within our military. However, after some civilian personnel recruited from society have joined their posts, issues such as low professional identity recognition, lack of understanding of military management methods, and inadequate career planning have emerged. The essence of these issues points to the current reality of low military cultural identity among civilian personnel within our military. Therefore, how to rely on the modernization of military governance to deepen the sense of identity and belonging to our military culture among this new group of civilian personnel is an urgent topic to be explored in the current governance of civilian personnel teams.

I. Current Status of Cultural Value Anxiety Among Military Civilian Personnel

(1) Civilian personnel face transformation difficulties in the face of multiple cultural choices.

Diversity in personnel sources and varied backgrounds is one of the main characteristics of the civilian workforce. Currently, civilian personnel include both recent graduates from universities and social talents who have worked in various industries. Before joining the military, these diverse civilian personnel have already been influenced by various local cultures and ideologies, which have left "imprints" on their minds and shaped their behavioral traits.

Cultural studies indicate that when an individual acquires knowledge and conventions from a new culture, the cultural knowledge and conventions stored in memory are not replaced but remain intact. If these different cultural identities are mutually opposed, they can lead to contradictions and conflicts in the individual's cognition. The difficulties some civilian staff currently face in adapting to their roles, their lack of understanding or even resistance to military management practices, are closely related to this dilemma of multiple cultural choices. On one hand, they are still influenced by the lax and free-spirited thinking of civilian life, and on the other hand, they have just entered the military environment, having had limited exposure to and acceptance of our military culture. This inevitably leads to difficulties in identity transformation. Take the group of civilian instructors in military academies as an example. Many of these civilian staff, recruited from civilian society, graduated from key universities, are highly educated, and relatively young. Having lived long in the relatively relaxed and active lifestyle and ideological atmosphere of civilian universities, some of these civilian staff find it difficult to quickly shed their previous work patterns upon entering military academies. This results in some civilian instructors in military academies having a low acceptance of military-style management or requiring a long adaptation period.

(2) The ambiguity of one's own value leads to a lack of initiative in clerical work.

Marx pointed out that the concept of "value" arises from the relationship between people and external things that satisfy their needs. The value relationship fundamentally reflects human thinking about themselves and the object world. Values are stable, but they also change with changes in the external environment. However, the definition and practice of the value of civilian personnel in the military remain ambiguous, leading some civilians to hesitate about long-term civilian work and lack initiative.

On one hand, due to a lack of deep understanding among some units about the establishment of the civilian personnel system in the military, civilian personnel were not integrated into the overall talent development of the unit. They were seen as "assistants" or even "supporting roles" to active-duty officers, placed in subordinate positions. Some civilian personnel reported being assigned more miscellaneous tasks than substantive work, lacking opportunities to fully utilize their professional abilities, and feeling they had no value. More seriously, some units implemented civilian policies arbitrarily, managing them according to active-duty standards, dragging their feet on benefits, and distinguishing between civilian personnel and active-duty soldiers in terms of priority, making civilian personnel feel their professional value was low and they were not valued, ultimately dampening their initiative. On the other hand, some civilian personnel had previous work experience in local enterprises or government agencies before joining the military. After entering the military, their income and status relative to their previous positions declined, and they failed to adjust their mindset and adapt to the environment in time. Instead, they developed a mindset of being "temporary workers" or "contract workers," relaxed their self-requirements, lowered their standards for work, and showed reduced enthusiasm.

II. The Dialectical Relationship Between Military Governance and Military Cultural Identity

(1) The modernization of military governance is the guarantee for strengthening military cultural identity.

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China made a strategic deployment to "comprehensively strengthen military governance." As an important component of the modernization of national governance capabilities, the modernization of military governance is in line with the core of national governance in terms of fundamental requirements and basic methods. Its rich and profound scientific connotations actually constitute a mechanism to strengthen military cultural identity.

