Troops from 11 arms of the PLA Army and Air Force participated in the "Vanguard 2009" military exercise in October 2009. An Army brigade from the Jinan MAC that consisted of armor, artillery, signal corps and army engineers, undertook ground attack missions. Airborne troops from the Guangzhou MAC launched surprise attacks by landing at enemy bases. Ten helicopters also participated in the exercise, which were responsible for tracking enemy fire and providing first aid on the battlefield.

Lieutenant General Feng Zhaoju, the exercise's director and Deputy Commander of the Jinan MAC, told China News Service that the exercise was the PLA's first joint operation and joint training activity for basic campaign army groups. It was also the first time that a group army headquarters formed the exercise's joint headquarters, which incorporated both Army and Air Force officers.