Unit Grade System of the Armed Forces of China
The Unit Grade System of the Armed Forces of China (Chinese: 职务等级制度; pinyin: zhíwù děngjí zhìdù), also known as the Duty Grade System, Post Grade System, Leader Grade System or Leader Level System of the Armed Forces of the People's Republic of China (which include the People's Liberation Army, the People's Armed Police, and all other military-affiliated institutions), is the core organizational system by which a military, duty or leader grade (军事级别 pinyin: jūnshì jíbié / 职务等级 pinyin: zhíwù děngjí, shortened to 级别 pinyin: jíbié or 职级 pinyin: zhíjí) is assigned to all formations (部队 pinyin:Bùduì), work units (单位 pinyin: dānwèi), military posts (职务 pinyin: zhíwù), or billets (岗位 pinyin: gǎngwèi) of the Chinese Armed Forces.[1] These grades belong to the unit, but attach to its leaders (usually the commander and political commissar, as co-equal unit leaders),[2][3][a] and these leader grades, not ranks, are the source of authority, command power, and hierarchy vis-a-vis other officers (and therefore, the relative position of military organizations vis-a-vis each other). The system parallels the system used for the Chinese civil service and other government hierarchies.
A major reform in 2021 brought military rank more in line with grade by limiting grade assignment to one sole rank per grade. Nevertheless, Unit Grade remains the main organizing feature in the Armed Forces of China, as it succinctly defines a unit's position in the hierarchy.
Basic structure and role of the grade system[edit]
The TOE and Order of Battle of the PLA and PAP assigns a grade to every functional office, command unit, field unit or formation, organization, and military institution (such as military academies, or military research centers), and it is the grade structure that determines the structure of command of the armed forces. First, an officer obtains the grade when they are assigned to a given post. Second, it is the grade, not the rank, that determines seniority of both the units and their commanders, and determines the chain of command.
The confusion for Western observers comes from translation snarl (with a whole array of words translating to "grade"), and the fact that grades, assigned to posts, are separate and partially independent from the rank (衔级 pinyin: xiánjí) that is assigned to individual officers. An officer with corps-leader grade may give orders to a division-grade officer, regardless of rank. A Senior Colonel (Brigadier equivalent) in a higher grade post effectively commanded a Major General in a lower grade post. An indication of the centrality of grade is that military regulations require servicemen to address both peers and officers by duty grade (职务), not by rank, and only if they don't know the duty grade, then use the "comrade-rank" formula.[3]
Moreover, it is the grade of their current post that determines the career progress of an officer, not their rank. Pay, benefits, and mandatory retirement ages are linked to grades. As Alison Kaufman put it in 2009: "Promotion in grade indicates that one is moving up the career ladder. Moving from one grade level to the next is a promotion; moving from one position to another in the same grade is a lateral transfer. For example, moving from a position as chief of staff in an MR headquarters to become deputy commander in the same MR headquarters is not a promotion, because both have a grade level of MR Deputy Leader"[4]
To add to the confusion, until 2021,[5] each grade post could be filled by at least two different ranks. And as the time limits for promotion were different for grades and ranks, it resulted in a growing difference between the grade and rank of successful officers. This often resulted in the commander and political commissar of a unit —both by definition of the same grade, and equal in authority in every respect—[2] to have different ranks.
Despite these issues, the system in general was well understood and functioned well, but certain problems started to accumulate after the 2015 reforms. In particular, the divergence of time-in-rank and time-in-grade rules,[6] and the time limits for officers to remain in a given grade without promotion was causing troubles with talent recruitment and retention. A significant reform to address some of these issues and more started in 2021. This reform is ongoing and it is unclear as of 2024 what the final shape of the system will be.[7]
History[edit]
The dual grade/rank system has its origin in the lack of rank in the early Chinese Red Army[8] (which followed the lead of the Soviet Red Army),[9] in which assigned leadership post was the only meaningful marker of hierarchy: functional titles like "brigade commander" and "platoon commander" sufficed to define leadership and seniority while preserving the egalitarian ethos of the early communist forces. After the Red Army's merger with the Kuomintang's Army, the New Fourth and the Eighth Route Armies desultorily adopted the KMT rank system, but after the split with the KMT in 1947, the PLA returned to ranklessness and remained there until 1955.
