journal:

January 26, 1980 (Sunny)

Today can be said to be a more meaningful day in my life. Today, all our recruits were given collar seals and hat badges.

When I put on the red five-cornered red hat badge and the bright red collar seal, I became a true PLA soldier. I knew that although I was already wearing a military uniform, a red five-star red collar seal, and a red collar seal, I was already a soldier in terms of dress, but I had not really mastered the key points in my thoughts and military training, and I was still much worse than the requirements of a real soldier. In my future work, I still need to learn from old comrades well.

Strictly speaking, from this day on, we are the real soldiers. After more than a month of training for the recruits, we finally looked forward to this day. The company will wear a collar and a hat badge for us, and hold an oath ceremony.

In the morning, each squad went to the company headquarters to collect brand new collars and hat badges. Each of us recruits rushed up excitedly. The platoon leader saw that he was a little angry and immediately blew his whistle and we all calmed down.

"What are you doing? It's so chaotic. I thought you had basically met the requirements of the soldiers, but now look at yourself, what you look like." The platoon leader's harsh criticism made everyone awake, and the room was silent, and everyone realized that their behavior was a bit abnormal.

A little inferior, the platoon leader changed his tone and said to everyone earnestly: "Comrades, I understand everyone's desire to wear a collar and hat badge, but a real soldier no longer looks like a soldier from the bottom of his bones. I hope that after wearing a collar and hat badge, he will participate in the oath ceremony with a full spirit. Can you do it?"

"Yes!" The soldiers of the platoon replied in unison.

We were in line, one class after another, and the squad leader held a box of bright collar seals and hat badges in his hand, and delineated according to the queue number. The platoon leader awarded the collar seals and hat badges to every recruit. At that moment, everyone's face was full of resolute expression, and the muscles were tightly tense.

When it was our turn, everyone stretched their backs straight. When the class monitor shouted, "No. 8 Huang Aimin", I stood at attention and replied, "Come!"

“Get out of the line!”

"yes!"

Then, I took a step forward, saluted the platoon leader, and took the collar seal and hat badge from the platoon leader.

With the help of the squad leader, everyone inlaid red five-star on the cotton military cap and red collar seal on the collar of the military uniform. Looking at each other, it seems that they have changed one person. This is the real soldier. It is said that people rely on clothes, make-up, horses rely on saddles. Since joining the army, we have always said that we are new recruits who do not wear collar seals and hat badges. Now, we at least look at the appearance, there is no difference from veterans. Now we are real soldiers.

When I wore a bright red collar and red hat badge, I quietly took out a small mirror and looked at myself in the mirror carefully in the military uniform. I felt uncontrollable excitement in my heart. Because I grew up in the military camp since I was a child, I dealt with soldiers wearing collar and hat badges, including my father every day. I was particularly intimate and fascinated by the logos of these soldiers. I have always hoped that one day I could wear military uniforms and wear red collar and red hat badges like them, how arrogant and majestic it would be.

Suddenly, my father in the army green uniform and my brother in the army uniform on the green and the blue air force uniform appeared in the small mirror. They were wearing bright collars and hat badges like me, and walked towards me with powerful steps. I quickly sorted out my military appearance, ran forward, saluted my father and brother solemnly, and said loudly: "Report, Navy soldier Huang Aimin reported to you." After returning the gift, my father said: "Join in the list", and I replied: "Yes!" The three of us, father and son, lined up from left to right, and the three armed, navy and air force saluted to the distance together.

Ah! It's so beautiful. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Hey, what are you thinking?" At this moment, someone patted my shoulder behind me. I turned my head and saw that it was Shi Yinlin. Behind him were those close comrades from our class who were together day and night. After wearing the collar and hat badge, they all looked heroic.

"Go out for a walk." Deputy squad leader Qin Zhongfa said to me, I hurriedly put away the small mirror and went out with my comrades.

On the hillside near the camp, a group of new soldiers wearing bright collars and hat badges happily climbed up and looked out, guided the country, imagined their military career, and made an appointment to work hard in the army.

When we went down the mountain, we met fellow villagers in Shanghai again, including Gu Qing, Shen Jianzhong, Gu Guoping, Xu Renbin, Ni Jianping, Zhou Bing, and other fellow villagers. There were several new comrades whom we didn’t know. Gu Qing introduced them one by one, and we met fellow villagers in Gong Lizhong, Lu Jiada, Shi Jianxin and others.

The company was also very considerate of the new soldiers' urgent desire to wear collar seals and hat badges and send them home for their relatives to see. They informed the platoons to organize soldiers to take photos at the photo studio in Guoju Town, dozens of miles away. When this wise decision was announced, after more than a month of military career training, we, who had become unlucky, burst into cheers, and some comrades threw their military caps into the air to celebrate.

Finally, it was our class's turn to take photos. We also went to find Gong Hongxing, Wang Gui and other veterans, and borrowed military uniforms from them from various seasons. The most unexpected thing was that Gong Hongxing had gotten a pair of lieutenant rank and epaulettes from somewhere, and of course a Type 54 pistol holster. These props were packed with a large bag of luggage, which made the brothers' comrades jealous and shouted unfairly, asking us to take photos again.

Before leaving, the platoon leader repeatedly cared for everyone: Remember, now you are a soldier, a naval soldier wearing military logos, you must remember the identity of the soldier and strictly regulate your words and deeds in accordance with the queue regulations.

Haha, since we left our hometown and joined the military camp, we have been undergoing intense training. We have been holding it in the valley all day long and have almost forgotten the outside world. When we rode on the road in a military vehicle again, although we were still very excited, we no longer had the arrogance when we first came to the army, and had a more calmness and seriousness of a soldier.

Walking on the not-so-busy and lively street, we all consciously followed the requirements of the queue to make three people in a row and two men in a rank, maintaining the military appearance and posture of the soldiers.

The small photo studio was surrounded by us. The boss and the guys were busy preparing for the pictures of the naval special backgrounds such as the sea, warships, and military ports. The squad leader was helping us dress in various military uniforms. The cars beside him even came to help.

Each of us took photos of the upper and lower blue sailor uniforms, the full blue sailor uniforms and the naval officers wearing the rank of lieutenant, and returned home with a full load.

The next afternoon, we accompanied the majestic and powerful military songs, walked neatly, and lined up to the company auditorium to hold an oath ceremony.

Unlike the last time we participated in the enlistment ceremony, after more than a month of rigorous military and political training, all of our new recruits have met the requirements of a soldier in terms of mental outlook and military posture. In addition, after wearing the collar and hat badge, they look more and more energetic.

The national flag and the August 1st military flag were still hung side by side in the center of the auditorium. However, at this moment, we have a deeper understanding of the meaning of military flags and soldiers, because I am a soldier.

Under the guidance of the instructor, we raised our right hand to face the booming national flag and military flag and solemnly swore that as a soldier of the People's Republic of China, we will always be ready to sacrifice everything for the happiness and tranquility of the motherland and people.

When I raised my right hand, countless tragic scenes of ancestors' heroic sacrifice flashed in my mind. The national flag and military flag in front of me made me excited. I used my greatest voice in my life to send out the military oath made by a soldier to the motherland and the people. The oath is the solemn promise made by every soldier to the motherland and the people. This promise means the loyalty, courage, mission, dedication, and even sacrifice of soldiers!
Chapter completed!