From the dream of becoming a soldier of Uncle Ho's army to the ceremony honoring outstanding ethnic minority students and youth.

Captain Dinh Trung Khieu (of the Ba Na ethnic group), Assistant Propaganda Officer of the Gia Lai Provincial Military Command, is one of the individuals honored at the 2024 Ceremony to commend outstanding and exemplary ethnic minority students and youth.

My dream is to become a soldier of Uncle Ho's army.

Dinh Trung Khieu (born in 1990) was born and raised in a family with a military tradition in Vinh Thanh commune, Gia Lai province. From a young age, the image of his father, Colonel Dinh Minh Nhon, former Commander of the Military Command of Vinh Thanh district (formerly), in his solemn military uniform, was deeply imprinted in young Khieu's mind.

Listening to his father recount stories of marches, training, and assisting people in need... imprinted in the memory of the highland boy the image of Uncle Ho's soldiers, and from there, the dream of becoming a soldier gradually formed in him.

Dinh Trung Khieu received numerous certificates of merit and commendations for his contributions. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)

"I was much luckier than many of my peers to be able to attend the Ethnic Minority Cadet School of Military Region 5 from the 6th grade. The collective life and strict discipline there forged in me the courage and unwavering will that would later enable me to become a soldier," Dinh Trung Khieu expressed.

Having spent over 20 years studying, training, and growing in the military environment, Dinh Trung Khieu is currently an Assistant Propaganda Officer at the Gia Lai Provincial Military Command. Over 10 years of service, he has held various positions, including many years dedicated to youth union work and propaganda.

Dinh Trung Khieu shared that the Army is not only a training ground but also a place to forge character, temper willpower, and instill valuable life lessons in young soldiers. For him, youth is only truly meaningful when lived in discipline, dedicated with all one's heart, and matured through challenges.

A young soldier with many innovative ideas.

Throughout his career, Captain Dinh Trung Khieu has always strived and worked hard with many innovative approaches. As the Youth Union Secretary, he has developed the youth movement in his unit with many practical models such as: "Youth Union 3 - Proactive," "Saturday Volunteer Day - Sunday Green Day," "Young Soldier's Reading Corner," and the movement "Young Army Soldiers Cultivating Virtue, Developing Talent, Being Proactive, Creative, Worthy of Being Called Soldiers of Uncle Ho in the New Era" for the period 2022-2027 in the armed forces of Gia Lai province.

In particular, the "Three Proactive Youth Union Branch" model – proactive in ideology, proactive in training, and proactive in work – has become a highlight, helping union members to develop a sense of responsibility, cultivate political fortitude, and always be ready to successfully complete all assigned tasks.

Dinh Trung Khieu receives the 10th National Award for Outstanding Young Cadres, Civil Servants, and Public Employees in 2024, presented by the Central Youth Union. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)

At his unit, Captain Khieu is also considered a "source of innovative ideas." He is always concerned that each activity should not only be purely political and educational, but also truly relatable, lively, and relevant to real life. He has proactively researched and implemented three initiatives: "Multipurpose training ground motivational device," "Music playback device for unit activities," and "Suggestion box and mood survey system."

With his "Multipurpose Training Ground Propaganda" initiative, he improved the traditional propaganda board into a compact model, integrating banners and loudspeakers, which can be easily moved and installed at outdoor training grounds. As a result, propaganda content is cleverly integrated into break times, creating a lively and engaging training atmosphere.

In his initiative "Music Player for Unit Activities," Captain Dinh Trung Khieu based his project on the reality that flag-raising ceremonies, conferences, and folk dance practice often faced difficulties due to a lack of specialized equipment. Accordingly, the new device is compact, integrates a backup battery, and is easy to operate with just one button. It can be easily used in various situations, from auditoriums to training grounds, contributing to improving the quality of the unit's cultural, political, and ceremonial activities.

Most recently, in 2025, Captain Dinh Trung Khieu implemented the "Suggestion Box and Mood Survey" initiative. This model combines traditional feedback methods with digital technology applications. The suggestion box is designed with an integrated satisfaction survey button, QR code, and direct link to Google Forms, enabling quick and accurate data collection, analysis, and response. This allows unit leaders to promptly understand the thoughts and aspirations of officers and soldiers.

Dinh Trung Khieu (far left) attends the 2024 ceremony honoring outstanding and exemplary ethnic minority students and youth. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)

Captain Dinh Trung Khieu also made many contributions to political and ideological education and legal awareness campaigns for soldiers. He shared: "Instead of dry, theoretical instruction, I chose to integrate legal content into political activities through open methods such as storytelling related to laws, analyzing violation situations through an ethical lens, or organizing open dialogues between soldiers and officers."

“My biggest goal is to continuously improve myself in terms of political qualities, professional qualifications, and organizational skills. I also aspire to continue developing innovative models in youth union work and political work, so that each activity is not just a movement but truly touches the hearts of soldiers. As a son of the Ba Na ethnic group, I am always deeply committed to connecting youth union members with social welfare activities, environmental protection, and preserving the cultural identity of ethnic minorities. This is also one of the goals I aim for in the future,” Captain Dinh Trung Khieu confided.

Thanks to his tireless efforts, Captain Dinh Trung Khieu has received numerous commendations over the years: the Third-Class Glorious Soldier Medal awarded by the President of Vietnam in 2021; a Certificate of Merit from the Minister and Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs in 2024 for outstanding achievements in studies, training, and work in 2024; the 10th National Award for Outstanding Young Cadres, Civil Servants, and Public Employees in 2024 awarded by the Central Youth Union; and one of the 10 outstanding young people from Binh Dinh province (now Gia Lai province) to receive the Ngo May Award in 2024...

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tu-uoc-mo-tro-thanh-bo-doi-cu-ho-den-le-tuyen-duong-thanh-nien-dtts-xuat-sac-2469146.html