For the warplane pilot program, the Chinese Navy searches for graduate students

In order to broaden its search and hire more graduate students to fly shipborne aircraft, the Chinese Navy is raising the age limit.

This is done in an effort to raise the standards of its aircrew and create a "strong army".

As the military is a career path traditionally favored by the less educated, China is attempting to improve the caliber of its recruits in addition to upgrading its equipment, from warships to warplanes.

In a WeChat advertisement, the People's Liberation Army Navy stated that it was looking for graduate students with master's degrees in science and engineering who were under the age of 26 to operate aircraft from ships.

Undergraduates who were 24 years old or younger could apply for the first time last year. Prior to then, only high school graduates under the age of 20 were permitted.

In the advertisement published on Wednesday, the People's Liberation Army Navy said that the need for high-quality military talent was becoming more imperative day by day. It added that the mission and tasks of the navy continue to expand, and the speed of the strategic shift of the navy was being accelerated.

The advertisement specifies that applicants must be male with a clear "political history" and no criminal or disciplinary records.

Three to four years of aviation theory and hands-on flight instruction will be required for certification. Pilots are entitled to free housing from the government as well as free health care for themselves and their immediate families.

A crucial step before the warship enters operational service, sea trials for China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, are currently being completed.