Teacher-turned-sniper trains Guizhou armed police force

Twenty-five years ago, Li Xingkun was a college graduate with a future in teaching. Today, at 46, he trains Guizhou's Armed Police Force in sniper tactics and urban counterterrorism, with a focus on integrating drones and ground forces.

Li belongs to the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, a militarized body that handles sudden public security crises, engages in counterterrorism, enforces maritime rights, and leads disaster relief efforts.

Now a seasoned soldier, Li oversees reconnaissance and marksmanship courses. His signature training method is designed to sharpen his unit's ability to integrate new technologies into urban counterterrorism missions.

"He is endlessly curious and demands absolute precision," said Xu Lele, one of the trainees.

During his service in the special forces, Li mastered sniper tactics, close-quarters combat, and rope descents. In one evaluation, he topped the rock climbing and handgun shooting events, even earning a perfect score in a 10-round expert shootout.

As he honed his skills, Li applied his teaching experience, studying and sharpening each tactic and guiding his fellow soldiers.

"I will do everything I can to pass my skills on to others," Li said. "When the Chinese people face danger, I want my soldiers ready to protect them. That has always been my mission."