During our long reporting trips, interacting with, talking to, and flying alongside these soldiers, who are "iron-willed and resilient," highly skilled in martial arts, "travel without a trace, cook without smoke, and speak without a sound," helped us to better understand their love for their country and the silent hardships and sacrifices they endure every day...

At 3 a.m. on a day in early July, at Chu Lai Airport ( Da Nang City), special forces and reconnaissance officers and soldiers were busy unloading specialized parachutes from trucks and arranging them neatly in rows along the runway. According to their assigned tasks, the officers and instructors of the 372nd Air Division (Air Defense-Air Force Command) carefully inspected each main and auxiliary parachute, ensuring the safety of the troops during airborne landing training. After checking their physical fitness, heart rate, and blood pressure, the soldiers began warming up, then quickly put on their weapons and equipment, ready to await orders. Although we reporters did not participate in the parachute jump, we were also thoroughly examined by the military medical team.

Special forces soldiers practice combat scenarios after being lowered from aircraft using ropes.

At exactly 5:30 a.m., as the sun was just rising, two Mi-17 helicopters officially took off, carrying combatants and reconnaissance personnel into the air. Shaking hands with Lieutenant Bhnướch Nơi, Platoon Leader of Platoon 1 (Company 1); Lieutenant Lê Xuân Thành, Platoon Leader of Platoon 8 (Company 3); and the young officers and soldiers participating in their first parachute and airborne landing exercise, Major Lê Vũ Thắng, Deputy Battalion Commander of the 409th Special Forces Battalion, encouraged the troops: “I wish you all calmness, confidence, and a successful landing!” Then, Major Thắng stepped to the helicopter door and bravely leaped into the air. The commander's action was like a silent command, urging the entire unit forward, determined to successfully complete the mission. Against the clear sky, the white parachutes unfolded one by one and slowly descended.

Speaking to us after a safe landing, Captain Ha Quang Vinh, Deputy Battalion Commander of the 32nd Reconnaissance Battalion, said: “Airborne landing by parachute is one of the important and unique specialized training contents for special forces and reconnaissance troops. During the landing exercise, in addition to the main and auxiliary parachutes, the soldiers must also carry a full set of weapons and equipment to be ready for combat and engage the enemy when a situation arises. In complex terrain and weather conditions, with frequent strong winds that change direction constantly, such as at Chu Lai airport, to accurately land the parachute on the bullseye, soldiers need courage, physical fitness, and the ability to flexibly, creatively, and effectively apply the knowledge, skills, and experience they have been trained in. In the unit, many comrades have parachuted and airborne landed nearly 40 times, but there are also comrades performing this mission for the first time, so feelings of nervousness and anxiety are unavoidable. Understanding this, the Party committee, "The unit commander always pays attention to, mentors, encourages, and assists the soldiers before, during, and after the parachute jump and airborne landing, so that they can successfully complete their mission."

Flight after flight, troop transport planes continuously took off and landed. In the skies of the Fatherland, parachutes silently swayed, carrying the aspirations for freedom and the pride of young soldiers. Having completed their parachute and airborne landing missions, without even taking a break to recover their strength, the soldiers continued practicing rappelling and descent from aircraft. Working in coordinated efforts and achieving collective success, upon landing, reconnaissance teams and special forces units quickly utilized the terrain and landmarks, secretly maneuvering to approach their targets, unexpectedly opening fire, throwing grenades, bayonets, and butts to eliminate terrorists, extremists, and hostage takers. Their faces were tanned and darkened by the sun, their uniforms soaked with sweat, yet smiles always graced the lips of these courageous soldiers.

According to Lieutenant Nguyen Trong Tu, a reconnaissance officer in Company 1 (32nd Reconnaissance Battalion), although they have received thorough training, practice, and safety checks, the risk of parachutes getting entangled in aircraft landing gear, failing to deploy, twisting, losing control, drifting out to sea, landing on high-voltage power lines, trees, or roads remains ever-present. Therefore, in addition to skill, experience, and expertise, soldiers must constantly train to improve their courage and proficiency, ready to face difficulties, challenges, and dangers. Recognizing that "sweat on the training ground saves blood on the battlefield," the soldiers always uphold the spirit of overcoming sun and rain, diligently practicing, and gradually improving their skills, coordination, and combat readiness.

Despite the arduous and dangerous nature of our mission, driven by a burning passion for our profession, we reporters and journalists in military uniforms always stand shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers on their journey to conquer the skies, to experience, converse with, and write about these brave, courageous, and elite soldiers.  

Text and photos: VIET HUNG

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/khang-dinh-ban-linh-trinh-do-cua-bo-doi-dac-cong-trinh-sat-837452