The PLA as Organization v2.0. Edited by Kevin Pollpeter and Kenneth W. Allen a product of Table of Contents Acronyms ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Foreword ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... 6 Author Biographies ....................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter One: Introduction to the PLA’s Organizational Reforms: 2000-2012 ................... 12 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 12 Why is Understanding the PLA’s Structure Important? ........................................................... 13 The Foundation Organizations .................................................................................................. 14 Officer 15-grade Structure ........................................................................................................ 16 Background ........................................................................................................................... 16 Anomalies ............................................................................................................................. 17 Understanding the Rank-Grade Link .................................................................................... 17 Officer Rank Categories ....................................................................................................... 17 Officer 15-grade System ....................................................................................................... 18 Officer Grade-to-Rank Relationship ..................................................................................... 21 PLA Cadre ................................................................................................................................ 22 Officer Career Tracks ........................................................................................................... 23 Civilian Cadre Grades ........................................................................................................... 24 Rank Epaulets ....................................................................................................................... 24 Collar Insignia ....................................................................................................................... 25 Unit Patches .......................................................................................................................... 26 Officer and Civilian Cadre Grade and Rank Comparison .................................................... 26 Noncommissioned Officer Grade and Rank Structure ............................................................. 29 Protocol Order ........................................................................................................................... 31 Military Unit Cover Designators .............................................................................................. 32 Force Reductions ...................................................................................................................... 34 Administrative and Functional Departments ............................................................................ 35 Comprehensive Departments ................................................................................................ 37 Security Committees ................................................................................................................. 38 Security Regulations ............................................................................................................. 39 Political Work System .............................................................................................................. 40 Unit Party Committees .......................................................................................................... 41 Administrative and Functional Department Party Committees ............................................ 41 Grassroots Party Committees ................................................................................................ 41 Party General Branches ......................................................................................................... 41 Party Branches ...................................................................................................................... 41 Party Small Groups ............................................................................................................... 42 Academic Institutions ............................................................................................................... 42 Types of Military Academic Institutions .............................................................................. 42 Differences between University, Xueyuan, and School ....................................................... 42 Comprehensive Universities ................................................................................................. 42 Academic Education and Professional Education Institutions ............................................. 43 Academic Institution Unit and Specialty Codes ................................................................... 44 Protocol Order ....................................................................................................................... 44 Organizational Grade Structure ............................................................................................ 45 Military Unit Cover Designators .......................................................................................... 45 Academic Degrees ................................................................................................................ 45 Leadership ............................................................................................................................. 45 Party Committees .................................................................................................................. 46 Administrative and Functional Departments ........................................................................ 46 Academic Departments and Specialties ................................................................................ 47 Organization Names and Number Designators ..................................................................... 48 Student Organizational Structure .......................................................................................... 49 Appendix 1: Key Terminology and Concepts .......................................................................... 50 The Armed Forces and Military ................................................................................................ 50 CMC, Services, Branches/Arms, and Units .............................................................................. 51 Military Region and Theater of War ......................................................................................... 54 PLA Headquarters, Leadership, and Department Terminology ............................................... 55 Headquarters Terminology ................................................................................................... 55 Leadership Terminology ....................................................................................................... 55 Is it General Staff Headquarters or General Staff Department? ........................................... 58 Is It General Equipment, Armaments, or Armament Department? ...................................... 58 Department Terminology ...................................................................................................... 59 Academic Institutions ............................................................................................................... 59 Grade Terminology ................................................................................................................... 60 Informatization/Informatized .................................................................................................... 61 Appendix 2: PLA and PAP Grade and Rank Structure ......................................................... 62 People’s Armed Police Organizational Structure ................................................................. 71 Appendix 3: PLA Academic Institutions .................................................................................. 73 PLA Academic Institution Name Changes Starting in 2011 .................................................... 76 Chapter Two: The Central Military Commission ................................................................... 79 The CMC in the Broader Political Order .................................................................................. 79 Why Are There Two Central Military Commissions? .......................................................... 80 The CMC and the Party Politburo ........................................................................................ 86 The CMC and the State Council ..........................................................................................