The aircraft carrier Liaoning formation returns to a military port in April 2018. Photo: cnsphoto

Xu Ling, who was once the first helmswoman of China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, was excited and proud to see China's second aircraft carrier, the Shandong, officially entering service in the middle of December 2019.

As Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy is expanding, the number of female military personnel in China has also increased in recent years and the scope of their posts is expanding. As the first helmswoman of China's first aircraft carrier, Xu inspires many women soldiers to achieve the position they want. 

 "A lot of people think that women can't drive aircraft carriers. I appreciated that my country gave me an opportunity to prove that women can also achieve anything as men do," Xu told the Global Times.

Honored to serve

Xu was born in a village under Xuyi county, Huai'an, East China's Jiangsu Province in 1988. "It was my mother's dream to become a soldier. In the countryside at that time, it was a special pride to have a soldier in the family," she said.

In 2005, as a freshman of Nanjing Sports Institute, Xu was successfully drafted into the military. She majored in cycling in college. "I have a better physique than the average level and I am not afraid of hardship," Xu said, adding that "however, the rigors of military training are still fresh in my mind."

Xu took part in China's National Day Military Parade in 2009. During the year of preparation, Xu and other soldiers had winter exercises in the snow. The sweat on her face would drop down and congeal into ice. 

"During summer exercises under the sun, we stood in a military posture at 2 pm, the hottest period of a day and the ground was hot enough to fry an egg," she said.

Combat boots of soldiers are extremely wear-resisting. But she had worn out six pairs that year. "When I formally stepped out in front of the Tiananmen Square to be inspected by the state and the people, that sense of pride made all the suffering worthwhile," Xu said.

Xu Ling stands on China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. Photo: Courtesy of Xu Ling

Meeting the challenge

Xu was inspired by this experience. When the Navy first recruited women warship soldiers, she said she signed up with the attitude of trying. 

"I had been working in the headquarters of the Navy in Beijing doing communication work. It's a pity if a naval officer had never seen the sea. So I signed up," Xu explained.

"Men are trained to specialize for a certain operational position, but for the first time, women soldiers were recruited for the Navy. And we didn't know exactly where women soldiers would be on the warships, so we studied all subjects," Xu recalled.

After more than five months of sailor training, including basic shipboard knowledge, anti-nausea training, and battlefield ambulance and other skills, Xu and other 23 women comrades joined the "Peace Ark" hospital ship for internship as the first group of women sailors in the Chinese Navy on August 8, 2010.

It was Xu's first time on a warship. She was very excited to finally look at the sea as a sailor. When the captain asked what job she wanted to do, Xu chose the position of helmswoman despite the captain telling her that no woman has ever taken the helm. "Steering seems simple with only a steering plate. In fact, it requires detailed ship knowledge and coordination with various departments together," Xu recalled the captain's words. 

"Just because women have not done it before doesn't mean we won't do it in the future. Why can't I have a try?" Xu asked.

Xu studied and trained harder. She did not let herself down or leave others disappointed. On September 1, 2010, the second day after the hospital ship departed for the Gulf of Aden and five countries in Asia and Africa to perform medical services, Xu worked independently as the helmswoman.

"Seasickness was the most dramatic. I vomited every day and even hang a plastic bag on my ears. I lost more than 5 kilograms in less than a week. My ribs could be seen clearly," Xu recalled, adding that she would still "stick to the duty. Nausea for more than a week suddenly recovered at last."

Taking the helm

It seems all the hardships Xu had overcome were in preparation for her position in  China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. 

In December 2010, Xu was selected to work on the aircraft carrier. After more than six months of training in aircraft carrier expertise, numerous examinations, physical endurance and stress tests, and numerous successes and failures, she finally became the first qualified helmswoman of the ship.

During her stay on the aircraft carrier, she witnessed the test run of the aircraft carrier and the first landing of the carrier-borne aircraft. She also witnessed the first weapons test on the carrier. "An indescribable thrill came over me as missiles were fired," she said.

"I was so proud to witness that China had its own aircraft carrier. We don't have to stand on tiptoe to look at foreign carriers anymore," Xu said excitedly.

"We are the pioneers. Women sailors are now posted on all warships except submarines," she said, adding that "I wish Chinese women soldiers can play more and more important roles at the international stage with the rapid development of our country."

Xu retired from the Navy in December 2013 because of health problems and the need to care for her parents. She finally chose the marine department of Xuyi county in homage to her remarkable experience as a sailor.

"I protected national security as a helmswoman on China's first aircraft carrier. Now, I protect the safety of the Huaihe River as an ordinary staff member in a local marine department. No matter what position I am in, I will always act as a soldier and make more contributions," Xu said.

Leng Shumei contributed to this story
Newspaper headline: Steering the big ship