This report outlines People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) recruiting processes within the overarching context of China’s military personnel accession systems. Within China, most recruitment, mobilization, and service assignment of military personnel is managed through a centralized national military service system, with individual services retaining some recruitment authorities for officers, sergeants, and civilians. It is not possible to effectively discuss Navy recruitment without understanding this overarching system.
By examining original sources, this report explores the structure and administration of China’s military service system; military accession processes, paths, and sources; outreach mechanisms; and service incentives. Throughout, the authors pay special attention to enlisted personnel recruitment, to provide new insights into the people that operate and maintain the PLAN’s warfighting systems and thereby constitute the human foundation of military readiness. The report also explores the challenges restraining the PLA’s ability to recruit the highest quality personnel, which it needs to realize its ascension to a world-class military, and barriers to overcoming these challenges.