"Neither Saturday nor Sunday"

This weekend, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hoang, Deputy Political Commissar of the Regiment, has a very important family matter, so he requested time off, which was approved by his superiors, and he has coordinated closely with his family.

On Friday afternoon, seeing Hoang looking cheerful in his neat civilian clothes, preparing to get into the car to go home, he received an immediate order to prepare his military equipment and, together with the flight crew, study the flight path and rescue flight plan for people isolated by the severe flooding in Muong Hung commune, Son La province. Immediately, his civilian clothes were changed into flight suits, and he and his teammates got into the car and mobilized to the airport to carry out the mission.

Pilots and crew members of the Regiment coordinate flight plans before taking off for a relief mission in Dien Bien .

After taking control of the aircraft, coordinating with the crew members, and receiving instructions from the flight commander, Hoang took a couple of minutes to call his family to "explain the situation."

I asked Hoang, "Your wife must be very angry now that everything is ready?" Hoang smiled and said, "I'm used to it, brother! I'm a soldier... A few years ago, because I was on an important mission, I couldn't even go home to see my grandmother one last time or light an incense stick for her. It's the same for everyone in this unit! Even in peacetime, we don't think about Saturdays or Sundays."

"There are no Saturdays, no Sundays" is not a lament, but a natural work habit of the officers and soldiers of the Regiment over the years, especially the pilots and flight crew members. For them, every day is a day of fulfilling the mission of protecting the airspace, being ready to mobilize on command, and continuously training to constantly improve their combat, search and rescue, and relief skills.

Colonel Nguyen Thanh Binh, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the 916th Air Force Regiment, affirmed: “Despite facing many difficulties and hardships, working at high intensity and with complex tasks, the officers and soldiers of the unit, especially the pilots and flight crew members, always demonstrate a high sense of responsibility and a mindset of always putting the mission first. This spirit is due to the fact that the Party committees and commanders at all levels in the Regiment always prioritize and effectively implement the directives and resolutions of higher levels regarding the unit's military and national defense tasks in the new situation. In any mission, we clearly understand that the task of training and combat readiness is sacred; the task of search and rescue is a command from the heart, so we do not distinguish between holidays or Tet. Each time we take off, the Fatherland and the people place their trust in us, so we must strive even harder to be worthy of the tradition of the Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces, which is only now beginning to flourish.” "In just a short time, this December, the Regiment will celebrate its 50th anniversary of establishment, growth, and development."

Helicopters drop relief supplies to flood victims.

A place where challenges hone character.

In practice at the 916th Air Regiment, working without days off is not only a duty requirement but also an ideal environment for forging the willpower and steely spirit of the soldiers. It is in this atmosphere of urgent and disciplined task execution that the unit's officers and soldiers have matured day by day. They have not only learned the habit of working at high intensity but also how to overcome pressure, maintain morale, and be decisive in all situations. Above all, they have learned to share and help each other in their work and daily lives.

Family members congratulated the pilot and crew members on successfully completing their mission and returning to the airport.

Sharing about the unit's mission, Colonel Ta Mong Vu, Commander of the 916th Air Force Regiment, said: “In peacetime, in everyday life, soldiers, like everyone else, look forward to the weekend to rest and visit relatives and family after completing their duties. But at the 916th Regiment, there are many times of the year when every day is the same. Although we know that in implementing the prescribed rest schedule, many individuals do not get the rest they want, and their families are not included, even though the Party Committee and the Regiment's command have tried every possible way to allow them to take leave and compensatory leave according to regulations. However, what reassures us most is that all officers and soldiers in the unit share the same determination: every day of dedication, every time being in a position ready to perform a mission and performing it well, is a day to be proud of for each person. Perhaps that is what makes the 916th Regiment resilient and exemplary. A place where 'there is no Saturday'." "There are no Sundays," but it is filled with a sense of responsibility, camaraderie, and pride in soaring high to successfully fulfill the mission entrusted by the Party, the Fatherland, the Army, the Air Force, and the people."

In recent days, as the sun began to rise over Son Tay and clouds swirled around the majestic peak of Ba Vi, helicopters from the 916th Air Regiment took off on a mission to rescue and assist the people in the flooded Dien Bien region. No one thought about whether it was the weekend or not. Above all, the eyes and hearts of these soldiers were filled with the orders of their superiors and the call and oath of the deep-seated bond between the military and the people.

Text and photos: NGO TIEN MANH

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    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/o-noi-khong-co-thu-chi-co-ngay-840108