The lack of ranks (again, by using only positions like "Battalion commander") did simplify absorbing the very large number of defecting KMT forces, with their complex ranks systems, that joined the PLA during the Civil War (former NRA ranks were automatically made moot). During the Korean War, lack of formal ranks caused some minor issues with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's Army (which used Soviet ranks) and with the UN forces at the Panmunjon talks[10] (which usually demanded negotiation groups to be composed of personnel of the same rank). The Chinese People's Volunteer Army "fudged" the issue by assigning people of appropriate positions[11] (i.e. regimental commanders when required to send colonels).[12]
The PLA has tried a different number of combination of grades and ranks systems over the years. For very long periods, the army used neither grades nor ranks. The following table summarizes this history thus:
Year | Grades | Ranks |
---|---|---|
1927 | None | None |
1937 | None | 10 ranks based on KMT system |
1946 | None | Abolished |
1952 | 21 | None |
1955 | 20 | 15 ranks based on Soviet system |
1965 | 27 based on the State Administrative Grade System | Abolished |
1972 | 23 based on the State Administrative Grade System | None |
1979 | 18 | None |
1988 | 15 | 10 |
2021 | 19 | 10 |
In 1952, the PLA adopted a 22 grade system taken from the civilian cadre ranking system. In 1955, the PLA adopted a traditional 15-levels officer ranks based on the Soviet model, but retained a , a 15-level grade system in parallel. This is the beginning of the dual, asymmetrical grade/rank system. 1955: In 1965, at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, the rank system was abolished and officers used the government's National Administrative Cadre system of 27 grades. In 1972, four grades were abolished, leaving 23 grades. In 1979, 23 grades were reduced to 15. In 1988. as new rank system with 10 ranks was implemented. This remained the basic system until the recent (2021-23 reforms). In the 1988 system, each grade could be filled by at least two different ranks, and a given rank could fill many differently graded posts (Major Generals could fill up to four different grades).[14][15] as shown in the following table:
In 2021, a wide-scope reform of the grade system was introduced by the CMC[18] to resolve the increasing problems with the 1988 system faced after the 2015 military reforms.
2021 Reforms[edit]
On January 1, 2021, the "Interim Regulations on the Management of Active Military Officers"[19][20] came into effect, and with it a very extensive package of regulations (the "Supplementary Interim Regulations on the Selection of Active Service Officers", "Interim Regulations on the Education and Training of Active Service Officers", "Interim Regulations on the Assessment and Promotion of Active Service Officers" "Interim Provisions on Appointments", "Interim Provisions on Exchange of Active-duty Officers", "Interim Provisions on Retirement of Active-duty Officers", "Interim Provisions on the Management of Remuneration Levels of Active-duty Officers", "Interim Provisions on the Management of Specialist and Technical Officers", "Opinions on the Management of Officer Positions", the "Opinions on the Management of Officers' Career Development Paths" and the "Notice on Regulating Grade Conversion Measures and Transition Policies in the Reform of the Officer System")[21][22]. This widespread set of reforms created a variety of changes in the structure of officer commands and careers. Among the changes, it attempted to reconcile the rank and grade disparities (as well as introducing a third set of grades, by making pay grades (待遇级别) clearly distinct from the other two,[23] and increasing the number of pay grades to 19 to account for new career paths for technical/specialist officers).
The main change was the introduction of the "one grade, one rank" (“一职一衔”) rule, ending the previous "one grade, two ranks" (“一职两衔”) system. Now, officers in a given grade will all share a rank (but not vice-versa, as some ranks could still take several grades). With this change, there also came a significant extension of service Time-in-Grade and Time-in-Rank (TIR) limitations.[24] Now, the limits went up to 7 years for second lieutenants, 8 years for lieutenants, and 9 years for captains, allowing an officer to have an entire career at Company rank and grades. Connected to this, there was a change in the structure of rewards to allow slow rank climbs to still be attractive career paths.[25]
Current System after 2021[edit]
According to the "Interim Regulations", as of 2024 the military rank levels, job grades, and salary levels are organized as follows:[26]
Category | Rank (军衔等级) | Billet/Duty grade (岗位职务层级) | Pay grade (待遇级别)[28] |
---|---|---|---|
Commander-in-Chief | Unranked (无衔) | Chairman of CMC | Pay grade 1 (1级) |
General Officers (将官) | Full Generals (上将) | CMC Deputy (中央军委副主席) | Pay grade 2 (2级) |
CMC Member (中央军委委员) | Pay grade 3 (3级) | ||
Theater Command Leader (战区主官) | Pay grade 4 (4级) | ||
Lieutenant General (中将) | Theater Deputy Leader (战区副职) | Pay grade 5 (5级) | |
Major General (少将) | Corps Leader(军级主官) | Pay grade 6 (6级) | |
Corps Deputy Leader (军级副职) | Pay grade 7 (7级) | ||
Field Officers (校官) | Senior Colonel (大校) | Divisional Unit Commander (师级部队主官) | Pay grade 7 (7级) |
Division Leader (师级主官) | Pay grade 8 (8级) | ||
Division Deputy Leader (师级副职) Brigade Leader (旅级主官) |
Pay grade 9 (9级) | ||
Colonel (上校) | Brigade Deputy Leader(旅级副职) | Pay grades 8-11 (8—11级) | |
Regiment Leader (团级主官), | Pay grades 8-11 (8—11级) | ||
Lieutenant Colonel (中校) | Regiment Deputy Leader (团级副职) | Pay grades 10-13 (10—13级) | |
Battalion Leader (营级主官) | Pay grades 11-13 (11—13级) | ||
Major (少校) | Battalion Leader (营级主官) | Pay grades 12-16 (12—16级) | |
Battalion Deputy (营级副职) | Pay grades 12-16 (12—16级) | ||
Company Officers (尉官) | Captain (上尉) | Company Leader (连级主官) | Pay grades 14-17 (14—17级) |
First Lieutenant (中尉) | Company Deputy Leader(连级副职) | Pay grades 15-18 (15—18级) | |
Second Lieutenant (少尉) | Platoon Leader(排级主官) | Pay grades 17-19 (17—19级) |
The process of unifying rank and grade is ongoing, as officers are progressively promoted in and out "mismatches".[29] Moreover, as is clear in the use of "interim" for the regulations, the reforms are not considered final and changes are certain to come in the near future.
