The first Female Missile Company was included into the First Conventional Missile Brigade of the Second Artillery Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) at a ceremony held on April 3, the PLA Daily reported April 11.

The first Female Missile Company was included into the First Conventional Missile Brigade of the Second Artillery Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) at a ceremony held on April 3.

The ceremony marks the fact that the company has formally become a part of the combat forces of the PLA, said the newspaper.

The PLA Second Artillery Force base began recruiting its first female missile operators in March 2010. It has since selected a group of women soldiers and officers, whose average age is around 20. They all perform effectively in brutal military training and 91 percent of them have received a college-level or above education.

In July 2011 and September 2012, the female missile unit was sent to the plateau twice for live shell practice. All the shells successfully hit the targets and the practice signified that these women soldiers and officers were qualified for combat missions.

The female missile unit has been given an award for meritorious service by the PLA many times over the past few years. In March 2012, it was awarded the glorious title of "Women Pace-setters" by the All-China Women's Federation.

Ma Fusheng, political commissar of the First Conventional Missile Brigade of the PLA Second Artillery Force, said that the female missile company's formal inclusion into the PLA combat forces will help promote the women's professional competence, optimize the structure of combat troops, and increase combat strength.