Living with the "island of fire, island of intoxication"...Part 2: Under the shadow of the great flag

One of the profound impressions of the People's Army Newspaper delegation in Cuba was experiencing military life in some units of the Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces. In the context of the economy facing many difficulties due to the embargo, the task of building and consolidating national defense potential has always been focused on and considered a prerequisite to firmly protect the Fatherland and maintain the achievements of the revolution...

If one day you come to a very far, very strange place, suddenly hear a lullaby, a folk song and immerse yourself in the colors of the national flag, you will surely be moved and proud. Our group lived in that emotion, in that sweet sound when visiting and working at the Camilo Cienfuegos Capdevila Military School, belonging to the Havana Military Region - Western Army Group, Ministry of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.

As soon as we arrived at the school gate and got off the bus, we heard the gentle sound of traditional music echoing back. Camilo Cienfuegos Capdevila Military Academy is located in the suburbs of La Habana, among rows of ancient trees and lush, green gardens of flowers and fruits. The familiar sound of traditional music about love for the homeland, love between couples... seemed to bring us back to the river region of the South, where boats, sampans, coconut-scented hair, scarves around the neck and the sound of the đàn kim carrying the voice followed the high and low tides to send off the troops to battle in the past. It was in that space that we felt more clearly the harmony between emotions and ideals, between culture and revolution, something that both Vietnam and Cuba cherish and preserve...

Major General Raúl Pérez Asvila, Commander of the Havana Military Region, and Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Legrá Borges, Principal of the school, came to welcome us. Major General Doan Xuan Bo shook hands with Major General Raúl Pérez Asvila and sincerely expressed:

- Don ca tai tu is a cultural heritage of the Southern region, the cradle of revolutionary tradition, the land of the Fatherland's citadel, leading the way in the resistance wars for national liberation and unification of Vietnam. Thank you, comrades, for giving us a familiar feeling like we are at home!

Major General Raúl Pérez Asvila replied:

- The patriotism of the Vietnamese people is forged from the nation's long-standing historical and cultural traditions. We always consider Vietnam as a symbol of will, courage, and indomitable fighting spirit and take that as a lesson for generations of students in schools like this...

We entered the school. On the main grandstand in the large yard, the large Vietnamese flag of dozens of square meters stood out. The solemn and dignified appearance of the Vietnamese national flag brought a strange sacred feeling. The flag is a sacred symbol of love for the Fatherland, great national pride. In any circumstance, the appearance of that image also brings a great source of spiritual motivation. And right at this moment, the image of the Vietnamese flag appeared in the most solemn place in the barracks of a friendly country's army unit, the emotion and pride suddenly surged strongly. We silently thanked the respectful, sincere feelings and the sophistication in diplomatic culture of our comrades and close brothers. Under the shadow of the flag and on both sides of the stage, each group of officers, soldiers, students... in neat uniforms stood at attention, saluting to the sound of drums and music resounding heroically...

Visiting the students' lesson in the Biology classroom, we were very impressed by the form and visual teaching method here. Animals, medicinal plants, vegetables from the plant ecosystem are crafted using stuffed and simulated techniques, helping students to research and form survival skills in special circumstances. "We are trained in survival skills so that even if we get lost in the deep forest or on a deserted island, we can still turn things available in nature into food and medicine to preserve our lives and fighting strength" - a student explained about the visual teaching tools.

The delegation of the People's Army Newspaper and officers, teachers and students of the Camilo Cienfuegos Capdevila Military School under the great flag. Photo: TRONG HAI

Talking to us, Major General Raúl Pérez Asvila repeated the words in President Ho Chi Minh's Testament: "Educating the next generation of revolutionaries is a very important and necessary task" to emphasize the training goals and requirements of the Military Academy model. Accordingly, in the cause of educating and nurturing revolutionary ideals for the youth, Cuba attaches importance to training from the root. Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Legrá Borges, Principal of the school, further emphasized: "We train students to develop comprehensively, train knowledge, courage, patriotism and the ability to adapt to all challenges, so that they can later become cadres and officers serving the Fatherland and the people".

Camilo Cienfuegos Capdevila School is part of the Military Academy system founded by General Raúl Castro in 1966. Over the past half century, generations of elite officers have been born from these cradles, making outstanding contributions to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, protecting the achievements of Cuba's revolution, and fostering international friendship and solidarity...

From the cradles of the Military Academy system, many cadres have grown up, developed, and become senior commanding officers in key units under the Ministry of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces. The 1011th Tank Division, the unit known as the "Iron Fist" in the history of the struggle to defend the Fatherland and fulfill international obligations of the Cuban revolutionary armed forces, is one of the typical units. Many senior officers and commanding officers in agencies and units under the Division through the periods were educated, trained, and matured from the cradle of the Military Academy system. When holding important responsibilities in the units, they continued to inspire and nurture the next generation of revolutionaries...

Visiting and working at the 1011 Tank Division, we were guided to visit the museum, including an outdoor exhibition area and a traditional room integrated with management and exploitation using digital platforms. Comrade Neil Sarmiento Reinaldo, museum manager of the 1011 Tank Division, meticulously introduced to us the tanks that contributed to the glorious feats in the revolutionary cause of the Cuban people and revolutionary armed forces. In the traditional room, valuable documentary films about the 60-year history of construction, fighting and growth, along with historical documents and artifacts through the ages, clearly depicted the stature and combat readiness of the unit. Through a conversation with Colonel Robendo Navarro Cabneja, Commander of the 1011 Tank Division, we clearly saw the similarities in the education, training and combat readiness of your unit with units in the Vietnam People's Army. Here, the political and ideological education for officers and soldiers always begins from the foundation of history and tradition. Before a soldier puts his finger on the trigger and points the barrel at the target, he already has in his heart and mind a spirit of dedication and sacrifice. And that source of strength is always nurtured and developed continuously. This contributes to explaining why, in the context of socio-economic life facing countless difficulties, the Cuban revolutionary armed forces units never neglect or take lightly the task of training and combat readiness. From the traditional room to the lecture hall, the training ground... in the 1011th Tank Division barracks is a continuous and continuous process of education and training for students. The Division's military base is also a solid, deep defense fortress on the coast. Tank soldiers are not only trained to master tank combat skills but also proficiently use anti-tank weapons, ready to maneuver and be flexible in combat situations. Directly witnessing the martial arts training session and visiting the live-fire shooting of the unit on the training ground with the results of destroying the target right from the first bullet of the tank soldiers, we truly admire their spirit, will and courage.

On the training ground of the 1011th Tank Division, there is a sacred space displaying a large stone with an image of leader Fidel Castro. It is a souvenir that remembers that during his lifetime, the great leader of the Cuban people came here, directly inspected the training of soldiers and advised them to fight for the fatherland. Today, amidst the difficulties and challenges, his image and thoughts still shine like a red flag, leading the entire Cuban people to continue to overcome difficulties, maintain the achievements of the revolution with the spirit of the Fatherland above all. Suddenly, I feel more deeply the verses from more than 6 decades ago by poet To Huu: Here is Cuba, shining with the red flag / Cuba treads the waves of the ocean / Majestic like the battleship Rang Dong!...

 

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/song-cung-dao-lua-dao-say-ky-2-duoi-bong-dai-ky-954727