The duty grade system reflects the civilian duty grade system in use in the civil service and in the state and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership systems. The civilian administrative leader grades compare to the military ranks and grades as follows:
Table 4: Comparison of Military pay grade, duty grade, and rank with civilian Administrative Leader grade[30] | |||
Pay Grade | Position | Rank (academic degree)[c] | Administrative Leader Grade |
---|---|---|---|
1 | CMC Chairman | Unranked | National Leader 国家级正职 |
2 | CMC Deputy Chairman | General | Sub-National Leader 国家级副职 |
3 | CMC Member | General | Quasi-National Deputy 准国家级副职 |
4 | Theater Leader | General | Provincial/Ministerial Leader 省部级正职 |
5 | Theater Deputy | Lt General | Provincial/Ministerial Leader 省部级正职 |
6 | Corps Leader | Major General | Provincial/Ministerial Leader 省部级正职 |
7 | Corps Deputy | Major General | Sub-provincial/departmental leader 省部级副职 |
7 | Divisional unit leader | Sr. Col(paid as Corps Deputy) | Sub-provincial/departmental leader 省部级副职 |
8 | Division Leader | Senior Colonel | Bureau/Prefectural Leader 厅局级正职 |
9 | Division Deputy | Senior Colonel | Bureau/Prefectural Deputy 厅局级副职 |
8-11 | Regiment Leader | Colonel | County/Division Leader 县处级正职 |
10-13 | Regiment Deputy | Lt Colonel | County/Division Deputy 县处级副职 |
12-16 | Battalion Leader | Major | Township/Section Leader (乡科级正职) |
12-16 | Battalion Deputy | Major(PhD) | Township/Section Deputy (乡科级副职) |
14-17 | Company Leader | Captain(Master's) | |
15-18 | Company Deputy | 1st Lieutenant(Bachellor's) | |
17-19 | Platoon Leader | 2nd Lieutenant(Specialization) |
Full Structure of the Armed Forces of China (by unit grades)[edit]
Following is an (incomplete) list of the Armed Forces of China's organisms, offices, units, and formations and their corresponding grades. In Italics are the officers to whom the leader grade attaches. Note that the deputy leaders of a unit of a given grade shall have (usually) the next-down grade (a deputy commander of a Corps-grade unit will naturally have the Corps Deputy-grade).
CMC Chairman-grade (中央军委主席级) Chairman (主席)[edit]
The Chairman of the Central Military Commission in both its CCP and state guises is the head of the Central Military Commission and the supreme commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the People's Republic of China. It is always exercised by a civilian office-holder. Since 1989, except for certain power transfer periods, the CMC Chairman has simultaneously been the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, and the President of China.[citation needed]
Deng Xiaoping rejected the offer to be granted an honorary rank of "First Class General" as head of the CMC, preferring to remain a civilian leader. Since 1994, it has been expressly stipulated that the Chairman of the Central Military Commission shall not be awarded a military rank.[33]
In the cases during power transitions where the Chairman of the CMC of the CCP is temporarily not the same as the Chairman of the PRC's State CMC (as in 2012), the rule of "the party leads the gun" (党指挥枪) means that the CCP Chairman has command superiority.[34]
Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission-grade (中央军委副主席级)[edit]
Vice-Chairmen of the Central Military Commission assist the Chairman of the Central Military Commission in his work. The number of vice-chairmen is undetermined by law, and only officers of full general rank are eligible for the grade. However, there have been cases of civilians serving as Vice-Chairmen, like Deng Xiaoping, Zhao Ziyang, Yang Shangkun, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping, so active military status is not essential.[35][36]
Central Military Commission Member-grade (中央军委委员级)[edit]
