“Unit to Level 1!” The commander’s command, along with the alarm bell, echoed throughout the battlefield. Officers and soldiers of the 37mm Anti-Aircraft Artillery Platoon (Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion, under the Hai Phong City Military Command) quickly moved into their combat positions. When a flying target appeared, the command sighting unit continuously tracked and monitored the target, data was constantly marked on the target board, reported to the unit commander, and transmitted to the gun crews. On the gun platform, the gunners coordinated seamlessly, ready to fire when the target came within range. This was an anti-aircraft artillery training exercise for the 37mm Anti-Aircraft Artillery Platoon during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon 2024. Despite the cold weather and drizzle, the vibrant atmosphere of the new spring seemed to invigorate the young officers and soldiers of the unit, motivating them to strive to fulfill their duty of firmly protecting the nation’s airspace.
This is the first time Private First Class To Van Chien, a soldier in the 37mm Anti-Aircraft Artillery Platoon, has celebrated Tet (Lunar New Year) in the army while on combat readiness duty. He shared: “I have mixed feelings; I miss home but am very excited about the spring celebrations at the unit, and I'm also a little worried about completing the very serious and demanding combat readiness duty. However, thanks to the care and encouragement from my superiors and my own self-discipline, I am determined to uphold my responsibility in performing my duties. This starts with actively training, fulfilling my assigned responsibilities and tasks well, coordinating closely with other soldiers in the platoon, and being ready to destroy targets as ordered by the commander.”
Coordination in gathering information and ensuring political security, order, and social safety in Bach Long Vi island district is always a priority. At 5 a.m., before sunrise, Comrade Le Van Chuyen, platoon leader of the mobile militia platoon of Bach Long Vi island district, and his comrades are already at the port to patrol the waters around the island with border guards. Chuyen's family owns a boat that provides transportation services for people and goods around the island and a general store. Like many other officers and soldiers in the mobile militia platoon, Chuyen always makes time to participate in maintaining political security, order, and social safety in the area. “Each of our patrols usually lasts three to five hours, depending on weather and hydrological conditions. This is a regular coordinated activity between the district militia and border guards to disseminate information, encourage people to comply with the law, and promptly detect and handle situations that disrupt security and order at sea. Along with the border guards, the mobile militia on the island also actively cooperates with the coast guard in carrying out their duties. In cases where a vehicle is needed, I am ready to bring my family's vehicle to participate in the district's joint mission,” said Comrade Le Van Chuyen.
According to the platoon leader of the mobile militia platoon of Bach Long Vi island district, in addition to patrolling the waters, the unit's officers and soldiers also patrol the mainland area around the island and protect important targets as directed by their superiors. Despite walking more than 10 km on patrol, through many steep, rocky, and slippery terrains, the officers and soldiers of the Bach Long Vi island militia have overcome difficulties and consistently fulfilled their assigned duties and responsibilities.
Bach Long Vi Island holds a particularly important strategic position in the Gulf of Tonkin. Therefore, along with the forces stationed in the area, officers and soldiers of units under the Hai Phong City Military Command always maintain unity, uphold a high sense of responsibility, and strictly implement the directives of Military Region 3 on combat readiness; review and adjust plans, practice combat readiness scenarios, especially those for protecting the sea and islands; and effectively coordinate efforts to closely monitor the situation and avoid being caught off guard.
To ensure the troops successfully fulfill their nhiệm vụ of protecting maritime sovereignty and islands, Colonel Bui Xuan Thang, Commander of the Hai Phong City Military Command, stated: “Performing duties on remote islands requires officers and soldiers of all units to concentrate intensely and make great efforts. The Hai Phong City Military Command requires leaders and commanders of units stationed on the islands to do a good job of political and ideological education, motivate and share difficulties with the troops; ensure full standards and entitlements, pay attention to their spiritual lives, and organize joyful and healthy spring activities so that officers and soldiers can work with peace of mind. The Hai Phong City Military Command will strengthen regular and surprise inspections of the implementation of duty schedules and regulations, preventing complacency and a lack of vigilance.”
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