Beijing, Oct 31 (IANS) China will encourage fresh college graduates to join the military by giving them “preferential treatment”, the defence ministry said Wednesday.
College students will receive education loans if they plan to join the military, as well help in obtaining employment after leaving the forces, a defence ministry official said.
The Chinese military started recruiting college graduates in 2001. More than 130,000 soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army were college graduates by the end of 2009.
The military will begin its recruitment Nov 1 this year, Xinhua reported.
To help the military recruit more students, the country’s top legislature amended the military service law in 2011, raising the maximum age for recruits to 24.
China relaxed restrictions regarding height and weight of recruits in 2011 to attract more applicants.