The first principle is that the absolute leadership of the Party over the military is the fundamental requirement for the modernization of military governance, ensuring the foundational status of the core principle "the Party commands the gun" in our military culture. Our military has experienced various risks and challenges, even facing enormous difficulties, during its development from small to large, from weak to strong. However, it is precisely due to the Party's steadfast leadership and wise decisions that our military has been able to overcome numerous difficulties and move from victory to victory. These repeated victories have further solidified the firm belief of our military officers and soldiers in "the Party commands the gun," deeply integrating it into our military culture as the most important faith. It can be said that without the absolute leadership of the Party over the military, it would be impossible to form a military culture rooted in absolute loyalty to the Party.

Second, governing the military by law is the fundamental approach to achieving the modernization of military governance and also an important means to strengthen the officers and soldiers' identification with our military culture. A culture can only possess strong cohesion when it forms a consensus, and the existence of rules is the prerequisite for establishing such consensus. From the Nanchang Uprising to the crossing of the Yangtze River, our military has been able to continuously overcome stronger enemies by relying on strict discipline and equal restraint on all officers and soldiers. Whether an ordinary soldier or a high-ranking officer, anyone violating party or military discipline will face corresponding punishment. This approach of governing the military according to laws and regulations has fostered a strong consensus among our officers and soldiers, uniting them as one and gradually forming and passing down a military culture of not fearing sacrifice and bravely striving in the arduous struggles.

(2) Military cultural identity contributes to the advancement of modern military governance.

In the process of comprehensively strengthening military governance, in addition to enhancing institutional design, adhering to the rule of law in the military, and leveraging technology, it is also important to recognize the positive role that the establishment of military cultural identity plays in deeply promoting the modernization of military governance.

First Military Cultural Identity Drives the Connotative Development of Modern Military Governance. Military cultural identity refers to the recognition and integration of the military culture by its members, and the resulting sense of belonging. Once this cultural identity becomes fixed, military personnel, as members of the group, will unconsciously adopt a proactive and constructive mindset towards the organization they are affiliated with - the military. This mindset will become an intrinsic driving force within the military to promote modern military governance. Military personnel will become the first executors of suggestions and policies, driving the modernization of military governance in various fields and directions.

The Second Military Cultural Identity Injects Soul into the Modernization of Military Governance. To comprehensively strengthen military governance, it must align with the military culture of our armed forces. We must consistently apply Xi Jinping's Thought on Strengthening the Military, adhere to the nature and purpose of the people's army, and always guide the direction of modernizing military governance with the military cultural traditions of listening to the Party's command, practicing frugality, and serving the people. In the comprehensive advancement of modernizing military governance, we must infuse the soul and Party spirit of our army, ensuring the absolute loyalty, purity, and reliability of the troops.

(III) Military cultural identity and the modernization of military governance promote each other and are mutually causal.

For the construction and development of combat effectiveness in the military, the military personnel's identification with military culture serves as the spiritual force supporting the construction of combat effectiveness, while modernized military governance systems provide the material guarantee. The promotion of these two aspects to the construction of combat effectiveness in the military is a mutually reinforcing and supportive relationship. By strengthening and improving the military governance model to make it more scientific, reasonable, and in line with the demands of the times, continuous innovation in the military governance model often enables military personnel to better exert their subjective initiative, thereby enhancing their psychological identification with military culture, sense of belonging, and sense of mission. Simultaneously, the ever-strengthening identification with military culture also serves as an important source of power to further promote the modernization of military governance. Throughout history, various creative management methods and tactics of our military have originated from the collective wisdom of the vast number of officers and soldiers. Without a high level of identification with military culture, it would be difficult for the vast number of officers and soldiers of our military to unleash vigorous creativity to actively drive the innovation of military governance methods. Therefore, it can be said that without a high level of identification with military culture among the vast number of military personnel, it is impossible to truly achieve the transformation of the military governance model that is down-to-earth and empathetic, and continuously advance the modernization of military governance.

To this end, it is imperative to clearly confront the current reality where the demands for modernization of military governance are constantly evolving. It is essential to clarify and leverage the symbiotic relationship between military cultural identity and the modernization of military governance, which mutually support and drive each other. On one hand, in the construction of modern military governance, full consideration should be given to the functions and roles that military cultural identity plays in reform and construction, ensuring it becomes a beneficial force for driving governance model updates rather than an obstacle. On the other hand, it is also important to focus on utilizing the power of institutional mechanisms to strengthen the military cultural identity of military personnel, truly unlocking the maximum potential of excellent governance models.

