Always Making the Arming with the Party’s Innovative Theory the Primary Task of Forging Souls and Educating People

Not long ago, the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission issued a notice on “Focusing on Forging Political Loyalty and Fighting a Tough Battle to Deepen Educational Practice Activities,” making arrangements for the year’s major education across the entire military. This notice proposed “always making the arming with the Party’s innovative theory the primary task of forging souls and educating people.” This requirement scientifically reveals the status and role of arming with the Party’s innovative theory, clarifying the direction of thinking for the military to deeply grasp the fundamental project of forging souls and educating people. We must deeply understand and grasp the spiritual essence of this requirement, always firmly grasp the arming with the Party’s innovative theory without relaxation, and truly grasp, implement, and achieve results in the primary task of forging souls and educating people.

前不久，军委政治工作部印发《关于聚焦“铸牢政治忠诚、打好攻坚之战”深化教育实践活动的通知》，对全军年度重大教育作出部署，其中提出“始终把党的创新理论武装作为铸魂育人的首要任务”。这一要求，是对党的创新理论武装地位作用的科学揭示，为军队深入抓好铸魂育人这个固本工程明晰了思路方向。我们要深刻理解把握这一要求的精神实质，始终扭住党的创新理论武装不放松，真正把铸魂育人的首要任务抓紧抓实抓出成效。

I

一

Strengthening theoretical arming is a fundamental task that governs the root and ensures the direction. Its status is extremely important, and its role is irreplaceable. Always making the arming with the Party’s innovative theory the primary task of forging souls and educating people seizes the characteristics and laws of the work of forging souls and educating people. It is both a concise summary of the fine traditions and practices that our Party and our military have created and long adhered to, and a powerful support for forging a high-quality cadre contingent that is loyal, clean, responsible, and capable of shouldering the heavy task of strengthening the military.

加强理论武装是管根本、保方向的基础工作，地位极为重要，作用不可替代。始终把党的创新理论武装作为铸魂育人的首要任务，抓住了铸魂育人工作的特点和规律，既是对我党我军创造并长期坚持的好传统好做法的凝练总结，又是锻造忠诚干净担当、堪当强军重任的高素质干部队伍的有力支撑。

The objective law of forging souls and educating people for a proletarian political party. “Only a party guided by an advanced theory can fulfill the role of an advanced fighter.” [1]1 A quotation from V. I. Lenin’s 1902 work *What Is To Be Done?*. The proletarian political party bears the lofty ideal and historical mission of realizing communism, and has always focused on arming the entire Party with scientific theory. The great cause led by an advanced political party cannot be accomplished overnight; it requires the continuous struggle of generation after generation. This necessitates the continuous cultivation and training of successors to the revolutionary cause. How to make those who continue the struggle maintain a high degree of identification with the revolutionary cause is the primary issue that the proletarian political party must solve in forging souls and educating people. Only with theoretical clarity can political firmness be achieved. Only by making the arming with scientific theory the primary task of forging souls and educating people, by “instilling from the outside” [2]2 A reference to the Leninist concept of “socialist consciousness being introduced from without” into the spontaneous working-class movement, as articulated in *What Is To Be Done?*. advanced ideas into the mind, arming the mind, and tempering the soul, can we truly cultivate the qualified new people needed for the revolutionary cause.

无产阶级政党铸魂育人的客观规律。“只有以先进理论为指南的党，才能实现先进战士的作用。”无产阶级政党担负着实现共产主义的崇高理想和历史使命，历来注重用科学理论武装全党。先进政党领导的伟大事业不会一蹴而就，要靠一代代人的接续奋斗，这就需要源源不断地培养造就革命事业接班人。如何让接续奋斗者保持对革命事业的高度认同，这是无产阶级政党铸魂育人必须解决的首要问题。理论上清醒，政治上才能坚定。只有把科学理论武装作为铸魂育人的首要任务，将先进思想“从外面灌输进去”，武装头脑，淬炼灵魂，才能真正造就革命事业所需的合格新人。

