At a duty post in Nanchang city of east China's Jiangxi Province, female officer Wu Bofei stood out conspicuously as she led male soldiers on duty. Despite her gentle and refined appearance, she serves as deputy commanding officer of a male soldier squadron and ranks among the most accomplished "combat instructors" of the Chinese People's Armed Police (PAP) Force.
Wu hails from a martial arts family, and under her parents' influence, she entered a martial arts school in 2010. Since 2011, Wu has participated in various provincial and national martial arts competitions, and has claimed the first place in women's blade and staff techniques at the 12th Hong Kong International Martial Arts Festival Wushu Routine Grand Prix, and earning first prize in women's blade techniques at the 15th National Wushu Hometown Wushu Routine Competition. In 2014, Wu secured second place in women's boxing at the Jiangxi Provincial Youth Wushu Routine Championship and obtained her national second-class athlete certification.
Upon graduating from university in 2019, Wu's parents hoped she would return to their hometown of Jingdezhen to teach at a martial arts school and live a peaceful, stable life. However, Wu cherished her own aspirations.
In June 2019, Wu embarked upon her military journey. Her youth spent training in martial arts had forged within her a character that never accepts defeat and dares to dream and strive. Ultimately, she successfully transitioned from a university student to a PAP soldier.
In 2021, demonstrating exceptional qualifications, she successfully passed the examination for university graduate soldiers seeking promotion to officer rank and enrolled at the PAP Engineering University for advanced studies.
In 2022, following completion of her military academy leadership training, Wu returned to serve as platoon leading officer of the female soldier platoon.
Before the PAP Jiangxi Corps "Combat Instructor 2023" coaching competition, Wu registered to compete after deliberation, marking an unprecedented occurrence in her unit's history.
In the PAP Jiangxi Corps coaching competition, Wu achieved an outstanding total score of 93.45 points, securing second place. Meanwhile, she was recommended by the PAP Jiangxi Corps to participate in the PAP "Combat Instructor 2023" coaching competition.
Competitors selected for PAP competitions represent the elite of each unit. Wu once again participated as the only female member, competing head-to-head with male soldiers on the competition grounds. She ultimately achieved second place in on-site instruction and 13th place in comprehensive rankings. Though she narrowly missed earning the "Model Coach" designation, her indomitable spirit demonstrates that competition venues should not exclusively belong to male service members — female military personnel are equally formidable.
Shortly thereafter, Wu set new goals for herself, volunteering to transfer to the most demanding mobile detachment to assume teaching responsibilities for bayonet combat and knife fighting techniques. "I want to change positions to achieve a breakthrough and prove myself once again!"
Female officers serving in male soldier squadrons remain uncommon within in the military, yet through her capabilities, her aspiration was ultimately realized.
Throughout her journey, Wu has employed her dedication and perseverance to shatter skepticism and validate her abilities. She has served in the male soldier squadron for over three months. It is hoped that she can compose even more remarkable military narratives in her new assignment!