CMC Member Grade posts can be only filled by full Generals (上将军衔). While the pre-reform CMC had representatives from the four Services, now the only CMC member-grade positions are the heads of the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Staff Office, the Political Work Department, and the Inspection Commission.[37]
Theater-grade units (正战区级)[edit]
CMC's Theater-grade functional departments (中央军委机关正战区级职能部门)[38][edit]
- CMC Joint Staff Department (中央军事委员会联合参谋部): Chief of Staff (参谋长)
- CMC Political Work Department (中央军事委员会政治工作部): Director (主任)
- CMC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央军事委员会纪律检查委员会):Secretary (书记)
Theater Commands (部战区): Commander (司令员), Political Commissar (政委) [39][edit]
- Eastern Theater Command (东部战区 - ETC)
- Western Theater Command (西部战区 - WTC)
- Southern Theater Command (南部战区 - STC)
- Northern Theater Command (北部战区 - NTC)
- Central Theater Command (中部战区 - CTC)
Each PLA Branch: Commander, PC[edit]
- PLA Ground Force (中国人民解放军陆军)
- PLA Navy (中国人民解放军海军)
- PLA Air Force (中国人民解放军空军)
- PLA Rocket Force (中国人民解放军火箭军)
- People's Armed Police (中国人民武装警察部队)
Theater Deputy-grade units (副战区级)[40][edit]
CMC Theater Deputy grade functional departments (中央军委机关副战区级职能部门): Director (部长), PC (7)[edit]
- CMC General Office (中央军委办公厅)
- CMC Logistics Support Department (中央军委后勤保障部)
- CMC Equipment Development Department (中央军委装备发展部)
- CMC Training Administration Department (中央军委训练管理部)
- CMC National Defense Mobilization Department (中央军委国防动员部)
- CMC Politics and Legal Affairs Commission (中央军委政法委员会): Secretary (书记)
- CMC Science and Technology Commission (中央军委科学技术委员会)
Each PLA Arm (各兵种): Commander, PC[edit]
- Aerospace Force (军事航天部队)
- Cyberspace Force (网络空间部队)
- Information Support Force (信息支援部队)
- Joint Logistics Support Force (联勤保障部队)
CMC Theater Deputy-grade directly subordinate units (中央军委副战区级直属单位): Commander/Principal/Dean, PC[edit]
- China National Defense University (中国人民解放军国防大学)
- Academy of Military Sciences (中国人民解放军军事科学)
Each Theater Command's Theater Deputy-grade functional departments (各战区机关副战区级职能部门): Chief of Staff (参谋长) Director (主任), PC[edit]
- ETC Joint Staff Department (东部战区联合参谋部)
- ETC Political Work Department (东部战区政治工作部)
- WTC Joint Staff Department (西部战区联合参谋部)
- WTC Political Work Department (西部战区政治工作部)
- STC Joint Staff Department (南部战区联合参谋部)
- STC Political Work Department (南部战区政治工作部)
- NTC Joint Staff Department (北部战区联合参谋部)
- NTC Political Work Department (北部战区政治工作部)
- CTC Joint Staff Department (中部战区联合参谋部)
- CTC Political Work Department (中部战区政治工作部)
Each Theater Command Branch HQ's (各战区军种): Commander, PC[edit]
- ETC Ground Force (东部战区陆军)
- ETC Navy (军东部战区海军)
- ETC Air Force (军东部战区空军)
- WTC Ground Force (西部战区陆军)
- WTC Air Force (西部战区空军)
- STC Ground Force (南部战区陆军)
- STC Navy (南部战区海军)
- STC Air Force (南部战区空军)
- NTC Ground Force (北部战区陆军)
- NTC Navy (北部战区海军)
- NTC Air Force (北部战区空军)
- CTC Ground Force (中部战区陆军)
- CTC Air Force (中部战区空军)
Each Branch's Deputy Theater-grade functional departments (各军种机关副战区级职能部门): Chief of Staff, Director[edit]
- PLAGF General Staff Department (陆军参谋部):
- PLAGF Political Work Department (陆军政治工作部)
- PLAN General Staff Department (海军参谋部)
- PLAN Political Work Department (海军政治工作部)
- PLAAF General Staff Department (空军参谋部)
- PLAAF Political Work Department (空军政治工作部)
- PLARF General Staff Department (火箭军参谋部)
- PLARF Political Work Department (火箭军政治工作部)
- PAP General Staff Department (武警参谋部)
- PAP Political Work Department (武警政治工作部)
PLAGF Theater Deputy-grade directly subordinate Military Districts (陆军直属副战区级军区): Commander, PC[edit]
- Xinjiang Military District (新疆军区)
- Tibet Military District (西藏军区)
Corps-grade units (正军级) [41][edit]
CMC Corps-grade functional departments (中央军委机关正军级职能部门)(5) Department Head, PC[edit]
- CMC Office of Strategic Planning (中央军委战略规划办公室)
- CMC Reform and Organization Office(中央军委改革和编制办公室)
- CMC International Cooperation Office (中央军委国际军事合作办公室)
- CMC Audit Office (中央军事委员会审计署) Chief Auditor审计长
- CMC Agency for Offices Administration (中央军委机关事务管理总局)
CMC Corps-grade directly subordinate units (中央军委直属正军级单位)(1)Director, PC[edit]
