In common with the practice of the Red Army at the time of its founding in 1927, neither were used until 1955 when a system of ranks was established.
After the Sino-Vietnamese War of 1979, reforms in the PLA began to be made to professionalize the armed forces once more.
The following ranks and their respective insignia shown are those used by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force.
[1] Unlike NATO countries, new recruits of the People's Liberation Army have no military ranks before the boot camp is completed, and they will be awarded the rank of Private/Seaman Apprentice/Airman (All collectively called "Private" or "Lie Bing" in the Chinese language) after they have graduated from the boot camp.
[4] The insignia used by officers from 1955 to 1965 by the PLA Ground Force were modelled on those used by the Soviet Army at the time and similar to the earlier Imperial Japanese Army on collar insignia, with the primary differences being the existence of an additional field officer rank, and the insignia of the highest general officer rank being four stars unlike the one large star used by the Soviet Armed Forces starting in 1963.
The NCO insignia of that period showed Japanese influence with the use of stars on the collars with the specialty badge on the side.