"We Uygurs are also taken care of in terms of our ethnic customs - the ship has allocated a special kitchen and designated a cook to make halal food for us."
Nurbiya Ablim, 19, a signals operator from Turpan, said: "At first I couldn't endure the tough training. We would train for four hours under the scorching sun each day. But now I am used to the life."
She said she wants to attend a military school, to enable her to continue to serve in the PLA after her two-year stint ends.
Her hopes are shared by other female Uygur sailors.
"All of us want to continue to serve in the PLA in the future because we can learn a lot and life in the military is self-promotion for us," said Aynur Alim, who is 21 and a radar operator on the ship.
In addition to their military roles, the Uygurs also promote their culture and history and that of Xinjiang.
Xukrat said: "A lot of my shipmates who come from other places are very curious about Xinjiang, so I have spent hours telling them about my life there and stories about my hometown."
Hu Zhihao, the political commissar of the Jinggangshan, said:"They have told me they cherish the chance of serving in the navy." They have no special requests for their living conditions on the ship and have good relations with sailors from other ethnic groups.
Hu said the Uygurs cannot perform duties on their own, due to language problems. The ship has assigned an officer to help them improve their Mandarin.
Arkin said:"My comrades come from many places in our nation, and we have become friends. I will invite them to Xinjiang and to my beautiful hometown after I return home. And even if one day I retire from the navy, I will never forget my brothers and sisters in the PLA."
Gangs smuggling case involving refined oil seized in China's Zhejiang
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