III. Military Governance Measures to Enhance Civilian Personnel's Identification with Military Culture

(1) Inheriting military culture while upholding the Party's absolute leadership over the armed forces.

The absolute leadership of the Party over the military is the foundation of the people's army, the soul of its strength, and also the core essence of modern military governance. Only by firmly grasping this point can civilian personnel quickly complete their identity transformation, achieve ideological enlistment, and embrace the military culture of our army.

First, it is essential to firmly establish the ideological awareness of civilian personnel in their commitment to the Party's command. The difficulties some civilian personnel face in transitioning their roles stem from not fully identifying themselves as part of the military, with a superficial understanding of the Party's command, and approaching their work with a mindset of "doing a job" rather than "pursuing a cause." In the new era, to comprehensively strengthen military governance and achieve modernization in military governance, the foremost task is to more firmly establish the absolute leadership of the Party over the military across the entire armed forces. A key focus is to ensure that the newly formed civilian personnel corps is thoroughly educated, cultivating their political character of loyalty to the Party and obedience to command. By strengthening their ideals and convictions, we can solidify their foundation, gather their spirits, and firmly establish in their minds the recognition of themselves as military personnel, thereby inheriting and promoting the military culture of absolute loyalty to the Party.

Second, cultivate the discipline awareness of civilian personnel in strictly adhering to the Party's discipline and regulations. Regardless of their previous roles and professions in society, from the moment they join the civilian ranks, civilian personnel must recognize that their identity has transitioned from a member of society to a part of the armed forces led by the Chinese Communist Party. They must strictly adhere to discipline and act in accordance with regulations. In the education and employment of civilian personnel, it is essential to consistently emphasize the importance of strictly adhering to the Party's political discipline and rules. This will enable civilian personnel to deeply understand the decisive significance of "two establishes," enhance "four consciousnesses," firm up "four confidences," and achieve "two upholds." Only by recognizing the importance of adhering to rules and discipline for military personnel can civilian personnel fundamentally accept and identify with our military culture, and consciously become practitioners and inheritors of this culture.

Thirdly, continuously enhance the political steadfastness of civilian personnel. A firm political stance is the fundamental guarantee for maintaining the military cultural identity of civilian personnel. For newly recruited civilian personnel, it is essential to guide them to firmly establish their political stance through ideological and political education, continuously improving the political judgment, comprehension, and execution capabilities of the civilian team. Especially when some civilian personnel do not understand relevant regulations and management models, it is crucial to prioritize fulfilling missions, remain true to the original aspiration, dare to take responsibility, strictly self-discipline without indulgence or transgression, and remain in alignment with the Party and the military.

(2) Safeguarding Military Cultural Identity in the Rule of Law in the Military

Marx pointed out that matter determines consciousness. Cultural identity, as a manifestation of social consensus, must necessarily rely on tangible material and institutional support. And governing the military by law is an important support for strengthening the military cultural identity of civilian personnel.

One is to strictly implement civil service policies. As a newly emerging group of military personnel, the civil service team is still in its developmental stage, and there is ongoing exploration needed in the use of talents and the positioning of functions. However, this cannot be an excuse for discounting policy implementation. Currently, some units still fall short in implementing policies related to civil service personnel, resulting in the loss of interests for some civil servants. The cultural identity that lacks material support naturally struggles to take root. Therefore, it is imperative to resolutely implement policies in accordance with laws and regulations, safeguarding the legitimate rights of civil service personnel not only reflects the rule of law in the military but also serves as an important method to retain and secure personnel through comprehensive strengthening of military governance.

Second, adhere to the principal position of civilian personnel. The key to military governance lies in securing the right people. The most core symbol of promoting military governance modernization through the rule of law is to rely closely on the subjectivity and subjective initiative of people. The principal position of officers and soldiers, including civilian personnel, should be effectively implemented in the practice of the rule of law. In policy revision, team building, and unit management, officers and civilian personnel should be made participants. In the governance of civilian personnel, the focus should be on achieving efficient management of the military. In policy formulation, establish smooth communication channels, actively listen to and incorporate the opinions of civilian personnel, and combine the strictness of policy management with the humanization of policy implementation. At the same time, develop management systems to ensure the rights and interests of civilian personnel, so that the management systems for civilian personnel can achieve the best benefits. This will promote the acceptance and identification of civilian personnel with military culture.

