The People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China will recruit more than 120,000 college graduates this year, a military source said on Sunday.

According to a website run by the Ministry of Education to help college graduates find jobs, it is the first time the PLA has recruited college graduates on such a large scale, as the army seeks to improve its overall quality by drawing more talent and advancing its science and technology.

Graduates recruited by the PLA would receive a one-off compensation payment of up to 24,000 yuan, to cover their college tuition fees and student loans, the source said.

They would also be given favorable policies in their future military rank promotion and employment opportunities if they retire from the army after their service.

PLA recruits are usually young men aged between 18 and 20 and young women 18 or 19. But the age limit can be extended to 23 for young people with a higher education degree and 24 for those with a bachelor degree, according to the recruitment office of the Ministry of National Defense.

China is under tremendous pressure to find jobs for 6.1 million college students graduating this summer, while one million from last year are still looking for jobs.

The army is also seeking to recruit more than 1,000 pilots from a pool of 70,000 high school graduates this year, the source said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2009)