On the specialized training ground of the 409th Tank Brigade, the cracked ground, after a series of hot, dry days, was suddenly greeted by a refreshing rain. Instead of swirling yellow-brown dust, the training ground was covered in large and small puddles and slippery mud. This significantly affected the ammunition resupply crews, who had to carry heavy artillery shells weighing over 30kg during maneuvers. Nevertheless, the practical exercises in ammunition resupply and loading by the tank crews remained enthusiastic.

The commander of the 409th Tank Brigade briefed and assigned tasks before commencing training and firing tests.

Sergeant Duong Van Tuyen, from Company 3, Battalion 1, 409th Tank Brigade, who was tasked with resupplying ammunition to the tank crews participating in the competition, said: "Moving in slippery conditions is quite dangerous, requiring us to concentrate intensely, ensuring the fastest possible time while avoiding any safety incidents during training."

On the turret and in the tank's control compartment, the personnel, in their respective positions, coordinated their tasks with utmost rhythm, skill, and precision, from transferring ammunition, receiving ammunition, and loading it into the ammunition rack. These operations, performed in cramped spaces, were certainly not simple and required each officer and soldier to have received thorough basic training.

Wearing his sweat-drenched uniform, Private First Class Pham Khac Tu, the ammunition loader for tank crew number 2, couldn't hide his joy upon learning that his crew had achieved the highest results. "Moving heavy ammunition in a confined space with many parts and equipment requires soldiers to operate with extreme precision. Besides, performing the task in hot weather is even more difficult and physically demanding because the temperature inside the engine compartment is several degrees higher than outside," Private First Class Pham Khac Tu explained.

At the end of the competition, the rewards for the high-achieving tank crews included recognition from their unit commanders, refreshing drinks to quench their thirst and escape the summer heat, and encouraging applause from their teammates…

The tank crew practices receiving and loading ammunition.

Lieutenant Tran Dinh Toan, Platoon Leader of Platoon 9, Company 3, Battalion 1, 409th Tank Brigade, shared his experience: To improve the quality of training, the unit instills in its members the motto "one minute of enthusiasm is better than a whole day of perfunctory training"; at the same time, they regularly organize sports competitions and contests between tank crews, creating a lively competitive atmosphere. In particular, after each training session, each tank crew discusses and learns from experience to identify shortcomings and solutions to focus on overcoming them in subsequent training sessions.

Upon learning about the unit's training activities, we discovered that training and combat readiness are tasks that the Party Committee and the Brigade's command place special emphasis on, and are identified as a breakthrough in the resolution's development. Accordingly, the Brigade focuses on leading and directing efforts to ensure effective training preparation, organizing training for officers at all levels, and meticulously reviewing lesson plans and lectures. In particular, the Brigade regularly assigns commanders to closely monitor and inspect the troops throughout the training process, promptly correcting mistakes and motivating the soldiers during practice.

The unit's leaders and commanders encouraged the officers and soldiers of the tank crews to complete their mission.

To maintain the health of soldiers training in harsh weather conditions, the unit has developed a flexible schedule, based on weather conditions, proactively adjusting morning training sessions 30 minutes earlier and afternoon training sessions 30 minutes later to avoid peak heat periods of the day.

The brigade directed the logistics department to ensure that officers and soldiers received full entitlements and standards. It instructed the medical corps to train on preventing and combating heatstroke and heat exhaustion even before the training season began; simultaneously, it assigned medical personnel and supplies to closely monitor the training grounds alongside the troops, promptly handling any heatstroke or heat exhaustion incidents that might occur.

In addition, the units regularly maintain a training march regime; organize concentrated physical training; and encourage soldiers to actively and voluntarily engage in physical exercise and sports during the eighth hour of each day to improve endurance, enhance physical fitness, and meet the requirements of high-intensity training.

Lieutenant Colonel Dao Van Chung, Commander of the 409th Tank Brigade, affirmed: In the coming time, the Brigade will continue to strengthen training according to the motto "basic, practical, and solid"; training from low intensity gradually increasing to high intensity; emphasizing night training and training closely aligned with actual combat situations. Simultaneously, the Brigade will train troops to proficiently use the old T54B tank system and organize training for the use of the improved T54B tank, serving well the joint exercises with live firing and the comparative firing exercises of the improved T54B tank in the near future.

Text and photos: BUI HIEP - QUOC HA