- National University of Defense Technology (国防科技大学)
- CMC Corps-grade directly subordinate military formation
- PLA Hong Kong Garrison (中國人民解放軍駐香港部隊)
- Central CCP Committee General Office Guards Bureau (中共中央办公厅警卫局)
- PLA Unit 61889 (中国人民解放军61889部队)
CMC Theater-grade functional departments' Corps-grade internal bureaus (中央军委机关正战区级职能部门直属正军级单位)[edit]
- Bureaus of the CMC Joint Staff Department
- CMC JSD Intelligence Bureau (联合参谋部情报局)
- CMC JSD Operations Bureau (联合参谋部作战局)
- CMC JSD Political Work Bureau (中央军委联合参谋部政治工作局
- CMC JSD Information and Communications Bureau (中央军委联合参谋部信息通信局)
- CMC JSD General Office (中央军委联合参谋部办公厅)
- CMC JSD Navigation Office (中央军委联合参谋部导航局)
- CMC JSD Battlefield Environment Support Bureau (中央军委联合参谋部战场环境保障局)
- CMC JSD Strategic Campaign Training Bureau (中央军委联合参谋部战略战役训练局)
- Bureaus of the CMC Political Work Department
- CMC PWD Civilian Staff Bureau (中央军委政治工作部文职人员局)
- CMC PWD General Office (政治工作部办公厅)
- CMC PWD Propaganda Bureau (政治工作部宣传局)
- CMC PWD Cadres Bureau (中央军委政治工作部干部局
- CMC PWD Civilian Cadres and Staff Bureau (政治工作部文职人员局)
- CMC PWD Subordinate Units Work Bureau (政治工作部直属工作局)
- CMC PWD Organization Bureau (政治工作部组织局)
- CMC PWD Mass Work Bureau (政治工作部群众工作局)
- CMC PWD Retired Cadres Bureau (政治工作部老干部局)
- CMC PWD Liaison Bureau (政治工作部联络局)
- Bureaus of the Discipline Inspection Commission
- CMC DIC General Office (纪律检查委员会办公厅)
CMC Theater Deputy-grade functional departments' internal Corps-grade bureaus (中央军委机关正战区级职能部门直属正军级单位)[edit]
- Bureaus of the CMC Logistics Support Department
- CMC LSD Military Facilities Construction Bureau (后勤保障部军事设施建设局)
- CMC LSD Energy Requirements Bureau (后勤保障部军需能源局)
- CMC LSD General Office (后勤保障部办公厅)
- CMC LSD Health Bureau (后勤保障部卫生局)
- CMC LSD Political Work Bureau (后勤保障部政治工作局
- CMC LSD Directly Subordinate Supply Support Bureau (后勤保障部直属供应保障局)
- CMC LSD General Planning Bureau (后勤保障部综合计划局)
- CMC LSD Financial Services Bureau (后勤保障部财务局)
- CMC LSD Transport and Distribution Bureau (后勤保障部运输投送局)
- Bureaus of the National Defense Mobilization Department
- CMC NDMD Civil Air Defense Bureau (国防动员部人防局)
- CMC NDMD General Office (国防动员部办公厅)
- CMC NDMD Recruitment Bureau (国防动员部动员征集局)
- CMC NDMD Political Work Bureau (国防动员部政治工作局)
- CMC NDMD Militia and Reserves Bureau (国防动员部民兵预备役局)
- CMC NDMD Border Defense Bureau (国防动员部边防局)
- Offices of the Equipment Development Department [12]
- CMC EDD Communications System Bureau (装备发展部信息系统局)
- CMC EDD Military Facilities Construction Bureau (装备发展部军事代表局)
- CMC EDD General Office (装备发展部办公厅)
- CMC EDD National Defense Intellectual Property Bureau (装备发展部国防知识产权局)
- CMC EDD Political Work Bureau (装备发展部政治工作局)
- CMC EDD Scientific Research Procurement Bureau (装备发展部科研订购局)
- CMC EDD General Planning Bureau (装备发展部综合计划局)
- CMC EDD Equipment Technology Cooperation Bureau (装备发展部装备技术合作局)
- CMC EDD Testing and Evaluation Bureau (装备发展部试验鉴定局)
- CMC EDD Contract Inspection Bureau (合同监管局)
- CMC EDD Military Representatives Department (装备发展部军事代表局)
- China Manned Space Agency (中国载人航天工程办公室)
- Offices of the CMC Training Administration Department [5]
- CMC TAD General Office (训练管理部办公厅)
- CMC TAD Political Work Bureau (训练管理部政治工作局)
- CMC TAD Personnel Education Bureau (训练管理部职业教育局)
- CMC TAD Training Bureau (训练管理部训练局)
- CMC TAD Academic Institutions Bureau (训练管理部院校局)
CMC Theatre Deputy-grade functional departments' Corps-grade directly subordinate units (中央军委机关副战区级职能部门直属正军级单位)[edit]
CMC National Defense Mobilization Department's Provincial Military Districts (中央军委国防动员部直属省级军区) [28] Commander, PC
- Anhui Provincial Military District (安徽省军区)
- Fujian Provincial Military District (福建省军区)
- Gansu Provincial Military District (甘肃省军区)
- Guangdong Provincial Military District (广东省军区)
- Guizhou Provincial Military District (贵州省军区)
- Hainan Provincial Military District (海南省军区)
- Hebei Provincial Military District (河北省军区)
- Henan Provincial Military District (河南省军区)
- Heilongjiang Provincial Military District (黑龙江省军区)