Third, we will advance the construction of the civil service personnel system. Focusing on the improvement and enhancement of the socialist military system with Chinese characteristics, this is both a cornerstone for achieving modern military governance and a legal foundation for promoting military cultural identity. We must further accelerate legislation related to civil service personnel, integrating and systematizing civil service regulations and laws, clarifying the functions and powers of various levels from a systemic perspective, and establishing a detailed legal framework for the management, utilization, and assessment of civil service personnel. Through the continuous improvement of legalized and standardized system construction, we will enhance civil service personnel's understanding and recognition of military culture, truly embracing our military's cultural identity.

(III) Strengthen Military Cultural Identity through Institutional Improvement

As a new group within our military, the construction of mechanisms and systems related to civilian personnel requires continuous exploration and optimization. To keep pace with the times, it is essential to promptly improve the institutional mechanisms for our military civilian personnel based on real-world conditions, enabling the continuous integration of active-duty officers and civilian personnel, and truly strengthening their military cultural identity.

One is to combine adherence to principles with innovation. In exploring the construction of a civilian workforce system that meets the needs of the new era, it is essential to balance the relationship between inheriting traditions and fostering innovation. This is not only a requirement for achieving the modernization of military governance but also a critical issue concerning whether our military culture will remain authentic and vibrant in its inheritance and development. In improving the civilian workforce system, it is necessary to maintain the fine traditions of military governance while exploring new strategies and methods in response to new issues and situations. Neither discarding good traditions for the sake of novelty nor adhering rigidly to old ways while ignoring current realities is conducive to strengthening the civilian personnel's identification with our military culture through the improvement of mechanisms.

Second, explore the establishment of a governance model integrating "rule of law and virtue-based governance." Virtue is the law within the heart, and it is also the external expression of a cultural belief. When constructing and perfecting the governance mechanisms for civilian personnel, the power of virtue-based governance should not be overlooked, as it often possesses advantages of self-discipline, autonomy, and self-awareness, which provide stronger self-restraint and proactive enforcement compared to the rule of law. Therefore, while fully leveraging the guiding, normative, and protective roles of the rule of law through sound systems, it is equally important to promote virtue-based governance, fully harnessing its nurturing, educating, and inspiring strengths. In the process of integrating virtue-based governance with the rule of law, the military cultural elements that naturally emanate from virtue-based governance will also permeate the hearts of civilian personnel, strengthening their sense of identity and belonging to our military culture imperceptibly.

Three is to promote diversified governance through military-civilian collaboration. The military civilian personnel system inherently possesses dual military and civilian attributes, thus it is necessary to accelerate the establishment of a military-civilian coordination mechanism. Under the fundamental principle of upholding the Party's leadership, accelerate the establishment of collaborative working mechanisms with local units. Within the framework of military-civilian collaboration, the improvement of the civilian personnel system can balance the needs and characteristics of both the military and civilian sectors. This not only strengthens the mission and responsibility of civilian personnel serving the military and supporting combat operations but also better realizes the integration of military and civilian resources. This model of comprehensive system construction, which fully embodies diversity, cooperation, and interaction, actually reflects the military culture of our armed forces that keeps pace with the times and adapts to changes. It is a concrete manifestation of the superiority of our military culture.

references

Dong Qiang, Lu Jiyuan. Puzzles and Clarifications in the Current Military Cultural Identity of Our Army. Journal of Xi'an Politics Institute, (): -.

Xu Zhensheng. Comprehensive Enhancement of Military Governance Capabilities to Promote High-Quality Development in Air Force Transformation and Construction. Military Academic, (): -.

Xi Jinping. Uphold the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive Together for the Comprehensive Construction of a Modern Socialist Country—Report at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Beijing: People's Publishing House.

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Editor of this issue: Chen Luyang

This issue reviewed by: Lin Yingxi

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Article Source: "China Military-to-Civilian Magazine"

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