Born into a family with a military tradition in Binh Thuy ward, Can Tho city, Pham Ngoc Thach early nurtured the dream of wearing a soldier's uniform, following the image of his father who served in the army. That image quietly became a steadfast motivation, urging Thach to pursue a military career.

Graduated from the Automotive Engineering major at Can Tho University in 2023, instead of looking for a civilian job like many of his peers, Thach decided to volunteer to join the army. “I want to be trained in the military environment, live with discipline and responsibility, and become a useful citizen for society and the country,” Thach shared.

Soldier Pham Ngoc Thach performs the oath-taking ceremony before the Military Flag.

Three months of intense training for new soldiers was a big challenge for a young man who had just graduated from university. From waking up early, learning techniques and tactics on the training ground, Thach always strictly followed discipline, actively studied and maintained a spirit of progress. At the end of the training course, Thach achieved excellent results in all the tests.

With outstanding achievements, Private Pham Ngoc Thach was chosen to represent the new soldiers to perform the Oath-taking ceremony before the Military Flag, a sacred moment. Recalling that moment, Thach emotionally said: “I was very nervous, but very proud. Being able to represent my comrades to take the oath before the Military Flag was a great honor. I told myself to be very serious, because at that time it was not only me, but also the image of the whole unit.”

After training, Thach was assigned to the Engineering Company, General Staff Department. With a background in mechanical engineering, Thach quickly approached specialized equipment and weapons. Thach often actively discussed and learned from technical staff about how to preserve and operate modern engineering equipment, gradually mastering the assigned tasks.

In parallel with his work at the unit, Private Pham Ngoc Thach took advantage of his time to review for the second degree exam at the Political Officer School, a goal he had cherished since he joined the army. The shift from engineering to politics demonstrates a comprehensive development orientation, showing that Thach wants to become an Army officer with both political courage and solid expertise.

Thach's persistent efforts were rewarded when he was admitted to the Political Officer School.

“Comrade Thach is a soldier with a clear spirit of progress. Despite being busy with his duties, Comrade Thach still perseveres in studying, determined to pass the exam to serve the Army for a long time. The unit always creates conditions for him to study. The comrades in the unit are also willing to share the work so that Thach can study with peace of mind”, said Senior Lieutenant Pham Cong Bang, Political Commissar of the Engineering Company, General Staff Department, Can Tho City Military Command.

In September 2024, his persistent efforts were rewarded when Thach was admitted and officially became a student at the Political Officer School. This was not only a proud milestone for Thach personally but also a source of positive motivation for many young soldiers. Currently, although he is studying far from his unit, the story of Private Pham Ngoc Thach is still mentioned as a vivid example of the image of a new-age youth: having ideals, knowing how to strive and daring to dedicate himself to the Fatherland.

From an engineering student to a soldier, then to an officer cadet, Pham Ngoc Thach's journey was not easy. But the most valuable thing is the spirit of volunteerism, the will to overcome difficulties and the desire to grow up in the military environment. For young people today, especially in the Army, seriousness, discipline and life ideals will always be valuable provisions to move forward steadily on the path of serving the Fatherland.

Article and photos: THANH HA

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/tu-nguoi-chien-si-tro-thanh-hoc-vien-ao-linh-840085