- Hubei Provincial Military District (湖北省军区)
- Hunan Provincial Military District (湖南省军区)
- Jiangsu Provincial Military District (江苏省军区)
- Jiangxi Provincial Military District (江西省军区)
- Jilin Provincial Military District (吉林省军区)
- Liaoning Provincial Military District (辽宁省军区)
- Qinghai Provincial Military District (青海省军区)
- Shaanxi Provincial Military District (山西省军区)
- Shanxi Provincial Military District (陕西省军区)
- Shandong Provincial Military District (山东省军区)
- Sichuan Provincial Military District (四川省军区)
- Yunnan Provincial Military District (云南省军区)
- Zhejiang Provincial Military District (浙江省军区)
- Guangxi Military District (广西军区)
- Inner Mongolia Military District (内蒙古军区)
- Ningxia Military District (宁夏军区)
- Chongqing Garrison District (重庆警备区)
- Shanghai Garrison District (上海警备区)
- Tianjin Garrison District (天津警备区)
CMC Theatre-grade functional departments' Corps-grade directly subordinate units (中央军委机关战区级职能部门直属正军级单位)[edit]
- CMC Political Work Department directly subordinate units
- PLA News Media Center (中国人民解放军新闻传播中心)
- PLA Culture and Art Center (中国人民解放军文化艺术中心)
- August First Film Studio (中国人民解放军文化艺术中心电影电视制作部)
- 中国人民革命军事博物馆 (Corps Deputy)
PLAGF Corps-grade Units (陆军正军级单位)[edit]
- PLAGF Directly subordinate Provincial level Military Districts (陆军下属省级军区) [2]: Commander, PC
- Beijing Garrison District (北京卫戍区)
- Southern Xinjiang Military District (南疆军区)
- PLAGF Group Armies (集团军) [13] Commander, PC
- 71st Group Army (第71集团军) (Xuzhou)
- 72nd Group Army (第72集团军) (Huzhou)
- 73rd Group Army (第73集团军)(Xiamen)
- 74th Group Army (第74集团军) (Huizhou)
- 75th Group Army (第75集团军)(Kunming)
- 76th Group Army (第76集团军)(Xining)
- 77th Group Army (第77集团军)(Chongzhou)
- 78th Group Army (第78集团军)(Harbin)
- 79th Group Army (第79集团军)(Liaoyang)
- 80th Group Army (第80集团军)(Weifang)
- 81st Group Army (第81集团军)(Zhangjiakou)
- 82nd Group Army (第82集团军)(Baoding)
- 83rd Group Army (第83集团军)(Xinxiang)
- PLAGF Directly subordinate Corps-grade units
- Baicheng Ordnance Test Center of China (中国白城兵器试验中心) Director, Party Secretary
PLA Rocket Force Corps-grade units (火箭军正军级单位) [9][edit]
- PLARF Base 61 (第61基地)(Huangshan)
- PLARF Base 62 (第62基地)(Kunming)
- PLARF Base 63 (第63基地)(Huaihua)
- PLARF Base 64 (第64基地)(Xining, Lanzhou)
- PLARF Base 65 (第65基地)(Shenyang)
- PLARF Base 66 (第66基地)(Luoyang)
- PLARF Base 67 (第67基地)(Baoji)
- PLARF Base 68 (第68基地)(Luoyang)
- PLARF Base 69 (第69基地)(Baishan)
[edit]
- Theater Command's Navy Aviation (战区海军航空兵) [3]: Commander, PC:
- Eastern Theater Command Navy Aviation (东部战区海军航空兵)
- Southern Theater Command Navy Aviation (南部战区海军航空兵)
- Northern Theater Command Navy Aviation (北部战区海军航空兵)
PLA Air Force Corps-grade units (空军正军级单位) [2] Commander, PC[edit]
- PLAAF Airborne Corps (空降兵军)
- PLAAF Testing and Training Base (空军试验训练基地)
Aerospace Force's Corps-grade units (航天部队正军级单位) [9] Director, PC[edit]
- Aerospace Engineering University (航天工程大学)
- China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center (中国空气动力研究与发展中心)
- Taiyuan Space Launch Center (中国太原卫星发射中心)
- Jiuquan Space Launch Center (中国酒泉卫星发射中心)
- Xicheng Space Launch Center (中国西昌卫星发射中心)
- Xi'an Tracking, Telemetry and Control Center (中国西安卫星测控中心)
- Jianying Maritime Satellite Tracking Department 中国卫星海上测控部
- PLAASF General Staff Department (航天部队参谋部)
- PLAASF Political Work Department (航天部队治工作部)
Cyberspace Force Corps-grade units [3][edit]
- University of Communications Engineering (信息工程大学)
- PLACSF General Staff Department (网络空间部队参谋部)
- PLACSF Political Work Department (网络空间部队政治工作部)
PAP Corps-grade units (武警正军级单位)[edit]
- PAP Corps-grade Contingents (武警正军级总队) [5] Commander, PC[42]
- PAP Coast Guard Contingent (海警总队)
- PAP First Mobile Contingent (第一机动总队)
- PAP Second Mobile Contingent (第二机动总队)
- PAP Beijing Contingent (北京总队)
- PAP Xinjiang Contingent (新疆总队)
- PAP Corps Grade Academic Institutions (武警正军级院校) [2]
- PAP Command Academy (武警指挥学院)
- PAP Engineering University (武警工程大学)
Corps Deputy-grade units (副军级)[edit]