The valuable experience created and inherited by our Party and our military. “Grasping ideological education is the central link in uniting the entire Party to carry out great political struggles.” [3]3 A quotation from Mao Zedong’s 1945 report *On Coalition Government* at the Seventh National Congress of the CPC. Persisting in arming the entire Party, educating the people, and arming officers and soldiers with the Party’s innovative theory is a fine tradition and valuable experience of our Party and our military. Since its founding, our Party has attached great importance to theoretical arming. The “First Resolution of the Communist Party of China” adopted at the First National Congress of the Party clearly stated that “the Party should instill the spirit of class struggle in the trade unions” and “educate workers so that they can realize the Communist Party’s ideas in practice.” [4]4 The “First Resolution of the Communist Party of China” was adopted at the First National Congress in July 1921. During the initial period of the Red Army, Comrade Mao Zedong clearly put forward the principle of implementing “proletarian ideological leadership,” requiring constant attention to “using proletarian ideology to transform and overcome various non-proletarian ideologies,” and emphasizing the “infusion of progressive political spirit into the military.” [5]5 References to Mao Zedong’s 1929 resolution *On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party* at the Gutian Congress, which established the principle of Party building and political work in the Red Army. In the long-term practice of revolution, construction, and reform, our Party has always persisted in arming the entire Party and the entire military with Marxism, using the latest achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times to unify thought and consolidate will, thereby ensuring the unity of action and forward progress of the entire Party and the entire military. Always making the arming with the Party’s innovative theory the primary task of forging souls and educating people is precisely the inheritance and continuation of the fine traditions and valuable experiences of our Party and our military.

我党我军创造并赓续传承的宝贵经验。“掌握思想教育，是团结全党进行伟大政治斗争的中心环节。”坚持用党的创新理论武装全党、教育人民、武装官兵，是我党我军的优良传统和宝贵经验。我们党自成立之日起，就高度重视理论武装。党的一大通过的《中国共产党第一个决议》鲜明提出，“党应在工会里灌输阶级斗争的精神”“教育工人使其在实践中能够实现共产党的思想”。红军初创时期，毛泽东同志就明确提出了实行“无产阶级思想领导”的原则，要求经常注意“用无产阶级思想改造和克服各种非无产阶级思想”，强调用“进步的政治精神贯注于军队之中”。在长期的革命、建设和改革实践中，我们党始终坚持用马克思主义武装全党全军，用马克思主义中国化时代化的最新成果统一思想、凝聚意志，从而确保了全党全军步调一致向前进。始终把党的创新理论武装作为铸魂育人的首要任务，就是对我党我军好传统好经验的赓续传承。

The inherent requirement for forging a new generation of people capable of shouldering the heavy task of strengthening the military. “Of all things in the world, people are the most precious.” [6]6 A quotation from Mao Zedong’s 1945 essay *The Bankruptcy of the Idealist Conception of History*. Looking back at history, an important reason why our military has been able to grow from small to large, from weak to strong, and continuously march from victory to victory lies in its persistent adherence to arming officers and soldiers with the Party’s innovative theory, cultivating and training batches of revolutionary soldiers with strong political qualities and high professional competence. The key to strengthening the military lies in obtaining the right people. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, President Xi has attached great importance to talent cultivation, emphasizing that “talent is the primary resource,” and explicitly incorporating talent-strengthening the military into the strategic layout for strengthening the military and rejuvenating the military in the New Era. On the new journey, achieving the centenary goal of military construction by 2027 and accelerating the building of the People’s Army into a world-class military require, more than ever before, high-quality, specialized new-type military personnel with both integrity and ability. Watering flowers means watering the roots; educating people means educating the heart. To forge a high-quality cadre contingent that is loyal, clean, responsible, and capable of shouldering the heavy task of strengthening the military, the primary task is to arm the mind with the Party’s innovative theory. This is the prerequisite guarantee for ensuring that the cultivated talents are comprehensively excellent and that the People’s Army always produces a steady stream of talent.

