The country's armed forces the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) are to start selecting some civilians this year for non-combat duties to free up more soldiers for combat missions.

The PLA Daily reported yesterday that these civilians include cooks, typists, telephone operators, projectionists, announcers, drivers, repairmen and paramedics.

The daily added the move is aimed at reducing the number of non-combat personnel of these departments and non-combat troops, in a bid to solve long-standing structural problems.

Previously, all the non-combat posts were shouldered by warrant officers and compulsory servicemen.

Departments and non-combat troops of army-level units or above can start recruiting civilians, who can apply on their own or by being recommended by military job centers and servicemen.

The PLA will not carry any advertisements for the recruitment, the paper said, adding that army-level command posts, military bases and others which shoulder combat tasks and experiments are not allowed to take part in the recruitment.

In line with the new move, the paper said provincial military area commands and sub-commands, military training bases, military courts and procuratorates can offer jobs to civilians.

In addition, civilians can take on posts in prisons, storehouses, military hospitals, financial and audit offices, real estate management agencies, news media, culture and sports institutions.

The applicants need to have a minimum polytechnic school education. They also have to be healthy, no more than 35 years old, and possess skills to meet the requirements of selected jobs, the daily said, noting that relevant certificates showcasing their skills are welcome.

(China Daily February 17, 2006)