Intermediate Level Military Courts (中级军事法院) [7] Chief Judge[43][edit]
- ETC Military Court (东部战区军事法院)
- NTC Military Court (南部战区军事法院)
- WTC First Military Court (西部战区第一军事法院)
- WTC Second Military Court (西部战区第二军事法院)
- NTC Military Court (北部战区军事法院)
- CTC Military Court (中部战区军事法院)
- PLA Directly Subordinate General Military Court (总直属军事法院)
High Level Procuratorates (大单位军事检察院) [7] Chief Prosecutor (检察长)[43][edit]
- ETC Military Procuratorate (东部战区军事检察院)
- STC Military Procuratorate (南部战区军事检察院)
- WTC First Military Procuratorate (西部战区第一军事检察院)
- WTC Second Military Procuratorate (西部战区第二军事检察院)
- NTC Military Procuratorate (北部战区军事检察院)
- CTC Military Procuratorate (中部战区军事检察院)
- PLA Directly Subordinate General Procuratorate (总直属军事检察院)
PLAGF Corps Deputy-grade units (陆军副军级单位)[edit]
- PLAGF Special territorial units [2]
- XPCP (新疆生产建设兵团军事部) Director, PC
- Macao Garrison (驻澳门部队) Commander, PC
- PLAGF Deputy Corps-grade academic institutions (陆军副军级院校) [13] Principal, PC
- Army Special Operations Academy (陆军特种作战学院)
- Ground Force Command College (陆军指挥学院)
- Army Engineering University of the PLA (陆军工程大学)
- Army Infantry Academy of the PLA (陆军步兵学院)
- Army Academy of Armored Forces (陆军装甲兵学院)
- PLA Army Academy of Artillery and Air Defense (陆军炮兵防空兵学院)
- Army Aviation Academy (陆军航空兵学院)
- Army Special Operations Academy (陆军特种作战学院)
- Army Academy of Border and Coastal Defence (陆军边海防学院)
- Army Institute of NBC Defence (陆军防化学院)
- Army Medical University (陆军军医大学)
- Army Logistics Academy (陆军勤务学院)
- Army Military Transportation University (陆军军事交通学院)
[edit]
- Aircraft Carrier Groups (航母编队) [2] Commander, PC
- Aircraft Carrier "Liaoning's" Carrier Group (辽宁舰航母编队)(Unit 91181)
- Aircraft Carrier "Shandong's" Carrier Group (山东舰航母编队)(Unit 91910)
- PLAN Deputy Corps-grade academic institutions (海军副军级院校) [7] Principal, PC
- Naval Command College (海军指挥学院)
- Naval University of Engineering (海军工程大学)
- Dalian Naval Academy (海军大连舰艇学院)
- Naval Submarine Academy (海军潜艇学院)
- Naval Aviation University (海军航空大学)
- Naval Medical University (海军军医大学)
- Naval Service Academy (海军勤务学院)
PLA Air Force Corps Deputy-grade units (空军副军级单位)[edit]
- PLAAF Bases (空军基地) [11] Commander, PC
- PLAAF Shanghai Base (上海基地)
- PLAAF Fuzhou Base (福州基地)
- PLAAF Nanning Base (南宁基地)
- PLAAF Kunming Base (昆明基地)
- PLAAF Lhasa Base (拉萨基地)
- PLAAF Lanzhou Base (兰州基地)
- PLAAF Urumqi Base (乌鲁木齐基地)
- PLAAF Dalian Base (大连基地)
- PLAAF Jinan Base (济南基地)
- PLAAF Datong Base (大同基地)
- PLAAF Wuhan Base (武汉基地)
- PLAAF Deputy Corps-grade academic institutions (空军副军级院校) [9] Principal, PC
- Air Force Command College (空军指挥学院)
- Air Force Engineering University (空军工程大学)
- Air Force Aviation University (空军航空大学)
- Air Force Early Warning Academy (空军预警学院)
- Air Force Harbin Flight Academy (空军哈尔滨飞行学院)
- Air Force Shijiazhuang Flight Academy (空军石家庄飞行学院)
- Air Force Xi’an Flight Academy (空军西安飞行学院)
- Air Force Medical University (空军军医大学)
- Air Force Logistics College (空军勤务学院)
Aerospace Force Deputy Corps Deputy-grade Unit (航天部队副军级单位) [2] Group Commander/Dean, PC[edit]
- Astronaut Corps (航天员大队)
- Aerospace Surveillance Bureau (航天侦察局)
Joint Logistics Support Force Corps Deputy-grade units (中央军委联勤保障部队副军级单位) Commander, PC[edit]
- Joint Logistics Centers of each Theater Command (驻各战区联勤保障中心) [5]
- Wuxi Joint Logistics Support Center (无锡联勤保障中心): ETC
- Guilin Joint Logistics Support Center (桂林联勤保障中心): STC
- Xining Joint Logistics Support Center (西宁联勤保障中心): WTC
- Shenyang Joint Logistics Support Center (沈阳联勤保障中心): NTC
- Zhengzhou Joint Logistics Support Center (郑州联勤保障中心): CTC
- PLA's General Hospital (中国人民解放军总医院)
PAP Corps Deputy-grade units (武警副军级单位) Commander, PC[42][edit]
- PAP Internal Guards Contingents (中国人民武装警察部队省总队) [30]
- Tianjin IGC,
- Hebei IGC,
- Shaanxi IGC,
- Shanxi IGC,
- Inner Mongolia IGC,
- Liaoning IGC,
- Jilin IGC,
- Heilongjiang IGC,
- Shanghai IGC,
- Jiangsu IGC,
- Anhui IGC,
- Zhejiang IGC,
- Fujian IGC,
- Jiangxi IGC,
- Shangdong IGC,
- Henan IGC,
- Hubei IGC,