锻造堪当强军重任时代新人的内在要求。“世间一切事物中，人是第一个可宝贵的。”回望历史，我军之所以能从小到大、由弱变强、不断从胜利走向胜利，一个重要原因就在于始终坚持用党的创新理论武装官兵，培养造就了一批批政治过硬、本领高强的革命军人。强军之道，要在得人。党的十八大以来，习主席对人才培养高度重视，强调“人才是第一资源”，明确把人才强军纳入新时代强军兴军战略布局。新征程上，如期实现建军一百年奋斗目标、加快把人民军队建成世界一流军队，比以往任何时候都更渴求德才兼备的高素质、专业化新型军事人才。浇花浇根，育人育心。锻造忠诚干净担当、堪当强军重任的高素质干部队伍，首要的就是用党的创新理论武装头脑，这是确保培养的人才全面过硬、确保人民军队始终人才辈出的前提保证。

II

二

“From revolutionary theory one can obtain all beliefs.” [7]7 A quotation from V. I. Lenin’s 1905 article *The Tasks of the Revolutionary Youth*. The more thorough the theoretical arming, the purer the thought, the firmer the faith, and the more conscious the action. Only by always making the arming with the Party’s innovative theory the primary task of forging souls and educating people can we inject the powerful force of scientific truth, advanced thought, and firm faith and belief into forging souls and educating people.

“从革命理论中能取得一切信念。”理论武装越彻底，思想就越纯洁，信仰就越坚定，行动就越自觉。始终把党的创新理论武装作为铸魂育人的首要任务，才能为铸魂育人注入科学真理、先进思想、信仰信念的强大力量。

Highlight the political guiding role of arming with the Party’s innovative theory. Our military is a new type of people’s army founded and led by the Party. The Party’s leadership over the military is first and foremost ideological and political leadership. Since the founding of the People’s Army, the Party has always attached great importance to all work related to forging souls and educating people, especially continuously arming the minds of officers and soldiers with the Party’s innovative theory, fully leveraging the political guiding role of arming with the Party’s innovative theory, ensuring that our military always takes the Party’s banner as its banner, the Party’s direction as its direction, and the Party’s will as its will. In the New Era, to grasp the arming with the Party’s innovative theory, we must first highlight its political guiding role. Through effective and powerful infusion of advanced ideas, we should educate and guide the vast number of officers and soldiers to deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, [8]8 The Two Establishments refers to the establishment of Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as enhance the Four Consciousnesses, [9]9 The “Six Musts” (六个必须坚持) refers to the six principles that must be upheld in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era: putting the people first, self-confidence and self-reliance, upholding integrity and innovation, taking problems as the orientation, maintaining a systematic concept, and reaching out to the world. strengthen the Four Confidences, [10]10 The “Five Persistences” (五个坚持) in a military context refers to the five methodological principles of Xi Jinping’s thought on strengthening the military: persisting in integrating political construction with military construction, persisting in integrating reform with innovation, persisting in integrating war preparation with war fighting, persisting in integrating strict governance with motivation, and persisting in integrating overall planning with focusing on key points. achieve the Two Upholds, [11]11 “First important issue” is a reference to Mao Zedong’s statement in his 1942 rectification report “Reform Our Study” that the issue of the style of study is the “first important issue” for the Party and the revolutionary cause. implement the system of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission assuming overall responsibility, forge firmness in thought with theoretical clarity, forge political loyalty with firmness in thought, and ensure that officers and soldiers always listen to the Party and follow its orders.

