Young women from Chaoyang District compete to join National Day parade

In rose color uniforms, they will form an infantry group which will be inspected during the 60th National Day parade. Though they are not professional soldiers, their lineup is still imposing and vigorous. During peace-time, militia members play a key role in dealing with emergencies and disasters, building water conservancy projects, planting trees and undertaking other key projects.

Young women from Chaoyang District compete to  join National Day parade

In rose color uniforms, they will form an infantry group which will be inspected during the 60th National Day parade. Though they are not professional soldiers, their lineup is still imposing and vigorous.

Their average age in 21 years old and all of them come from Chaoyang District-based government departments, schools, hospitals and businesses.

They reflect the outlook of China's female militia members

This is the third time Chaoyang District has been able to form a female militia group

In November 2008, higher authorities urged Chaoyang District to establish a female militia group. The Department of People's Armed Forces of Chaoyang District is responsible for the selection, establishment and training of the militia group.

Quickly, selection of the militia members was conducted in neighborhoods, communities, businesses and public institutions in the district. The National Day parade is a grand ceremony which rarely takes place, and participating in it is a precious opportunity for those who were born in 1980's and 1990's. "Let's go to sign up for the military parade" was on the lips of many young women in Chaoyang District.

During that period of time, many young women went to registration spots. Among them were overseas Chinese students who had just returned to China, white collar clerks who had quit their jobs, a community healthcare center nurse who had quit the nationwide final of "the Miss Tourism International" contest, and students who were in the process of pursuing master's degrees.