Firm steps of Uncle Ho's soldiers on the Square...

The Vietnam People's Army delegation participates in a parade on Red Square during a practice session. (Photo: Tam Hang/VNA)

At the invitation of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam sent troops to participate in the Parade "celebrating the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War" in the Russian Federation. This is the first time the Vietnam People's Army has participated in a parade abroad.

The delegation consists of about 80 members, including 68 soldiers who are students of the Army Officer School 1, who will participate in the parade, along with reserve members, leaders in charge, training instructors, doctors, interpreters and security officers.

According to a VNA reporter in Moscow, the delegation was divided into three flights and after 20 hours of flying, the entire delegation arrived in Moscow on the night of April 24 (Moscow time), safe and in good health. During the training days, the delegation was received by the Russian Ministry of Defense, and provided with accommodation and meals at a ministry facility 60km from the capital. This is also the accommodation for the delegations from China, Laos and Myanmar.

As soon as they arrived in Moscow, the soldiers immediately faced the challenge of the weather. Despite being warned in advance, the temperature continuously dropped from 25 degrees Celsius on April 24 to 10 degrees Celsius on April 25 and continued to drop even to 0 degrees Celsius on the following days, which was not easy, especially when the team immediately started training with an intensity of 3 sessions/day. The last training session ended at 9:00 p.m.

Sharing with VNA reporters in the Russian Federation, Major General Nguyen Van Thanh, Deputy Principal of Army Officer School 1 and Head of the delegation, said that when assigned the task, the entire delegation had set the highest determination to bring the image of the country, the Vietnamese people, and the Vietnam People's Army to friends around the world .

According to Major General Nguyen Van Thanh, the difficulties are not surprising when facing differences in time zones and temperature conditions, while soldiers need to maintain very good physical fitness for the parade.

With the attention of the Ministry of Defense leaders, the delegation was prepared and brought appropriate military uniforms, medicine and especially food to ensure that the soldiers had Vietnamese rice every day, making it easier for them to get used to local food.

Another difficulty the group overcame was the difference in parade standards. Lieutenant Colonel Ho Si Quang, head of the military command department at the 1st Army Officer School, said that the parade speed in Russia is 120 steps per minute, while in Vietnam it is 106 steps.

Thus, the Vietnamese parade team had to make an effort to change the pace in a short time. Up to now, the quality of training has increased day by day, hour by hour, and has been highly appreciated by the Ministry's leaders.

Every day, the entire group practices according to their own program right at the base, and on the day of the joint training, the group will have to move to the training ground. Accommodation, transportation and especially security conditions are guaranteed very thoughtfully and strictly by the Russian side.

High determination is the common mood of all soldiers and officers of this special "mission". The delegation also received timely encouragement from the Diplomatic Mission and the Defense Attaché Office in the Russian Federation.

Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi (fourth from left) and the delegation came to encourage the delegation. (Photo: Tam Hang/VNA)

On April 28, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi visited and welcomed the entire delegation attending the most important event of the Russian people - the victory over fascism. Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi emphasized that this event shows that the traditional friendship between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union and the current Russian Federation is extremely deep and has been inherited through many generations.

The participation of the Vietnam People's Army in the Red Square Parade demonstrates the international proletarian solidarity between the Vietnam People's Army and the Russian Federation Army as well as the people of the two countries, demonstrating Vietnam's active contribution to maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world.

The soldiers sent by the Vietnam People's Army to Russia to participate in this year's parade are officers and students of the Army Officer School 1, aged 19-30, 1m80 or taller, with a balanced physique, and the ability to perform command movements quickly, strongly, and accurately.

According to the plan, on May 9, the Russian Federation will hold a military parade on Red Square to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism. So far, leaders of 19 countries and territories have announced their participation. Many countries have sent military delegations to participate in the parade on May 9./.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/80-nam-chien-thang-phatxit-vung-buoc-chan-bo-doi-cu-ho-tren-quang-truong-do-250954.html