突出党的创新理论武装的政治引领作用。我军是党缔造和领导的新型人民军队，党对军队的领导首先是思想上政治上的领导。党创建人民军队以来，始终高度重视做好铸魂育人的各项工作，特别是持续用党的创新理论武装官兵头脑，充分发挥党的创新理论武装的政治引领作用，确保了我军始终以党的旗帜为旗帜、以党的方向为方向、以党的意志为意志。新时代抓好党的创新理论武装，首先就要突出其政治引领作用，通过有力有效的先进思想贯注，教育引导广大官兵深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，贯彻军委主席负责制，以理论上的清醒铸牢思想上的坚定，以思想上的坚定铸牢政治上的忠诚，确保官兵始终听党话、跟党走。

Exert the value-shaping role of arming with the Party’s innovative theory. Lofty ideals and firm convictions are the political soul of Chinese Communists and the spiritual pillar of the People’s Army. The key reason why the People’s Army has been able to overcome difficulties, win battles, and grow and develop is that it has the arming of Marxist theory, lofty ideals and convictions, and the lofty pursuit of heroic sacrifice for ideals and convictions. Lofty value pursuits are not formed naturally, nor are they immutable; they require the continuous nourishment of scientific theory. It must be recognized that the vast number of officers and soldiers do not live in a vacuum. The interweaving and surging of various social trends of thought will impact and influence their values. This requires the continuous use of scientific theory to eliminate the turbid and promote the clear, to correct the mind and stabilize the nature. In the New Era, to grasp the arming with the Party’s innovative theory, we must fully exert its value-shaping role, directly face the ideological perplexities and growth troubles of officers and soldiers, use theoretical propaganda and education that is warm, deep, and powerful to infiltrate the hearts of soldiers, help them effectively eliminate interference, and correct their value pursuits.

发挥党的创新理论武装的价值塑造作用。崇高的理想，坚定的信念，是中国共产党人的政治灵魂，是人民军队的精神支柱。人民军队之所以能够攻坚克难、战无不胜、发展壮大，关键是有马克思主义理论武装，有崇高理想信念，有为理想信念而英勇献身的崇高追求。崇高的价值追求不是自然而然形成的，也不是一成不变的，需要靠科学理论的持续滋养。要看到，广大官兵不是生活在真空中，社会上各种思潮的交织激荡，会对他们的价值观念产生冲击和影响，这就需要持续用科学理论来激浊扬清、正心定性。新时代抓好党的创新理论武装，就要充分发挥其价值塑造作用，直面官兵思想困惑和成长烦恼，用有温度有深度有力度的理论宣贯浸润兵心，帮助他们有效排除干扰、端正价值追求。

Strengthen the goal-oriented role of arming with the Party’s innovative theory. Goals guide direction; goals consolidate strength. Persisting in using scientific theory to guide the construction and development of the People’s Army is an important magic weapon for our Party to build, govern, and strengthen the military. Currently, achieving the centenary goal of military construction by 2027 has entered a critical period of arduous struggle and a sprint period of adding pressure and acceleration. It is even more necessary to use the Party’s innovative theory to arm the minds of officers and soldiers and guide the practice of strengthening the military, ensuring that the cause of strengthening the military always advances in the correct direction. President Xi profoundly pointed out: “Unity in thought is the deepest, most enduring, and most reliable guarantee for the unity and solidarity of the Party.” [12]12 This is a direct quotation from Xi Jinping, emphasizing the practical application of theory over abstract discussion. As the primary task of forging souls and educating people, arming with the Party’s innovative theory focuses on solving the root problem of thought. To strive for the centenary goal of military construction and to advance towards a first-class military, we must use the Party’s goal of strengthening the military in the New Era to inspire, motivate, and move people, use the Party’s innovative theory to consolidate the heart of unity and stimulate the will to struggle, guide officers and soldiers to establish the thinking of a combat force, set the standard of combat effectiveness, and play the role of combatants, ensuring that they live up to their mission and trust.

