First Squad
2.5 Meters Tall: Who Let Him Enlist?
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | First Squad (一班) |
| Affiliation | First Company, 82nd Group Army; later First Company, First Battalion, Special Operations Brigade 82 138 |
| Occupation/Role | Military squad; new-recruit training, special-operations training and missions 12 149 207 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 12 12 |
History
First Squad begins as a new-recruit squad led by Chen Ting, a veteran of the Special Operations Brigade. Lü Qinglong is its last recruit to arrive. Among his fellow recruits are Ji Baichang, Xue Daochao and Song Si 12 13. Chen Ting oversees their drill and physical training; Ji Baichang and Xue Daochao later join Lü for additional morning training 27 33 43.
The squad places second in a new-recruit tug-of-war competition. Lü helps it defeat Eighth Squad, but is barred from further participation because of his strength; First Squad then loses the final to Tenth Squad 62. As recruit training ends, its members receive assignments to different brigades. Lü, Ji and Xue secure places in the Special Operations Brigade 113 116.
At the Special Operations Brigade, Lü, Ji, Xue and Li Wa are assigned to a squad under Chen Ting 120. Later chapters identify Chen Ting's unit as First Squad. It trains in close-quarters battle, patrols the border and takes part in exercises and operations 149 196 207. Ding Wei serves as deputy squad leader and leads the squad while Chen Ting is on leave 183 188.
Chen Ting subsequently prepares Ding Wei to take charge when he retires. Lü, Ji and Xue leave for military-academy study, while Li Wa remains with the squad; Ding Wei later leads it and trains three newly assigned recruits 264 269 304.
Members and Leadership
- Chen Ting — squad leader during recruit training and later Special Operations Brigade service; a former assault specialist known as “Thunder” 13 33 196.
- Ding Wei — deputy squad leader who commands in Chen Ting's absence and later succeeds him 183 188 264 304.
- Lü Qinglong — recruit whose exceptional strength repeatedly shapes the squad's training and operations 13 62 207.
- Ji Baichang — recruit who encourages teammates and takes initiative in exercises 62 198 199.
- Xue Daochao — recruit who trains alongside Lü and Ji and joins them in the Special Operations Brigade 81 113 120.
- Li Wa — joins Chen Ting's squad at the brigade and later chooses promotion to non-commissioned officer rather than military academy 120 269.
Operations and Training
- Close-quarters battle: Chen Ting trains both new recruits and veterans in a disused brick house. The squad later practices with additional weapons and equipment 149 162.
- Emergency response: First Squad trains to load weapons and equipment rapidly for Emergency Platoon duty. With Chen Ting absent, Ding Wei leads its eight members during a mountain search for a perpetrator 183 188.
- Company exercise: Assigned to the attacking Red Team, First Squad advances through mountainous terrain, navigates booby traps and outposts, and splits its personnel to support another flank 196 197 199.
- Border patrol: The squad patrols heavily armed and encounters enemy mercenaries. Lü's Ceramic Steel Armor withstands a sniper-rifle shot, and the squad returns fire with individual rocket launchers 204 207 210.
- Lebanon peacekeeping: Under Chen Ting, First Squad prepares a building defense using concealed firing openings. It is later debriefed and praised for its performance against SEAL Team Six 234 241.
Other Squads Named First Squad
“First Squad” is also the designation of separate units encountered later in the story; they are not presented as continuations of Chen Ting's squad.
- Army Special Operations Academy: Lü, Ji and Xue are assigned together to an academy First Squad. Li Guang becomes its squad leader and Ji its deputy 274 275.
- Special Reconnaissance Company: After graduation, Lü commands First Platoon and stays with its First Squad, whose personnel are veterans from the newly formed company 299 300.