Air Force warns of ‘insidious’ Chinese military effort to recruit US troops and veterans 

China is attempting to lure US airmen into boosting Beijing’s own military with “too good to be true” job offers, the top Air Force officer warned Friday. 

The People’s Liberation Army effort to target and recruit American military talent, including veterans, is part of a stealthy ploy by the Chinese government to “fill gaps in their military capability” and represents a growing threat to national security,  Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., warned in a memo. 

China “wants to exploit your knowledge and skill,” Brown warned in his missive, explaining that “U.S. and NATO-trained military talent across specialties and career fields” are at risk to be targeted by foreign firms in business with the Chinese military. 

“By essentially training the trainer, many of those who accept contracts with these foreign companies are eroding our national security, putting the very safety of their fellow servicemembers and the country at risk, and may be violating the law,” added Brown, President Biden’s nominee to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

“Just as I am asking for your help, I have also asked for help from our allied Air Chiefs to address the same issue within their ranks,” Brown went on. “Protecting our national defense information is the responsibility of each servicemember and veteran.”

In a separate statement, the Air Force said it has taken steps to counter the national security threat, including by blacklisting companies and organizations associated with the PLA from subcontracting with the department.

In June, the Department of Commerce placed the Test Flying Academy of South Africa on an export control list because of its work facilitating training and technical support for the PLA using a former US military member. 

Signs of PLA recruiting efforts may include contracts that seem “too good to be true,” or that are scant on details about the customer, an unnamed Air Force Office of Special Investigations supervisory special agent said in a statement, describing the Chinese effort as “insidious.” 

The jobs are sometimes advertised on professional networking sites and job boards such as LinkedIn and Indeed. On other occasions, targeted headhunting emails are sent to individuals with sought-after skillsets, according to the agent.

Brown’s memo asks service members to report any suspicious recruitment efforts that they may have encountered.