强化党的创新理论武装的目标导向作用。目标引领方向，目标凝聚力量。坚持用科学理论引领人民军队建设发展，是我们党建军治军强军的重要法宝。当前，实现建军一百年奋斗目标到了吃劲奋斗的攻坚期、加油加压的冲刺期，更加需要用党的创新理论武装官兵头脑、指导强军实践，确保强军事业始终沿着正确方向前进。习主席深刻指出：“思想上的统一是党的团结统一最深厚最持久最可靠的保证。”党的创新理论武装作为铸魂育人的首要任务，重在解决思想根子问题。奋斗建军百年、奋进强军一流，必须用党在新时代的强军目标鼓舞人、激励人、感召人，用党的创新理论凝聚团结之心、激发奋斗之志，引导官兵树好战斗队思想、立好战斗力标准、当好战斗员角色，确保做到不辱使命、不负重托。

III

三

Theory is the precursor of practice; thought is the guide to action. For the military to do a good job in forging souls and educating people, it must adhere to the priority of thought and continuously grasp the arming with the Party’s innovative theory. We should guide the vast number of officers and soldiers to make great efforts in studying the Party’s innovative theory, vigorously promote the Marxist style of study, fully leverage the exemplary and leading role of the “key minority,” [13]13 “Two skins” (两张皮) is a Chinese idiom used in Party discourse to describe a situation where two things that should be integrated are separated, here referring to the disconnection between theory and practice. and effectively lay a solid ideological foundation for forging souls and educating people in comprehensively improving the quality and effectiveness of theoretical arming.

理论是实践的先导，思想是行动的指南。军队做好铸魂育人工作，必须坚持思想领先，持续抓好党的创新理论武装。要引导广大官兵在学习党的创新理论上狠下功夫，大力弘扬马克思主义学风，充分发挥“关键少数”的示范带动作用，切实在全面提升理论武装质效中打牢铸魂育人思想根基。

Study the Party’s innovative theory deeply, persistently, and solidly. Every step forward in theoretical innovation must be followed by a step forward in theoretical arming. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the Marxism of contemporary China and Marxism of the twenty-first century; it is the essence of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit, achieving a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and providing the fundamental guidance for the development of the Party and the state in the New Era. Xi Jinping’s thought on strengthening the military is an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; it is the fundamental guidance and program of action for accelerating the modernization of national defense and the military and for comprehensively building a world-class military. To grasp the arming of the Party’s innovative theory, we must unswervingly use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to consolidate souls and gather hearts, deeply study and implement Xi Jinping’s thought on strengthening the military, guide officers and soldiers to read the original works, study the original texts, and comprehend the principles, comprehensively study and grasp its core essence, spiritual substance, rich connotations, and practical requirements, master the worldview and methodology of the “Six Musts” [9]9 The “Six Musts” (六个必须坚持) refers to the six principles that must be upheld in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era: putting the people first, self-confidence and self-reliance, upholding integrity and innovation, taking problems as the orientation, maintaining a systematic concept, and reaching out to the world. and the military worldview and methodology of the “Five Persistences” [10]10 The “Five Persistences” (五个坚持) in a military context refers to the five methodological principles of Xi Jinping’s thought on strengthening the military: persisting in integrating political construction with military construction, persisting in integrating reform with innovation, persisting in integrating war preparation with war fighting, persisting in integrating strict governance with motivation, and persisting in integrating overall planning with focusing on key points., achieve the integration of learning, thinking, and application and the unity of knowledge, belief, and action, and continuously enhance political identification, ideological identification, theoretical identification, and emotional identification.

深入持久扎实学习党的创新理论。理论创新每前进一步，理论武装就要跟进一步。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，是当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义，是中华文化和中国精神的时代精华，实现了马克思主义中国化时代化新的飞跃，为新时代党和国家事业发展提供了根本遵循。习近平强军思想是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要组成部分，是加快国防和军队现代化、全面建设世界一流军队的根本遵循和行动纲领。抓好党的创新理论武装，就要坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，深入学习贯彻习近平强军思想，引导官兵读原著、学原文、悟原理，全面学习领会其核心要义、精神实质、丰富内涵、实践要求，把“六个必须坚持”的世界观和方法论、“五个坚持”的军事观和方法论学到手，做到学思用贯通、知信行统一，不断增进政治认同、思想认同、理论认同、情感认同。

