After the 1970s, the U.S. military learned a lesson, focused on strengthening the construction of light infantry divisions, and expanded the number of foot infantry to over 40%. At the same time, the research on individual carrier materials has also begun. The strategic transformation of the US military is called "a quiet military ideological revolution". These changes in the international war pattern have attracted the attention of our army. In the 1980s, the army felt that this issue was urgent. Deng Xiaoping, then deputy chairman of the Central Military Commission, issued an important instruction that soldiers must "be able to walk on their backs". Due to various historical reasons, the problem of "overstaffing" of the PLA has a long history. By 1985, the PLA's military expenditure was only 19 1 100 million yuan, accounting for only 2% of the US military in that year and less than a fraction of that of the former Soviet Union. However, the PLA has twice as many posts as the US military and is equivalent to the Soviet Union. 1985 From May 23rd to June 6th, the enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission was held in Beijing. On June 4th, Deng Xiaoping, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, solemnly announced at the meeting that the China government had decided to reduce the number of posts of the China People's Liberation Army by 1 10,000. Some leaders worry that reducing 6.5438+0 million will weaken the combat effectiveness of the army. Deng Xiaoping asked with a vivid metaphor: Can a fat man fight? At that time, Deng Xiaoping talked about "why to reduce swelling" at every meeting, and he also talked about the significance of reducing swelling when meeting with military leaders. He said: "Without swelling reduction, the army will not be able to improve its combat effectiveness and work efficiency." "The military expenditure paid by our country now is quite large, which is not conducive to national construction; Too many troops also hinder the modernization of military equipment. " He said worriedly, "We have lived in the war for decades, and fighting depends on command. What is the flexibility now? " If such a bloated institution does not "reduce swelling", "even if it really goes to war, it will not be easy to leave, let alone direct operations." He said firmly: "Even if the war comes early, the swelling will be reduced." You can't cope with the war without expansion. "1985, the total number of military posts in China was 465,438+10,000. According to Deng Xiaoping's instructions, the army was reduced by 6.5438+0 million. Such a reduction ratio is rare in the world. The staff of the General Staff Department, the General Political Department and the General Logistics Department of the Central Military Commission are reduced by half; 1 the military region was streamlined and merged into seven; Reduce 3/kloc-0 units at or above the corps level and 4054 units at the division level; Many excellent main players have also been written off. China People's Liberation Army Military Academy, Political Academy and Logistics Academy were merged into National Defense University. The people's armed forces departments of counties and cities are no longer under the jurisdiction of military sub-divisions, but are changed to local organizational systems, and cadres and soldiers are discharged from active service; 76 cadres managed internally in the army were replaced by soldiers, and the ratio of officers and soldiers reached 1 3.3. At the same time, starting from 1985, 600,000 cadres retired from active service in three years and transferred to local areas to engage in economic construction. Officers who can stay in the army, such as radio directors, company directors, film captains and various repair technicians, have all been reduced to sergeant major. Deng Xiaoping also signed a document that all those who don't work in the newly merged military region will be fired. In this way, China's army successfully carried out millions of disarmament, created a miracle in the history of world disarmament, and promoted the peace process of the whole world with practical actions. For a time, world public opinion was impressed by Deng Xiaoping's great determination and generosity, and China's army won the respect of the whole world. The Overseas Chinese News and the Bonn Review of the United States commented at that time that the whole world is talking about disarmament now, but so far, only China people are consistent in their words and deeds.