[Comment on the Report on the Issue of Rewarding Meritorious Service in the Entire Army\[!\]]

(December 4, 1950)

Approved as proposed.\[2\]

Mao Zedong

December 4

\[!\] This is Mao Zedong’s comment on the report dated November 5, 1950, submitted by Luo Ronghuan, Director of the General Cadres Management Department of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People’s Government, and Deputy Directors Lai Chuanzhu and Xu Liqing.

\[2\] The report by Luo Ronghuan, Lai Chuanzhu, and others stated: The movement for rendering meritorious service in the troops has been underway for a long time and has greatly propelled progress in combat, work, study, production, and other areas. However, there are still no unified standards for meritorious service and the titles of hero and model across the entire army, nor are there unified reward methods. To adapt to the regularization of the troops, stimulate the enthusiasm and creativity of military personnel in various work tasks, and further popularize and elevate the meritorious service movement, unifying the standards for meritorious service and reward methods across the entire army has become an urgent issue to be resolved. After our consideration, we have synthesized the following opinions: (1) The unified standards for meritorious service across the entire army are proposed to be divided into four grades (namely, Special Merit, First-Class Merit, Second-Class Merit, and Third-Class Merit), with specific conditions formulated based on different situations and tasks in peacetime and wartime. (2) The unified standards for the titles of hero and model across the entire army are proposed to be divided into three grades (namely, First-Class, Second-Class, and Third-Class), with the standards mainly focusing on relatively outstanding and typical individuals in meritorious service, and specific conditions are also to be formulated. Units may also carry out movements to render meritorious service and create models, but their grades need not be overly numerous and can be differentiated based on the specific circumstances of their roles in combat and various tasks. (3) The mass-based meritorious service movement must be combined with administrative assessment and approval. Generally, it should be limited to individuals and units below the regiment level; for cadres and units at the division level and above, meritorious service should generally be assessed and determined administratively. (4) To meet the needs of the meritorious service movement and unify reward methods, before the Central People’s Government issues national medals and decorations, it is proposed to first produce and issue two types of medals in the name of the Military Commission: the "Combat Merit" medal and the "Honor" medal (each divided into three grades), to be awarded to personnel who have rendered meritorious service of various grades in wartime and peacetime. Additionally, two types of commemorative medals are proposed: the Hero Commemorative Medal and the Model Commemorative Medal (also each divided into three grades), to be awarded to those who have received the titles of hero and model at various levels. As for unit rewards, forms such as commendation certificates, award banners, and honorary titles may be used. (5) Specific division of responsibilities for meritorious service and rewards: All matters related to organizational mobilization, propaganda, and education concerning meritorious service shall be the responsibility of political organs at all levels; all matters related to the issuance, review, and registration of medals and hero/model commemorative medals shall be the responsibility of cadres management departments at all levels; all unit rewards shall be the primary responsibility of military affairs departments at all levels.