There was almost no distance between them; they were always close, sharing, understanding, and trusting each other. The officers were truly like older brothers and sisters to the soldiers, guiding and instructing them in even the smallest matters of training and daily life.

Major Pham Van Duc, Political Officer of the Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion (Hai Phong City Military Command), said: "To truly understand, be close to, and share the difficulties and hardships, and to encourage the soldiers, the unit assigns specific tasks and responsibilities to the battalion's officers and commanders, and the 'Military Personnel Psychological Counseling Team' at the battalion and company levels. This is combined with monitoring and encouragement from the soldiers' families, friends, and fellow villagers within the unit to help resolve any issues and to flexibly and promptly address any emerging ideological problems."

To help soldiers feel secure and committed to building the unit, always considering "the island as their home and the sea as their homeland," the Party Committee and command of the Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion have effectively promoted the role of mass organizations, regularly organizing activities such as youth forums, comrades' birthday celebrations, cultural and artistic exchanges, and sports activities with affiliated units, local departments, organizations, and the people on the island.

Officers of the Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion meet and encourage soldiers (March 2023).

Sharing about the measures taken to address the unit's ideological situation, Captain Bui Quang Dong, Deputy Political Officer of the Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion, added that due to the unique characteristics of the island, being stationed far from the mainland, the material conditions and living quarters are still lacking. Many officers and soldiers have family matters such as sick parents, sick children, or wives giving birth, making it impossible for them to return home due to limited transportation to and from the mainland. Even during stormy seasons with harsh weather and winds of level 5 or higher, ships and boats have to temporarily cease operations. Therefore, the Party Committee and the Battalion's command have been flexible in monitoring, managing, and effectively resolving the ideological situation. When favorable conditions arise, the unit reports to higher authorities to arrange leave for soldiers to visit their families, thereby helping officers and soldiers feel secure in their work and contribute to the unit's development.

Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Van Quy, a staff member of the Maintenance Company, Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion, shared his feelings: “Many comrades have personal family matters and cannot return home, but we are very cared for by our unit commanders, comrades, and fellow soldiers. We are treated like family, sharing joys and sorrows in life, and together determined to successfully complete our nhiệm vụ and maintain the sovereignty of our sea and islands.”

Thanks to flexible policies and measures in monitoring, managing, and effectively resolving ideological issues, the officers and soldiers of the Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion always feel secure in their work, clearly understand their duties, maintain a high level of vigilance, stand firm at the forefront of the waves, and firmly protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's sea and islands.

Text and photos: NGUYEN THANH