Feature: Female special ops soldiers master skills, conquer fears

Handling explosives, rappelling from a 6-story building, parachuting from 800 meters, and dodging a hail of bullets -- it's all in a day's work for these women.

For this female-only squad of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) special operations forces, daily training carries all the risks of real battle.

"Sometimes, I hear bullets fly past my ears. I realize how I would feel if enemies were to shoot at me on the battlefield," said Huang Anqi, 21, who was among the first to join the squad. The brigade was reorganized as a special ops troop in 2013, and soon after the all-women's squad was formed.

The first time Huang was asked to rappel from a tall building, she clutched the rope and didn't dare to move, but after daily practice, it has become her strong suit.

The squad now consists of 21 soldiers between the ages of 19 and 26. They are trained in shooting, climbing, explosives, reconnaissance equipment, parachuting, operating boats, driving and swimming.

Female soldiers may not be as physically strong as their male counterparts, so their training focuses more on skills, said Miao Zhong, political instructor of the company that supervises the squad.

"Their training is as intense and demanding as that for male soldiers. They have to train for up to 10 or 11 hours a day," Miao said.

The female soldiers are tasked with special reconnaissance, combat missions and assisting in counter-terrorism operations, so they hone their skills in infiltration, reconnaissance and striking, according to Liu Yong, deputy commander of the brigade.

Liu said every soldier in the brigade is trained according to a personalized growth plan to become an expert in a particular area, while also developing skills in other areas.

In the women's squad, Wu Mei is good at martial arts, Yang Xujiao climbs shockingly fast, Ma Yan is an adept sniper, and Qian Ren beats the men at swimming.

"In special ops forces, it is crucial for an individual to develop all-around abilities. Though it is much smaller since reorganization as a special ops force, the brigade has become stronger, featuring greater mobility, better-performing soldiers and more diverse missions," said Tang Kaixi, the brigade's political commissar.

"From the changes in the brigade, we can also see the future direction of the PLA Army and new modes of combat being practiced in the armed forces," Tang added.

Training is intense and dangerous, and no soldier is a stranger to injury. Qian Ren suffers from severe lumbar disc herniation and Huang Anqi once sprained her shoulder. Bruises, knife wounds and foot blisters are common.

"Life here can be hard, but we all joined the squad of our own volition. We aim for excellence," Yang Xujiao said.

Last year, Huang Anqi chose to extend her military service for another three years.

"I haven't had enough of being a soldier. The brigade has offered a lot of new knowledge and skills since its reorganization. I want to stay longer to learn more and become a better person," Huang said. Endi