“No Saturday, no Sunday”

This weekend, the family of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hoang, Deputy Political Commissar of the Regiment, had very important work to do, so he registered for a leave of absence, received permission from his superiors, and "coordinated" closely with the rear.

On Friday afternoon, looking at Hoang looking fresh in neat civilian clothes, getting ready to get on the bus to go home, there was an order to immediately prepare military equipment, and work with the flight crew to study the flight route and rescue plan for people isolated by the flood in Muong Hung commune, Son La province. Immediately, the civilian clothes were changed into flight suits, and the team got on the bus, and moved to the airport to carry out the mission.

Pilots and crew members of the Regiment coordinated flight plans before taking off on a relief flight in Dien Bien .

After receiving the plane, coordinating with the flight crew members and receiving the mission from the flight commander, Hoang took a few minutes to call his family to "present".

I asked Hoang, was his wife angry that everything was already prepared? Hoang smiled: “I’m used to it! Soldiers… A few years ago, because I was on an important mission, when my grandmother passed away, I couldn’t go back to see her one last time or burn incense for her. In this unit, everyone is like that! Even in peacetime, we don’t think about Saturdays or Sundays.”

“No Saturday, no Sunday” is not a complaint, but a natural working 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 performing the task of protecting the airspace, being ready to move according to orders and continuously training, to constantly improve their combat skills, search and rescue, and disaster relief.

Colonel Nguyen Thanh Binh, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of the 916th Air Force Regiment, affirmed: “Despite many difficulties, hardships, and high-intensity, complex work, the officers and soldiers of the unit, especially the pilots and flight crew members, always demonstrate a high sense of responsibility and always put the mission first and foremost. This spirit is due to the fact that the Party Committees and commanders at all levels in the Regiment always uphold and effectively implement the instructions and resolutions of superiors on the military and defense tasks of the unit in the new situation. In any task, we clearly identify that the task of training and combat readiness is sacred; the task of searching and rescuing is an order from the heart, so there is no distinction between holidays or Tet. Each take-off is a time when the Fatherland and the people put their trust in us, so we must try even harder to be worthy of the tradition of the Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces. But in just a little while, this December, the Regiment will celebrate 50 years of establishment, growth and development.

Helicopters drop relief supplies to flood victims.

A place where challenges forge character

In practice at the 916th Air Force Regiment, working without days off is not only a mission requirement, but also an ideal environment to train the soldiers' will and steel spirit. It is also in this atmosphere of urgent and regular mission implementation that the officers and soldiers of the unit have matured day by day. They not only learn the habit of high-intensity work, but also know how to overcome pressure, maintain their spirit and be decisive in all situations. Especially sharing and helping each other in work as well as in daily life.

Relatives 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 normal life, soldiers, like everyone else, after completing their missions, we all look forward to the weekend to rest and visit relatives and family. But in 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 regime, there are many individuals who do not live up to their own and the rear's wishes, even though the Party Committee and the Regiment's commander have sought every solution to give them leave and compensatory leave in accordance with regulations. However, what we are most assured of is that all officers and soldiers in the unit share the same determination, that a day of dedication, a time in a position ready to perform a mission and perform the mission well, are all days of pride for each person. Perhaps, that is what makes the 916th Regiment resilient and exemplary. Where "there is no Saturday, no Sunday", but full of responsibility, comradeship and pride in flying to successfully carry out the mission assigned by the Party, Fatherland, Army, Service and people.

In the past few days, when the sun began to rise over Son Tay and clouds were hovering over the majestic Ba Vi peak, it was also the time when helicopters of the 916th Air Force Regiment took off for the mission of rescuing people in the flooded area of Dien Bien. No one thought about whether today was a weekend or not. Because the eyes and hearts of the soldiers here were filled with orders from their superiors and the call, the oath in the depths of the strong military-civilian relationship.

Article 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