Dongguan's Changping town is advancing its distinctive "Veteran Vice Principal" program, integrating military-service expertise into campus education. The local Veterans Service Center, in partnership with the town's education administration, recently launched a series of patriotic and national defense activities across multiple schools. This initiative aims to deepen military-civilian collaboration in education while leveraging veterans' exemplary roles in ideological and political instruction.

At Changping No. 1 Primary School, the fourth annual campus national defense training camp was held under the guidance of veteran vice principal Sun Mingjun. The program, themed "Love China, Cherish National Defense, Strengthen Our Bodies, Forge Ahead", engaged students from grades two through six. Activities featured flag-raising ceremonies, formation drills, military song sessions, combat fitness routines, obstacle course challenges, and equipment exhibitions. Despite the heat, students embraced discipline and resilience, showcasing the spirited character of today's youth through immersive military experiences.

Following this, the second phase of the Veteran Vice Principal project officially launched at Yuanshanbei Primary School, with an appointment ceremony held during the new semester's opening assembly. The event, themed "Dreams Set Sail, Future Awaits", used a hybrid format combining on-site participation with live streaming via DingTalk, drawing attendance from faculty, students, village committee members, and parent representatives. Outstanding veteran Ma Jinqin was formally appointed as the school's veteran vice principal, strengthening the campus's capacity for national defense and ideological education.

In his inaugural "First Ideological Lesson", Ma Jinqin drew on his rich military and grassroots work background, sharing authentic service stories and national defense knowledge. His presentation guided students toward appreciating revolutionary heritage and nurturing deep patriotism and support for the armed forces.

These activities represent a key practice for Changping town in revitalizing veterans' red resources and strengthening military-civilian cooperation. Since the program's launch on December 18, 2025, the town has rolled out the project in phases. The first phase saw the appointment of veteran vice principals at three schools, where they actively participated in defense training, red-themed lectures, and moral education practices, generating valuable experience in collaborative military-civilian education. The second phase now selects veterans with strong political integrity, diverse life experience, and a passion for education to expand the teaching force, using Yuanshanbei Primary School as the new starting point to broaden school coverage.

To date, the Veteran Vice Principal project benefits 16,901 students across eight schools, steadily building an educational model where veterans empower campuses and red culture shapes young minds. Moving forward, the Changping town Veterans Service Center will join forces with the education administration to accelerate the project's townwide implementation. Regular activities—including national defense lectures, military experience sessions, and red ideological classes—will continue, refining the military-civilian education mechanism and using veteran strength to solidify young people's commitment to national defense, nurturing a new generation ready to shoulder the nation's rejuvenation.