- Hunan IGC,
- Guangdong IGC,
- Guangxi IGC,
- Hainan IGC,
- Chongqing IGC,
- Sichuan IGC,
- Guizhou IGC,
- Yunnan IGC,
- Tibet IGC,
- Gansu IGC,
- Qinghai IGC,
- Ningxia IGC,
- XPCC IGC
- China Coast Guard Sea Area Command Departments (海警海区指挥部) [3]
- Eastern Sea Area Command Department (东海海区指挥部)
- Southern Sea Area Command Department (南海海区指挥部)
- Northern Sea Area Command Department (北海海区指挥部)
- PAP Corps Deputy-grade Academic Institutions (武警副军级院校) [3]
- PAP Special Police College (武警特种警察学院)
- PAP Logistics Academy (武警后勤学院)
- PAP Coast Guard Academy (武警海警学院)
Division-grade units (正师级)[edit]
PLAGF Division-grade units (陆军正师级单位)[edit]
- Xinjiang Military District Divisions [4]
- Beijing Garrison Divisions [2]
PLAN Division-grade units (海军正师级单位)[edit]
- Air Aviation Divisions (海军航空兵师) Commander, PC
- 1st Air Aviation Division 海航1师
- 9th Air Aviation Division 海航9师
- Ship-borne air wings (舰载航空兵部队联队) [2] Commander, PC
- First Carrier Wing (舰航第1联队)
- Second Carrier Wing (舰航第2联队)
- Aircraft Carriers (航空母舰) [2] Captain, PM
- Aircraft Carrier Liaoning (辽宁舰)
- Aircraft Carrier Shandong (山东舰)
- Warship flotillas (舰艇支队) Commander, PM
- All destroyer flotillas (驱逐舰支队)
- All frigate flotillas (护卫舰支队)
- All submarines flotillas (潜艇支队)
- All amphibious ship flotillas (登陆舰支队)
- All support ship flotillas (作战支援舰支队)
- Patrol Zones (水警区) [2] Commander, PM
- Naval Medical University's directly subordinate institutions (海军军医大学附属医疗机构)
- Changhai Hospital (上海长海医院)
- Changzheng Hospital (上海长征医院)
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital (东方肝胆外科医院)
- Naval Specialized Medical Center (海军特色医学中心)
PLAAF Division-grade Units (空军正师级单位) Commander, PC[edit]
- PLAAF Air Divisions (空军航空兵师):
- Bomber divisions
- Transport divisions
- Special Mission divisions
Deputy Division-grade units (副师级)[edit]
Sometimes used interchangeable with the brigade grade. The tendency is to use Brigade-grade in more recent publications.
Brigade-grade units (正旅级)[edit]
- PLAGF Maneuver Brigades
- PLAGF Support Brigades
- PLAGF Border and Coastal Defense Brigades
Regiment grade (正团级)[edit]
Sometimes called Brigade Deputy Grade (副旅级).
PLAGF Border Defense Regiments (in Xinjiang and Tibet Military Districts)
- PLAGF Independent Regiments:
- 17th Regiment Beijing Garrison.
Regiment Deputy-grade (副团级)[edit]
Battalion grade (正营级)[edit]
Battalion Deputy-grade (副营级)[edit]
Company-grade (正连级)[edit]
Company Deputy-grade (副连级)[edit]
Platoon-grade (排级)[edit]
See also[edit]
- Civil service of the People's Republic of China
- Cadre system of the Chinese Communist Party
- Administrative divisions of China
- Civilian Cadres of the People's Liberation Army
Notes[edit]
- ^ The “dual-leadership system” (军政双首长制 pinyin:jūnzhèng shuāng shǒuzhǎng zhì) is one of the most peculiar features of Communist militaries. The political commissar and the commander share joint responsibility for issuing orders, giving directions to lower levels, and overseeing all daily unit work, and both are considered functionally equal. In practice, their responsibilities are usually divided, the unit commander carries out operational tasks, while the political officer carries out political work, not necessarily more conflicting than the fighting commander and service chief in Western systems. Their formal equality, however, is central to the system.
- ^ In Chinese, Army, Naval, and Air Force ranks are identical except by the prefix "Army", "Navy" or "Air force" (so, a 中将 is a "Major General" or a "Vice Admiral" depending on whether its an army or navy officer). We use naval ranks in the table out of familiarity for Western audiences.
- ^ academic degree refers to the rank that a recent graduate from military academy is incorporated as an officer for a given degree. Civilian graduates incorporation into the officer corps is an ongoing reform that has not been settled as of 2024.[31][32]
Citations[edit]
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