The teacher conquered the theoretical podium

With the characteristics of a combat officer training school, how to make a Philosophy hour not something abstract and distant, but the basis of worldview and methodology for students to perceive correctly and act correctly in an extremely harsh environment is the biggest concern of Major Do Duy Lam. “My lectures must meet the criteria of being concise and easy to understand while still ensuring scientific depth. I must always skillfully transform thoughts into practical actions, helping students to be steadfast in the face of difficulties and steadfast in the face of special tasks; at the same time, I must find ways to create interest for students. The training intensity of special forces students is very high, very tiring, requiring both mental and physical strength. Therefore, in order to switch to a theory subject that is not dry, we must switch from theory to combat practice, directly linked to the activities of the students”, Major Do Duy Lam shared.

Photo: Character provided

Deeply aware of that, he always actively innovates teaching methods, prepares lectures carefully and constantly updates new knowledge, using a variety of methods to visualize lectures. “Instead of one-way presentations, I also use many different methods such as raising problems, discussing, solving problems, creating an environment for students to think and exchange. In each lecture, in addition to the teacher-student relationship, I identify students as the subjects of academic exchange. They can express their thoughts and arguments, thereby creating inspiration and increasing the attractiveness of the lesson,” said Major Do Duy Lam.

Sergeant Bui Thanh Tung, a student of the Intermediate Anti-Terrorism Class, Course 14, one of Major Do Duy Lam's outstanding students, said: "If I could use two words to describe Mr. Lam's lessons, I would use "lively" and "connected to reality". His lectures are not dry, because they are always connected to real training and combat, helping students find it easy to understand; thanks to that, the lessons are both attractive and practical."

The "multi-talented" teacher: From philosophy to tactics

If one only looks at the podium with its in-depth theoretical textbooks, many people will think that Major Do Duy Lam's work is only related to books. But at the Special Forces Officer School, he is both an exemplary lecturer in the classroom and an active and enthusiastic researcher.

A corner of the office of Major, Master Do Duy Lam . Photo: Provided by the character

Few people expected that a lecturer of Marxist-Leninist Philosophy would be a member participating in the Ministry-level project on "Developing the theory of combat tactics of the Special Forces"; the General Department of Politics project on "Improving the quality of Party work and political work of the Party cell secretaries in military schools today". He is also the author of the scientific article "The humanistic values ​​and aspirations for independence and freedom of the August Revolution in the flow of national history" published in the Journal of Psychology - Education (No. 7, July 2025). In addition, Major Do Duy Lam also contributed to upgrading specialized textbooks such as Communications and Military Topography.

So what connects a political theory lecturer with practical combat topics? According to Major Do Duy Lam, “at first glance, these two fields seem far apart.” “However, philosophy provides a worldview and methodology for studying reality, specifically here, studying tactics and terrain. Participating in a ministerial-level topic helps me approach combat practice more deeply, thereby clarifying the meaning of Philosophy in solving specific problems. On the contrary, the foundation of Marxist-Leninist Philosophy helps me approach the topic in a systematic, scientific, logical way, avoiding sentimentality when researching. When upgrading the curriculum, I applied philosophical thinking to restructure the content, choose the focus, and increase applicability. Therefore, Philosophy is not outside of military practice but is a thinking tool to orient research and teaching, including content that seems purely military,” Major Do Duy Lam shared.

Sweet fruit for tireless efforts

It can be said that being good at pedagogy and deep in practice has brought success to Major Do Duy Lam. At the 2025 Social Sciences and Humanities Lecturer Competition of Military Academies and Schools, he won the Encouragement Prize and in the 2024-2025 school year, he was awarded a certificate of Excellent Lecturer by the General Department of Politics when participating in this competition. This is a worthy recognition for the tireless efforts of Major Do Duy Lam - a dedicated lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (Special Forces Officer School).

Major Do Duy Lam is always close to students and colleagues. Photo: Provided by the character

But when asked about his motivation, he confided: "My biggest motivation is not that achievement, but the desire to improve myself to serve my students better as well as see my own and my students' maturity." So, when asked about the core lesson that he wants all generations of special forces officers to carry with them, Major Do Duy Lam shared that it is the awareness to train their mettle, thinking and responsibility. "Regardless of their position or rank, in peacetime or wartime, those qualities will help them stand firm to be worthy of the tradition of special forces," he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Huy - Head of the Marxist-Leninist Philosophy Department - also a commander, colleague, and close comrade of Major, Master Do Duy Lam commented: “Professor Lam is sharp and logical on the podium like a sword, but in real life he is extremely delicate and friendly. He always creates a close distance with students and colleagues, ready to chat to grasp the thoughts and concerns of students. He is always positive, proactive and very receptive in learning from the experiences of previous lecturers; maintains the standard lifestyle of a military officer, diligently studies documents, and accumulates knowledge”.

Many people shared with me that they appreciate the style of Major, Master Do Duy Lam, who is not only a man of work, but also very complete and responsible to students, teammates and family. That is the image of a simple, responsible, sincere teacher, always dedicated to his profession and to people./.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/thieu-ta-do-duy-lam-nguoi-truyen-lua-ly-luan-tai-lo-luyen-thep-1012440