Vigorously promote the fine Marxist style of study. The issue of style of study is the “first important issue.” [11]11 “First important issue” is a reference to Mao Zedong’s statement in his 1942 rectification report “Reform Our Study” that the issue of the style of study is the “first important issue” for the Party and the revolutionary cause. Chairman Xi emphasizes: “The Way cannot be discussed while sitting idly, and principles cannot be discussed emptily. The entire purpose of studying the Party’s innovative theory lies in application.” [12]12 This is a direct quotation from Xi Jinping, emphasizing the practical application of theory over abstract discussion. Integrating theory with practice is a distinctive theoretical character of Marxism and also a glorious tradition consistently upheld by our Party and our military in theoretical arming. To grasp the arming of the Party’s innovative theory, we must directly confront the prominent contradictions and problems in forging souls and educating people in the New Era, vigorously promote the Marxist style of study that integrates theory with practice, adhere to the unity of a problem-oriented approach and a results-oriented approach, closely link thought and work practice, focus on issues of common concern to officers and soldiers, pay attention to resolving the ideological knots of officers and soldiers, oppose the “empty-to-empty” of bombastic talk and the “two skins” [13]13 “Two skins” (两张皮) is a Chinese idiom used in Party discourse to describe a situation where two things that should be integrated are separated, here referring to the disconnection between theory and practice. of theory divorced from practice, and effectively enable officers and soldiers to think, comprehend, and gain from their studies, promoting the arming of the Party’s innovative theory to achieve solid results.

大力弘扬马克思主义优良学风。学风问题是“第一个重要的问题”。习主席强调：“道不可坐论，理不能空谈。学习党的创新理论的目的全在于运用。”理论联系实际是马克思主义鲜明的理论品格，也是我党我军理论武装一以贯之的光荣传统。抓好党的创新理论武装，必须直面新时代铸魂育人突出矛盾问题，大力弘扬理论联系实际的马克思主义学风，坚持问题导向和结果导向相统一，紧密联系思想和工作实际，紧扣官兵普遍关注的问题，注重解答官兵思想上的疙瘩，反对夸夸其谈的“空对空”、理论和实践相脱节的“两张皮”， 切实让官兵学有所思、学有所悟、学有所得，推动党的创新理论武装取得扎实成效。

Highlight the “key minority” to exert the “leading-geese effect.” Military leading cadres, as the “key minority,” are the backbone and core of military construction, important organizers, promoters, and practitioners of the arming of the Party’s innovative theory, and also the key targets of the arming of the Party’s innovative theory; their learning status and learning effectiveness have a direct impact on the troops and officers. The arming of the Party’s innovative theory must both adhere to full coverage and highlight key groups; it is necessary to grasp the “key minority” and strive to form a “leading-geese effect” where the “leading geese” take the lead in flight and the “flock of geese” fly in formation. We must adhere to the principle that educators must first be educated and truly educated, guide and urge the “key minority” to consciously take one step ahead in learning and delve one layer deeper in study, truly integrate themselves into it, integrate their duties into it, and integrate their work into it, take the lead in transforming their thinking, take the lead in self-analysis, take the lead in rectification and implementation, use their own exemplary role to lead and drive the “vast majority,” and continuously push the arming of the Party’s innovative theory to go deeper, go more solid, and go into the heart.

突出“关键少数”发挥“头雁效应”。军队领导干部作为“关键少数”，是军队建设的中坚和骨干，是党的创新理论武装的重要组织者、推动者和实践者，也是党的创新理论武装的重点对象，他们的学习状态、学习成效对部队官兵有着直接影响。党的创新理论武装既要坚持全员覆盖，又要突出重点群体，必须抓住“关键少数”，努力形成“头雁”领飞、“群雁”齐飞的“头雁效应”。要坚持教育者先受教育、真受教育，引导督促“关键少数”自觉先学一步、学深一层，真正把自己摆进去、把职责摆进去、把工作摆进去，带头改造思想，带头自我剖析，带头整改落实，以自身模范作用引领带动“绝大多数”，持续推动党的创新理论武装往深里走、往实里走、往心里走。

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