The age limit would be 24 for early recruits. For those with only secondary-school educations, the age range for joining the military is 18-23.

Early recruits who found another job before enlisting would be able to "drop out" of the army.

This year, China will have 6.1 million university graduates, 500,000 more than last year, according to official figures. Some of last year's graduates are still unemployed, as well.

This year, the government has tried hard to increase opportunities for graduates, including a plan to create 60,000 jobs in remote areas and to employ graduates as village heads.

In the past, few university graduates joined the military as common soldiers. Most recruits were high school graduates, mostly from rural families. Graduates of military academies and civilian colleges became low-rank officers as they entered military service.

(China Daily June 25, 2009)