by Brian R. Moore and Renato R. Barreda

“Good iron isn’t used for nails, and good people don’t become soldiers,” the old Chinese phrase goes. That’s changing, and at the speed of warfare. Worldwide, a reliance on raw manpower has given way to a focus on advanced systems and high-tech weaponry, making the education of personnel a prerequisite for any advanced military. That is not lost on Beijing. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has undergone a massive makeover to mint educated soldiers – and it’s working.